It was a happy reunion.
Luke 15:20-24 “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
He found a father filled with love, compassion and grace who received him and loved him back into fellowship!
Now the son is back and he’s standing there in the rags of his sins. He doesn’t look like a child of this father. But, the father orders the best of his robes to be brought and to be put on the son. This robe would cover all the stains and dirt of the pig pen and make him look like the father! What a beautiful picture of Jesus our saviour….when a sinner comes home, they also receive a robe from the heavenly Father. The ring represents the priviledges, and the shoes his position (only slaves went barefoot, sons wore shoes). There was much rejoicing….the son had come home. The fatted calf was the Father's way of sharing His joy with all around.
But the elder brother just couldn’t seem to see the positive side of his younger brothers return. Sadly, this elder brother is a picture of one who is involved in the things of God, but who, sadly, has no real relationship with the father. He might be in the father’s house, but he is still lost. He is still in the “far country” in his heart!
The father loves the elder brother as well!
The elder brother held a position of privilege. As the elder brother he is entitled to two-thirds of His father’s possessions (Deut. 21:17). Since his younger brother has already received his part of the inheritance, (v. 12), everything remaining belongs to the elder brother.
The elder brother was still being productive. The text says that the elder brother was “in the fields”….he’s busy doing the father’s business while his brother is off “living it up”.
The elder brother is a picture of the Pharisees. These people were also in a place of privilege. The looked good to the people around then, but there was a problem within their hearts. The elder brother was lost!
We must be careful that even though we may consider ourselves “mature Christians” and have been serving God for many years….we can still be lost in the house! Your are a good moral person. You come to church. You don’t drink, steal or cheat. You have been baptized and are a church member. From all outward appearances, you are as good as anybody around you. But, just as Jesus could look into the heart of the Pharisee and see his lost condition, He can look within your heart and see that you are lost too.
You can be good, moral and active in the church and still be lost.
To be continued…….
Luke 15:20-24 “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
He found a father filled with love, compassion and grace who received him and loved him back into fellowship!
Now the son is back and he’s standing there in the rags of his sins. He doesn’t look like a child of this father. But, the father orders the best of his robes to be brought and to be put on the son. This robe would cover all the stains and dirt of the pig pen and make him look like the father! What a beautiful picture of Jesus our saviour….when a sinner comes home, they also receive a robe from the heavenly Father. The ring represents the priviledges, and the shoes his position (only slaves went barefoot, sons wore shoes). There was much rejoicing….the son had come home. The fatted calf was the Father's way of sharing His joy with all around.
But the elder brother just couldn’t seem to see the positive side of his younger brothers return. Sadly, this elder brother is a picture of one who is involved in the things of God, but who, sadly, has no real relationship with the father. He might be in the father’s house, but he is still lost. He is still in the “far country” in his heart!
The father loves the elder brother as well!
The elder brother held a position of privilege. As the elder brother he is entitled to two-thirds of His father’s possessions (Deut. 21:17). Since his younger brother has already received his part of the inheritance, (v. 12), everything remaining belongs to the elder brother.
The elder brother was still being productive. The text says that the elder brother was “in the fields”….he’s busy doing the father’s business while his brother is off “living it up”.
The elder brother is a picture of the Pharisees. These people were also in a place of privilege. The looked good to the people around then, but there was a problem within their hearts. The elder brother was lost!
We must be careful that even though we may consider ourselves “mature Christians” and have been serving God for many years….we can still be lost in the house! Your are a good moral person. You come to church. You don’t drink, steal or cheat. You have been baptized and are a church member. From all outward appearances, you are as good as anybody around you. But, just as Jesus could look into the heart of the Pharisee and see his lost condition, He can look within your heart and see that you are lost too.
You can be good, moral and active in the church and still be lost.
To be continued…….
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