Waters of Life

Biblical Studies in Multiple Languages

Search in "English":

Home -- English -- Luke -- 092 ( Parables About the Love of God Which Seeks our Sinners )

This page in: -- Arabic -- ENGLISH -- Indonesian -- Russian

Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson

LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)

21. Parables About the Love of God Which Seeks our Sinners (Luke 15:1-32)


LUKE 15:11-24 (The Lost Son)
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 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. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”

Study this parable well, for it shows you the nature of man and the innermost heart of God. We call this chapter the golden chapter of the Holy Bible, for it shows us clearly the way of salvation.

A young man chose to leave his father’s house. He had received from his father gifts of ability and intelligence. Be aware that you also receive from God, for your eyes, heart, and lungs are among the Creator’s gift to you. We have nothing of ourselves. All things are from our heavenly Father.

When the young man wanted to from his father, the loving father asked him to remain with him, saying, “Stay with me. I love you, and will help and bless you. Do not go away from me. There is no mercy in the world.” The Almighty God speaks to you such kind words. Have you heard his voice?

But the young man insisted on separation, to live on his own and seek success. So his father gave him provision for his journey and his share of the estate, and let him set out, but with tears. In this manner God does not force anyone to stay with him, for love allows freedom and never results in slavery.

Away from his father, the young man plunged into the world, living from his means a life of luxury, extravagance, and dissipation. He had many friends as long as he had money and good health. But when the prodigal son became poor and sick, no one helped him, everyone left him. So do not rely completely on any man, for out of one thousand friends when in need you may find only one friend indeed.

In this way, the son of the rich man fell to feed swine. This shows the truth of his dissolute, muddy soul, with the difference that the swine filled their bellies with the husks, but he was hungry in body, soul and spirit.

The lost son may have received many letters from his father. But he would not open them, for he already knew their contents: “Come back, I love you.” Moreover the father sent messengers to his son, but he did not receive them. Now, having suffered hunger, he recalled the love of his father, and was deadly ashamed. Do you believe in God’s love for you, even though you neglected his love?

After a long struggle with his soul, the lost son came to himself and decided to go back to his father, to confess his failure before him. He was broken within himself and terribly ashamed. That was the turning point of his life, for the image of the father appeared before his eyes, and he held fast to it in his heart. Do you realize that the holy God is your merciful Father? He is not willing to punish you or torment you, but to save you completely. This is the will of God. Come to your Father who is waiting for you at all times.

The road was long, and the tears of repentance were bitter. Yet when the lost son came near his home, his father saw him. He was eagerly watching for the return of the wayward boy. The father left his house immediately, ran to his son, fell on his neck, kissed him, and covered his defects with the robe of his love. He did not speak a word against him, but the movements of his love spoke more eloquently than the most beautiful speech in the world. Be assured that in this very manner God will run to you and receive you joyfully if you get up and go to him.

When the son felt the love of his father, he became entirely broken in his pride, and said with tears: “I am not worthy to be called your son. Forgive me, and let me work for you, for I am hungry.” Then the father’s heart rejoiced, for the son’s confession showed self-denial, trust in the father, and beginning of the new life.

The returning son did not confess before a priest, but before his father alone. So confess all your sins before God the Father in the presence of Christ, and say: “I am the lost son, the thief, the sinner. You know all my sins and faults. I am not worthy to be called your son. Forgive my sins. Do not cast me out. Purify me and save me that I may live with you in purity and peace, and never leave you.

When the son confessed, the father took action. He ordered his servants to bring him the white garment of salvation, put the ring of glory on his hand, gave him the shoes of preparation for the gospel, and killed for him the fatted calf to satisfy his hunger. The father ordered every one in the house to be merry. Do you realize the meaning of these representations? The Father gives you the garment of salvation, purifying you from your sins. He seals you with his Holy Spirit, and authorizes you, formerly a thief, to preach his salvation to others. All of this because he himself was the sacrifice that satisfies the world and enters us that his life, power, and will may dwell in our hearts. Does Christ dwell in you?

Then the father began to be merry, and expressed his joy with a loving heart, saying: “My son was dead in sins and faults. But now look; he is living, through his trust in my love. He returned repentant and broken, and he will soon recover in my house in body, soul and spirit. My beloved one was lost in his obstinacy and pride, but the ropes of my love brought him back. He is secured with me forever.”

Dear brother, is your heavenly Father’s hymn of joy for you heard in heaven? Are you united with God your Father? Is your heart filled with joy? Do you believe that you are the son of God, and he is your faithful Father? Do not forget that the lost son remained his father’s son even when he was away in his sin; also his father remained his father at all times, even when his child did not think of him. Be sure that you are really a son of God, and the eternal Creator is your Father continually. Do not keep away from him. Come back to him, make the right joice, and the joy of peace will be strengthened between him and you. Your heavenly Father is still waiting for you. Will you come back to him?

PRAYER: O heavenly Father, I am not worthy to be called your son. You know my sins, failure, and fate. Please receive me as you received the lost son and did not reject him.

QUESTION 101: In what ways did the love of the father for his lost son appear?

www.Waters-of-Life.net

Page last modified on March 22, 2017, at 11:11 AM | powered by PmWiki (pmwiki-2.3.3)