Luke 15:11-32 "Lost Sons—Lost pt 2"
I’m going to tell a story on myself that doesn’t make me look too good. My brother was in town for a visit and so, of course, we went out for TexMex—just the three of us, Jeff, my wife Kim and me. We’re sitting there munching on chips having a nice conversation when they start moving tables together for a big party right next to us. I think they had pre-gamed because they came in loud and got louder. They all got margaritas and were laughing at what must have been absolutely hilarious stories. Is there anything more obnoxious than the sound of laughter coming from another table? I told you this story wasn’t going to show you my good side. We couldn’t hear each other talk anymore so, much to poor Kim’s dismay, my brother and I started talking really loud to each other and then fake laughing as loud as we could. Oh yeah, proud moment, I know. The other table noticed—the whole restaurant noticed. Just then, as if on cue, the restaurant staff came out, put a sombrero on the guy at the head of the table and started squirting tequila into his mouth with a squirt gun while singing happy birthday and clapping. I made eye contact with the guy in the sombrero and he gave me a look of, “I know we’re being ridiculously loud and annoying but come on man, it’s my birthday!” Our food came out and they got their food—which mouthfuls of fajitas quieted everyone down. A few minutes later our waiter brought three shots of Patron to our table, said it was from the birthday boy. I looked over at him and he lifted his glass with a smile—he seemed to be saying, “Maybe this will turn the volume down a little.” And it did. Ha. Before leaving, we thanked him and wished him a happy birthday—that we hoped our childish passive-aggressive nonsense didn’t put a damper on his evening. He was gracious, said he thought it was funny and felt sorry for us being seated next to his table of drunken chimpanzees.
Is there a moral to the story? Did I learn my lesson? Probably not. Am I supposed to admit that I like Patron in church? I don’t know!
Remember, last week we set the scene: Jesus is eating and drinking with some new converts—telling stories that illustrate the kingdom of heaven as a big glorious feast over sinners who repent. He has an audience that is neatly divided into two groups. Some of them are sinners and social outcasts who are sitting with Him and hanging on every word. Some of them are holier-than-thou religious types who don’t think Jesus has any business hanging out with a bunch of riff-raff losers. He told a story about a lost sheep and a lost coin, now He’s going to talk about two lost sons.
Luke 15, VERSE 11:
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
Eighteen-year-old punk walks up to his dad and says, “I’m sick of this place, I’m sick of you, I’m sick of your rules, I’m sick of waiting for you to die before I can have my share of the inheritance.” How would that feel, dad? Every time I hear someone preach on this story, they always say, “Now in those days it was considered to be a really offensive thing for a son to ask for his inheritance before the father had died.” In those days?
My dad was a coal miner, so there wasn’t really much to inherit, but if I would have tried to pull something like this, I’m pretty sure I would have been written out of the will. My share of the Craftsman tools would have gone to someone else. My dad is a very kind man but I think I would have been shown the door with his boot to help me get through it.
The son is foolish and disrespectful. If you were hearing this story for the first time you’d be offended for the father—you’d think the son was a monster, and you’d never expect the father to do what he did next.
It had to break his heart but he agreed to give him the money. Went ahead and divided all his property between his two sons. Most of it would have been in land and livestock, so some of it would have had to have been sold and converted into cash. The whole community would have seen it as a scandal. They would have ended up on daytime TV talking to Montel or Dr Phil.
VERSE 13:
Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. Luke 15:13-14
Big surprise. It didn’t work out. Who would have thought? Give a selfish little idiot a pile of cash, he moves to a swanky apartment in the big city and spends all his money on cocaine and hookers. What could go wrong? Parties and friends for days—until the money runs out—then he’s just left with the bill and a hangover.
“Reckless living.” This is where the name of this story comes from. The King James version translated it as “prodigal” living. Thus, The Prodigal Son. Prodigal means: extravagant or reckless. Wild. Wasteful. Foolish. He lost everything his father gave him. Ended up broke, alone, and homeless.
VERSE 15:
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. Luke 15:15-16
Remember, Jesus is talking to an audience of Jews. Pigs were considered unclean and disgusting. The Old Testament law of Moses had strict rules that said they couldn’t eat pigs—couldn’t even touch them—probably shouldn’t be taking care of them and feeding them. The way they would have heard this, Jesus was just being gross. I grew up in Illinois—I’ve worked on pig farms—the smell alone will curl your nose hairs.
But he was so desperate his mouth started to water looking at the pig slop. That’s pretty desperate. But no one gave him anything. Where were all his cocaine and hooker friends now?
VERSE 17:
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ Luke 15:17-19
When he came to himself. That’s an interesting phrase.
I’ve known people who have done stupid things. Just wrecked their lives—their marriage, their family, their career. Maybe they break the law. Maybe they’re unfaithful. Maybe they get addicted to something. Maybe they’re abusive. I’ve seen so many people live foolish lives. Sometimes when they hit rock bottom, they come to themselves. Other times it’s like, apparently this person hasn’t quite found the bottom yet—they get a shovel and see if they can go deeper.
This is what happens when we ignore God’s Word. His commandments. His wisdom. When we are selfish and do whatever we think our heart desires. It’s not like we don’t know. He made sure we know the right way to live as a human being on this planet. Call it God’s will, call it God’s Law. It’s wisdom. It’s the way to live our lives if we want to be wise—if we want things to work out well for us. But when we ignore His wisdom, when we live like fools or like the wicked—we’re going to be crushed by the harsh reality of the way things are in this world God created. That’s when the law will crush us.
Disown your heavenly Father at your own risk. Raise your fist to heaven and say, “I’m sick of You, I’m sick of Your church, I’m sick of your rules, I’m sick of waiting to die before I can have all those good things You’ve promised me in heaven!” Live like there is no God, ignore His wisdom, selfishly grasp for wealth and pleasure recklessly—find out where that gets you.
Well, our prodigal punk had sunk as low as he was going to go. He came to himself—came to his senses. He started making plans to improve his life. He thought he could probably go back home and ask his father to hire him—ask him for a job. He was going to apologize to his dad, admit that he had been a total jerk—sinned against God and his family—was no longer worthy to be called a son. He was banking on his dad being kind and generous enough that he wouldn’t let him starve in the streets.
VERSE 20:
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Luke 15:20
So he turned away from the pit he had dug himself into and went back to see his dad.
What usually happens when a father and son have a falling out? When they get into it and words are spoken, tempers flair—ultimatums are made. “If you walk out that door, you’re dead to me! Don’t bother coming back!”
I’ve seen it happen. Usually, they both get dug in. Neither one of them will forgive. They’re too hurt. Too proud. Too scared to be vulnerable—they don’t want to get hurt again. They don’t trust that the other person can really change. It’s a sad, sad situation. But it’s usually the way it stays—they’re usually stuck.
Well, just like how the father in this story did the crazy, unexpected thing when he gave his son the inheritance—he’s going to surprise us again. You know the father in this story represents God, right?
The father sees the son when he’s still a long way off—must have been watching for him. Hoping his son would return someday. He sees his son way off in the distance and instead of doing what we would all do—you know, go into the house, wait for the stupid kid to come groveling and begging for forgiveness—rub their nose in it, think about how we’re going to give them a piece of our mind. Instead, this father hikes up his robe and runs like a giddy little girl to meet him out in the open field! He’s like the shepherd who goes to rescue the lost sheep. He wanted to hug and squeeze his son—just hold him and love him and kiss him on the neck with tears of joy. To heck with dignity and grudges. His son is home and he couldn’t be happier.
Our prodigal son has his speech all ready to go…
VERSE 21:
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Luke 15:21
That’s as far as he gets. He’s completely interrupted by grace—he’s already forgiven. Nothing more needs to be said. No deals need to be made. He doesn’t have to pay anything back. His dad just wants to party.
VERSE 22:
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ Luke 15:22-23
Not just a new robe—the best robe. Not just a ring—a signet ring. He’s being completely restored as a son. A signet ring meant he could sign the family’s name—it was like giving him a credit card. And shoes for his feet—servants didn’t wear shoes, but sons did.
He’s also being restored to the community. The father is throwing a big party, inviting everyone to come feast on their best grain-fed steaks. He wants everyone to know his son has been fully restored. The father forgives him and he expects everyone else to forgive him, too.
If this was the end of the parable, everyone would live happily ever after. But the difference between a happy ending and a tragedy is just where you stop telling the story.
Remember the setting: Jesus is eating and drinking with a bunch of sinners, a bunch of prodigals who had wasted their lives. The religious leaders were grumbling about it. Jesus told the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin—both stories ending with rejoicing and feasting. He wants the snobby religious leaders to understand all these sinners have been fully restored. He wants them to be happy about it.
Also, remember this is a story about two sons.
VERSE 24:
And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ Luke 15:24-27
By the time the older son comes home from working all day, the party is in full gear. Loud music. Happy sounds. It says he heard dancing—how do you hear dancing? They must have been having a really good time.
But he was like the Grinch. It sounded the way laughter sounds at the next table when they’ve had too many margaritas—then they bring out the giant sombrero and start singing happy birthday. He wasn’t having it.
He asks one of the servants what’s going on—he didn’t know about any party that was supposed to happen today.
The servant tells him what we already know, “Your dad is throwing a big party because your brother came home.” The older brother was not pleased.
VERSE 28:
But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, (begged him) but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ Luke 15:28-30
So this is actually the story of two lost sons. Listen to what the older brother says to his father—it’s just as hurtful as the younger son asking for the inheritance. “Look!” (Anytime a sentence starts with “look!” you know nothing good is coming. He’s pointing his finger in his father’s face.) “Look! These many years I have served you—like a slave! I never disobeyed any of your hundreds of commands! I’ve been so taken for granted! Can’t you see I’m the good one? He doesn’t call him “father.” He refuses to acknowledge his brother, calling him “your son.” He has no grace, no forgiveness. He wants to reopen the wound and accuse his brother of wasting the father’s wealth on prostitutes. He’s completely petty about it, “you kill the fattened calf for him but you never even gave me a baby goat.”
The older son is disrespectful and disgusted with his father. He’s just as lost as his little brother was. The last verse is the father’s response…
VERSE 31:
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ” Luke 15:31
The last word in the lost chapter of Luke is—found. Kinda cool.
But that’s how it ends. No resolution. Will the older brother “come to himself?” Will he repent? The father came outside and begged him to come inside to join the party—come see his brother, forgive him. Will he join the party and give his brother a big hug? Or will he stay outside feeling sorry for himself?
The younger brother represents the sinners Jesus is eating with—people He has forgiven. The older brother represents the religious leaders who are mad at Jesus for being in the company of people who still look like sinners to them—people who wasted their lives in reckless living.
Just like the prodigal son, the sinners are feasting at the Father’s table. Just like the older brother, the religious leaders are refusing to join the celebration.
So what happens next? Do the brothers reconcile? Or does the older brother stay mad and make life miserable for the whole family?
Which brother do you relate to in the story?
I think most of us start off as the prodigal son. We make a mess of our lives (“Reckless living.” “extravagant.” Wasteful with everything God gave us.) then we come back to the Father, find out how merciful and forgiving He is—He takes us back no matter what we’ve done and we just stand in His presence interrupted by grace, thankful for His kindness and generosity. Fully restored.
But then, after just a short time, too many of us become like the older brother. And there’s two ways to be the older brother.
The older brother is like people inside the church who think they’re better than people outside. But he’s also like people outside the church who think they’re better than the people inside.
We don’t want to be the older brother—thinking we’re better than other people.
We need to be like the forgiven younger brother—no matter what we’ve done—we want to be restored, wearing the robe and ring, dancing in the father’s house, laughing at His jokes, glad to be home. Happy to join the party.
In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd represents Jesus. He goes and searches for the lost sheep until He finds it and then He carries it back on His shoulders. In the story of the lost coin, the woman represents the church who is sent by Jesus to search for the lost coin until she finds it for Him. The lost sheep and the lost coin both represent sinners who repent and are found by the kindness and mercy of God.
Who represents Jesus in the story of the lost sons? The Father is God. Both of the sons are turkeys. Where’s Jesus in the story?
I’ve heard it said that the older brother should have gone and rescued his little brother. Especially once the famine hit and his life went down the tubes. It was his obligation and duty. The older brother should have gone looking for him until he found him. Then he should have brought him back to the father’s house. That’s what a good older brother would have done.
I think Jesus is the good older brother for all of us.
I want you to know this: you have an older brother who came looking for you. God the Father loved you so much that He sent His Son into the big scary world to find you. How close to rock bottom do you have to go before you’re willing to go back home with Him? If He’s already brought you back, then the Father has the best robe for you—you’re wearing it, the garment of salvation, the righteousness of Jesus—bought and paid for you on the cross. A signet ring for your finger—you are a fully restored, beloved child of God. And every week we gather here for a celebration. The Father wants His house full. Church is a celebration of lost sinners being found. Are you joining the party? What does it sound like to you? Joyful music and dancing and thankfulness? Or obnoxious noise from another table? Jesus, your older brother, is saving a place for you at His Father’s table now and forever. Sombrero is optional. Joining the party isn’t. AMEN