MEDITATIONS FROM THE PARABLES OF JESUS
THE PRODIGAL SON
Read Luke 15:11-32
In the first verses of Luke 15, we are told that the Pharisees and scribes murmured against Jesus because He received known sinners who came to Him to hear His life-giving Word. Rather than rejoicing with the angels of heaven over these lost sinners who were being converted and saved through Jesus' Word, the Pharisees and scribes were critical of Jesus for receiving such persons. The parable of the prodigal son was told by Jesus to show them that they too should repent and that they should rejoice over the repentance of other lost sinners.
The prodigal son in this parable must
certainly have been considered to be the worst of sinners in the eyes of the
Jewish scribes and Pharisees. Not only had he wasted his inheritance on harlots
and in riotous living; he even cared for, lived with, and tried to eat with swine.
Yet, when he came to his senses and returned to his father seeking forgiveness
for his sins, his father forgave him and rejoiced at his return. This is a
beautiful description of our heavenly Father and His forgiveness for our many
sins against Him. Our heavenly Father created us to serve Him and do His will.
He placed us over His creation on the earth that we might use these things
according to His will and for His glory (Gen. 1). But man disobeyed the LORD
God and fell into sin. Instead of living for the LORD and using His creation in
accord with His will, we have turned aside from the LORD and His holy will and
have used His creation for our own selfish ends. Like the prodigal son, all of
us sinners need confess: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in Thy
sight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son" (cf. Gen. 3;
Jesus' parable goes on to describe the great rejoicing which took place when the prodigal son returned, and the anger of his brother that such a wicked son would be received back with joy and celebration. Because the Pharisees and scribes did not see their own need to repent and receive forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ, they, like the angry brother in the parable, could only see the great sin of those coming to Jesus. They did not see the great blessings of forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation which were being imparted to these penitent sinners for Jesus' sake, and they were therefore unable to rejoice over the salvation of these lost souls.
Note the father's response to the angry son: "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." When we remember that we too "were dead in trespasses and sins" and that "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:1,4-6), then we will be filled with joy when others also receive the salvation God has provided for them in His Son!
Alas, my God, my sins are great, my conscience doth upbraid me; and now I find that in my strait no man hath pow'r to aid me. Lord, Thee I seek. I merit naught; yet pity and restore me. Just God, be not Thy wrath my lot; Thy Son hath suffered for me. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #317, Verses 1,3)