Anyway. So. Luke 15. Very famous chapter. Even if you can't recall without looking, you know the parables involved. Which, at least in my case, can sometimes be bad. I've found that sometimes it's easy to skim over stuff we've heard and read numerous times; but after doing a two week sermon series and studying this chapter in my personal time, God has proven, once again, that He is much more than my current understanding.
Let's take a look, shall we?
The first three verses, though easily overlooked, are crucial in this chapter. They give you the entire context of what Christ is saying.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:
Two groups of people. Sinners and religious.
Both are lost. Both need Christ.
I, for length's sake, am going to paraphrase the parables. Please. Take the time to read them entirely.
The first parable there is a shepherd with 100 sheep. One of them runs off and because the shepherd loves and cares for the sheep he goes and finds him. Then, he brings him back and calls a celebration because of the one.
The second a woman who has ten coins loses one. Because she cares for the coin she searches high and low until the coin is found. When she finds it, she too calls for a celebration.
But then there is this third parable. It's different. This young son of a wealthy master comes to his father and asks for his share of the inheritance due to him upon his father's death. This request, needless to say, is dishonoring, but the father, in His sovereignty, grants his son this request (Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4). The son thinks he is giving up nothing and gaining his prize. He is very wrong (And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things Romans 1:23).
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Then he converts his stuff into money and hits the road. Leaving behind his family and all he has known to go and waste everything he has on whoredom and wild living. Some time after he ran out of money and friends. He went and became a slave to a man working and feeding pigs. He was starving, poor and bound. He gave up son-ship for a few weeks of "fun" to end in slavery and poverty.
After realizing his crucial mistake he decides to go back to his father and offer himself as a slave and a worker. Humbled, he returns. He hopes his father will accept him back to work for his keep and food. His mistakes were not good, but he has recognized his failures and repented.
While heading home he rehearses his speech for his father. Nerves raging.
The moment he is close enough to be seen for dad's property dad raises his robe and sprints toward the road. If you know anything about this culture you know it's incredibly dishonorable for a wealthy man to do this, but not only did he love his son and allow him to leave him embarrassed his has rejected doing what is thought normal and ran for his son. When they meet the son begins his speech and dad won't have any of it. He rejoices and kisses his son. His love hadn't missed a beat. He tells the workers to bring His robe-dad's robe and put it on the boy; as well as sandals and a ring to signify his complete restoration in the family. The father's grace is incomparable with the son's rebellion, no matter how great (Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool Isaiah 1:8).
Like the previous parables, the father throws a party. A special party. He has them cook up the fattened calf. Big deal.
Once the day's work has been done the older son comes to the house and hears music and dancing. He asks what is going on and finds out his brother has returned and that dad has welcomed him with love and restoration. The older brother is angry. He can't understand how his dad could be so foolish as to let this son back in the family. After all, it would mean him having another inheritance, and this time it would cut into the older brother's as well. He is so mad he refuses to join. The father comes and pleads with his son. He explains that they must celebrate! Dad's son and his brother isn't dead as they thought, but alive and home. The brother declares, 'That's not fair (And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them Luke 15:2)! I've been here this entire time-my whole life and I've never disobeyed your command (obviously he is completely blinded by his self-righteousness). And this son who wasted everything on whatever his fancy comes back and you give him the best calf, robe and shoes!'
His problem is his heart. He is trusting in his efforts and works to give him right standing with his father. A checklist (And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends Luke 15:29).
The younger son left to become a slave and the older brother went nowhere to be one. He had disconnected himself from his father and made himself a slave.
Do you see it?
The younger brother is the sinners and tax collectors.
The older brother is the Pharisees and scribes.
Both are lost. Both need Jesus.
But only one of them approached correctly. The younger son came humble and accepted what was offered. The older tried to earn it. He doesn't see that his best attempt at righteousness is garbage (But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away Isaiah 64:6).
We, as sinners (For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Romans 3:23) (For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23), are hopeless on our own.
The Bible teaches that are all sinners and God is holy. Then it tells us our best works of righteousness are filthy rags before holy God.
So what do we do?
Wrong.
If you find yourself asking that question then you should scroll back up and read this and chapter 15 of Luke again, because you didn't get it.
You do nothing. Because nothing you do can work. Ask the older brother.
Christ has done it.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ did it all. All you have to do is humbly come to Him and offer yourself. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Once you do, Christ will exalt you and adopt you as a son. And give you life.
Amen. Amen.
I love you.
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