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“Leaving Home”
Luke 15:11-22
The best known of all of the parables of Jesus is the parable of the Prodigal Son. If you have grown up in church you, no doubt, have heard the story, seen the flannel graph, colored the pictures, and maybe even watched a video of this story. If you are hearing this story for the first time today, there is a sense in which you are actually at an advantage. We have a tendency to become so familiar with the better known stories in the Bible that we often miss what the story is really all about.
At this time in Jesus’ ministry, the Pharisees and Scribes complain that Jesus spent time ministering to what they considered the outcasts of society - the tax-collectors and sinners. In this chapter Luke records three parables Jesus spoke at this time which illustrate the joy God has over the repentance of sinners. The Pharisee’s statement, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” was intended as a criticism of Jesus. Jesus took it as a compliment. He is not ashamed to be called a “friend of sinners.”
While the main purpose of this parable is to illustrate the love of God for the sinner and the joy of God which causes all heaven to rejoice when a sinner repents, it also contains several more important truths. You may not consider yourself an prodigal son (or daughter) but if you examine this story carefully you will probably see many ways you too can identify with these events.
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his
livelihood. Verses 11-12
1. THE ATTITUDE OF LEAVING HOME
The very idea that a son would make such a request as this young man did, was shocking to Jesus’ audience. No one received an inheritance until their father had died. In essence, this young man is saying, “Father, I wish you were dead.” Yet the story does not indicate that the Father was anything but a gentle and loving father.
The father graciously fulfilled the request, giving him his full portion, which would have been one-third of the entire estate (the right of the first-born gave the elder brother a double portion.) The attitude of the younger son illustrates all sinners in general. We are related to God the Father by creation but chose to waste our potential privileges and refuse any relationship with him, choosing instead a life of sinful self-indulgence. We may not regard ourselves as “bad sinners” for we haven’t killed anyone, but until we come to Christ, confessing our sin, we are exactly like the prodigal.
Even believers display this attitude when we try to live our lives in our own strength and through our own wisdom or in disregard to the clear teachings of God’s Word. In essence we are saying, “I don’t need you in my life right now, God. I want to do things my way. Leave me alone!”
I’ve never heard anyone ever say, “I really want to mess my life up so much that I destroy any chance I might have for real happiness.” Yet I have met plenty who have gone that route. They never thought they would end up in the “pig pen,” but they did.
I never have heard a believer say, “I think I’ll backslide for a while, destroy my testimony, my family, and my life in general.” Yet many have done exactly that.
People do not just one day wake up a “leave home.” the process begins in the heart long before it is manifested in actions.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
2. THE ACT OF LEAVING HOME
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. Verse 13
Wrong attitudes will always lead to wrong actions. The younger son gathered up his assets, abandoned his father, and stepped out into a life of iniquity. “Prodigal living” doesn’t just describe wasteful extravagance, but also wanton immorality. The word carries the meaning of an utterly debauched lifestyle.
I’m sure he enjoyed himself, at first at least. There is pleasure in sin, but it is only temporary and there is no lasting peace or fulfillment. Sin is so deceptive. It appears exciting and pleasurable, but in the end it destroys.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7
Many may protest and say, “I’m not a prodigal. I’m really a pretty good person.” Yet in reality, they too are in a “far country.” When things of this world are more important to you than the things of God, you are in a “far country.”
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:14
3. THE AGONY OF LEAVING HOME
But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. Verses 14-16
The spiritual needs of man can never be met by temporal things. There will always come a famine when God is left out of the picture. The truth is a person will do about anything or eat anything to satisfy his hunger.
This young man found himself in a situation he would have never thought he would be. Remember, Jesus’ audience here is made up of Jewish people. There is very little that could be considered more detestable to a Jew at that time than to feed pigs. Yet not only was this young man feeding the hogs, he was so hungry he tried to fill his empty stomach with what the pigs were eating. However, the pods were evidently not digestible for humans. What the world offers will never satisfy the hunger in your soul.
4. THE ANSWER TO LEAVING HOME
But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” verses 17-19
He finally came to his senses. His sin had left him bankrupt (both financially and spiritually) and hungry (spiritual and physical). He finally realized that even his father’s hired servants had plenty to eat. Sin is stupid!
At this point, he did not know what his father’s reaction would be. All he knew was that he was starving and his father’s servants had much more that he did at that moment. However, he not only realized the futility of his situation, but he also understood how serious his sins were against his father.
He did not decide to go back and ask for his position as son to be restored, but rather was willing to be nothing more than a hired servant for his father. He was no longer demanded “his rights” but now was humbling seeking forgiveness.
What he did not know was that his father had evidently been waiting for him to return ever since he left. He sought only to be a servant yet his father would greet him as a son.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7
