The Other Prodigal Son

Nov.26,2023
Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:

11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. [1] '
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

Intro:
　The religions of this world fear God. They fear God. The reason for this is that they think God is angry with them.
　Young men who risk their lives and self-destruct for the sake of Allah's God are probably taught that there is a much scarier punishment awaiting them if they disobey God.
　Also, the meaning of Obon is because the spirits of ancestors who return during Bondance to please their descendants by dancing and making offerings to the altar of the gods so that they will not bring curses on their descendants.
　In any case, the religious view of God is very troublesome because he is selfish, quick to anger, and uses his supernatural powers to inflict curses. It is safer not to get involved with a god if you can't draw his blessings from him successfully. The general idea of God is that if you make him angry, you will get into trouble.
　The Jewish faith of the time had a similar mindset.
　In today's passage, there were two kinds of people present.

1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

　Actually, this story is a parable that tells us that the younger brother who received his father's property before his death and lost it all in debauchery is more like the prodigal son, but the older brother is also the prodigal son, and the problem is rather greater on his part.

First of all, the father divided the ransom between them. In other words, the father gave everything.

12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

　Now, the younger brother went off with all of it. He must have had many things he wanted to do. But in the end, he lost everything. He finally worked to feed pigs. This is the job that Jews hate the most. He got to the point where he could no longer return to the Jewish community by doing that job.
　His return to his father's place was not only shameful, but also dangerous. He was starving to death because of his sins.
　But he risked his life to return to the Father.

　Seeking God is not difficult, but recognizing oneself as a sinner is not easy. It involves the death of pride. But it is worth it. Because God the Father is loving and forgiving.

20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

We can see from this verse, 20, that it was not by chance that the father was looking out the window of his house and saw his son sprawled out and coming home.
　The father was waiting outside the house for his son, as he did every day. Was the reason for this because his son was turning back to quit? No, because his son would be in danger by the time he reached home.
　If I were to tell this story in the Middle East, it would shock the hell out of them. In the Middle East, such a prodigal son is so filial that he should be killed. A son who takes property and selfishly indulges while his parents are still alive is like a criminal to this community.
　
　In other words, the father needed to find this son before anyone else.
In other words, the father who accepted this prodigal son would lose his social standing, honor, and prestige.

　Love is only as great as how much is sacrificed.
The cross of the Lord Jesus is truly a cross that sacrificed everything.
　Overnight, the Jewish hero was made a criminal, betrayed by his disciples with whom he had lived for three years, ridiculed by the people, flogged by the Roman soldiers with a whip that tore his flesh, had nails driven into both hands and feet, and suffered crucifixion. In addition to the physical and emotional pain, he also experienced disconnection from God the Father. Jesus' life is symbolized by the cross. It is a life of suffering, pain, and mockery because Jesus loves us.

　Now, the Father, in response to the son's repentance, had already given forgiveness and restored all of it before the end of his words.
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

　The ring is to show that he is the rightful heir of the family. Then he had a banquet. He rejoiced that their son had come back to life. Here is the heart of God in heaven.
　Man sins, and this sinning means, as it is, rebelling against God and not repenting before Him. Just like a broken pottery, it is in a state of uselessness.

But if we repent of our sins, from that moment on, our sins are forgiven and God accepts us as His children.

Now, the story does not end here. In fact, there was another prodigal son. He stayed with his father, but his heart was as far away from him as was his brother's.

The problem with the elder brother
　Many people think that the older brother had a problem with misunderstanding his father, even though he was trying his best. However, this older brother is even more sinful than his younger brother.
　As I will talk about first, this older brother is the Pharisee and the scribes in verse 2. They superficially obey God's commands, but they have no love for God, and above all, they look down on others and do not want to share God's grace.
　
　Verse 28 says that the elder brother became angry.
28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
So the father came out and tried to coax him in various ways.

　He hated his brother.
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

　He also says that his brother played with prostitutes, but the elder brother is in a position to defend his brother, not to point out his brother's sin.

　In other words, the elder brother has no love for his younger brother; rather, he is trying to point out his brother's sin in a bad way to get him out of the house. Perhaps this brother was spreading bad rumors about his brother so that his brother would never be able to come home again.
　It could be said that the reason the father waited for his brother's return every day and then ran away himself was to protect his brother from his older brother.
　
　Second, the elder brother also had hatred for his father.
29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

　The Older brother says that my father did not give him even a single goat, but he already has a lot because he and my brother have already split all their property 50-50. Therefore, the elder brother did not simply misunderstand his father; he hated him. The fact that he had not been good to him was a pretext; the brother did not appreciate his father, did not respect him, and his father's presence was a hindrance.

　Some people, because of their own weakness, drown in sin and enter into it. But some control their outer self well, but their inner self is filled with thoughts of sin. Their hearts are filled with hatred and anger toward God and man.

　In chapter 15, the Lord clearly shows us the purpose for which He came. It is to make sinners realize their sins and to accept those who repent.
　However, there are some people who are more than human in ethics and morals but are unaware of their sins.

　This brother is the Pharisee of his day, but there is a part of him that can be applied to us as well. It is a problem of knowing the Bible and doing what is right in a certain way, but the love for God and love for others disappears.

　The Lord commands us to love God, love ourselves, and love our neighbors. He is saying that this is more important than any other law. In other words, without love, nothing else will suffice.

　In the book of Revelation, the Lord sends a message to seven churches that existed. Five of those churches had major problems that they needed to repent of.
　To one of them, the Ephesian church, the Lord said

　Revelation 2:4 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
　
　When they were saved, they were overflowing with gratitude to God and love for their neighbors. And they studied the Bible diligently. But at some point, the love disappeared. They no longer felt God's love. And they could no longer let love flow to their neighbors.
　If we have fallen into this "no love syndrome," we must first go before God and pray, "Let me know and feel your love. Perhaps sin has created a wall between us and God.

　The Lord continues, in verse 5,
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

　He tells us the three stages of recovery. If you know when the symptom started, you know what caused it. Then you can return to love.

　We cannot generate love from within us. Love cannot be given without receiving it.

　Let us pray.
　Father. In our eyes, ethically and morally corrupt people are sinners. But those who do superficially good deeds and are praised appear to be sinless. Please lead us to remember that when the Lord looks, He sees if there is love there.
　Bless us not only to be zealous in our faith life, but also to always keep the love of God and love for others.
　Maybe you have been very hurt and from that moment on, your love has disappeared. But help us to remember that unforgiveness is a sin and to forgive those around us!