The Parable of the Loving Father

1
Blessed Assurance
2
The Parable of the Pursuing Father

• The Prodigal Son

3
(No Transcript)
4
Sometimes we can make sincere decisions, but
because we are blind to the implications,
disastrous results may follow!
5
One view of how God treats the disobedient
Christian
If you do not fight lust you are going to hell.
We are saved by means of fighting the fight of
faith --persistent faith-obedience.
The idea that faith gets you to heaven and
holiness gets you rewards is an error.
John Piper
6
Knowing for sure is not possible
Dr. John MacArthur
7
Luke 15 in Context
The Compassion of the Father
Call to Discipleship
The Lost Sheep
The Lost Coin
The Lost Son
But .. if salt becomes tasteless
Luke 1425-35
151
7
8
10
11
32
8
Sinners and Tax Collectors
Amharets the people of the land
These are repentant Jewish and Gentile followers
of Jesus, who have become saltless. They have
either turned from their backsliding or are
considering doing so. They have come to a meal
with Jesus.
9
Resources

• Kenneth Bailey, Poet and Peasant and Through
  Peasant Eyes A Literary-Cultural Approach to the
  Parables in Luke. Grand Rapids Eerdmans, 1983.

10
The Parable of the Prodigal Son

• The Request Lk. 1511-12
• The Father's Gift Luke 1512
• The Hurried Sale 1513 The Qetsatsah
  Ceremony
• Expensive Living 1513
• The Pig Herder 1514-15
• The Prodigal Repents 1517-19
• The Fathers Grace 1520
• The Sons Confession 1521
• The Banquet 1522-30

11
The Father Departs from ME Norms
He does not explode in anger, but grants freedom
to be rejected.
The father grants the inheritance and the right
to sell, knowing that this right will shame the
family before the community.
Traditional Middle Easterners, wearing long
robes, do not run in public. To do so is deeply
humiliating. This father runs
He demonstrates love to a son who has publically
insulted him
12
Three Reasons for The Banquet

• 1. Fathers reason because my son was dead
  and is alive again 23-24
• 2. Little boys reason because he has
  received him back safe and sound shalom -
  v. 27
• 3. The Older Brothers reason that I might
  make merry v. 29

13
The Parable of the Prodigal Son

• The Older Sons Anger 1528-30
• The Fathers Response 1531-32

14
Remember the Fathers Compassion
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him
12     as far as the east is from the west, so
far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13     As a father has compassion on his
children, so the Lord has compassion on those
who fear him 14     for he knows how we are
formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm
10311-14)
15
James referred to a faith like that of the
prodigal, a faith not energized by works, a dead
faith. The writer to the Hebrews spoke of the
possibility of falling away. The prodigal did not
fall away from being a son, he was a son before
and after he fell away. He fell away from
fellowship with his father The prodigal had not
entered into a kingdom way of living. Instead of
entering into an abundant life, he was lost. Had
he continued in the far country and not returned
to fellowship with His Father, he would have
entered the future kingdom in the sense of
salvation, but not possession the surpassing
righteousness he would not have entered into
greatness there. He would be called least.
16
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, Thou Fount of evry blessing, Tune my heart
to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never
ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach
me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues
above Praise the mountIm fixed upon it Mount
of Thy redeeming love.
17
Here I raise my Ebenezer Hither by Thy help Im
come And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to
arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a
stranger, Wandring from the fold of God He, to
rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious
blood.
18
O to grace how great a debtor Daily Im
constrained to be! Let that grace now, like a
fetter, Bind my wandring heart to Thee Prone to
wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I
love Heres my heart, O take and seal it Seal
it for Thy courts above.