Parable of the prodigal son, a lesson of repentance
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

1. 3rd parable, 1st is about the 100 sheep. The second is about lost coin. Both ended up in heavenly rejoicing over a returning to the rightful owner. Both depicted as having been in the possession of the owner, was lost and now found. Christians that once been in the fold of the Good Master was lost in sin, His love beckons us to return in repentance.

2. How was Jesus viewed by the ‘religious’?
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
(Luk 15:1-2)

The ‘religious’ (imposers rather than practitioners) would criticize the righteous that do righteous deeds. But Jesus associated with sinners, to bring sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). Jesus was unafraid of being labeled unclean, but having the holiness and righteousness uncontaminated to bring sinners to repentance.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
(Mat 23:25-30)

To Jesus being clean within is of greater importance, whose cleanliness within couldn’t be corrupted is liken to a good tree that bears good fruit.

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
(Luk 6:43-45)

Therefore the fruit of hypocrisy is the one of judging others, without considering self first. In other words, don’t view repentance as important in the Christian pilgrimage.

3. What caused the prodigal son to change?
His father's household caused him to want to return. The focus or drawing back at the end of us was the Father Himself: the relationship, the sacrificial love.

4. His planned action.
- Return to tell the father that he sinned against heaven and father
- Willingness to be like a slave
- Continually thinking about justifying his return and ‘saving’ his own skin
But the father had greater plan to restore the son.

5. What was the sin of the prodigal son?
- Independent state: Departure from the father to live life according to one’s own will.
- Spending state: Willfully misemploying thoughts, time and opportunities.
- Wanting state: Seeking only the external necessities which are temporal
- Sinful state: Lust of the flesh takes over, controlling the mind and senses only seeking self gratification. This state of course leads to committing base acts (in the case of this man, a Jew, dwelling and eating pig food)

6. What is true repentance?
- Come to the end of ourselves to realize our condition is far from what God’s will is for us
- Allow God to open our eyes be convinced that we are trapped in sin
- Realize that coming back the Father is the only alternative and we can’t work out our own salvation
- Determine to return to the Father, quit the bondage of sin
- With humility (he was willing to return to be a slave!)

7. The Father receives the sinner
- Unconditional love, full of grace and unexpected tokens of forgiveness
- Clothe us in His Righteousness
- Make us partakers of the Spirit of adoption (remember that the son by tradition has been disowned because in the Eastern culture property is only divided after the patriarch dies)
- The grace given unto us comes with His righteousness that we might not walk in previous paths of sin

For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(Rom 5:17)