"From Stinky Sinner to Sweet Son"

 N.T. #597 "From Stinky Sinner to Sweet Son"

July 24, 2025 

Luke 15-Part 3 

LET IT GLOW

How many times have you heard a sermon on the Parodical son in your lifetime? Is there anything new to discover about this parable? Let's look closer and see.

There are 9 key words which summarize the younger son's conduct:

1. rebellion
2. riotous living
3. rock bottom
4. realization
5. repent
6. return
7. reception
8. reconciliation
9. rejoicing.    

Here were two sons of a wealthy estate owner. The younger son was not satisfied with his life and wanted a change. He desired to get out of there with his part of his inheritance. He was going to live it up, tired of farm work, working daylight to dark, having no fun or parties. (I wonder if the two discussed plans and dreams of a different life while working together.) Did you notice that the father divided his wealth among the two sons? The older son got his inheritance money, too.

Nothing was said about this guy living with harlots until his brother brought it up in verse 30. He did put a long distance between himself and home. He went to a far country with a pocket full of money that he wasted on riotous living. He must have partied it up while the dough lasted.

Riotous means excess; loose; wasteful; unsavedness.

This lifestyle resulted in empty pockets, no food, and no friends. Then a famine hit and his pockets were empty. This Jewish boy found himself feeding swine while he was starving. He was in Gentile country. Jews considered hogs unclean and never had anything to do with them. The pigs got corn on the cob while he got nothing but slop and the cob. 

Finally the boy came to himself-his father's servants ate well. What in the world was he doing there? He came to his senses, rehearsed a speech, and went to be a servant of his father's. Seems the guy showed some maturity, humility, and responsibility. Maybe he even had some compassion for those he hurt back home. 

I can see daddy looking every morning and evening down the lane to his house, looking for his wayward son to return home. Day after day he saw no one coming. Then one day his expectations were fulfilled. Junior was coming, dragging his shoeless feet, smelling like a hog, dirty, stinky.

LET IT GROW

How did the father react? Not with arms folded and a speech of condemnation, "It's about time you came to your senses. Get in the house and clean yourself up, then we will talk."

No, the father had compassion on his son, ran to meet him, hugged him with a bear hug, and kissed his stinky neck. What a welcome home! 

What did his rehearsed speech say? Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (verse 21)

The sinful son blurted out his prepared speech. It was like the father was so overwhelmed with joy that he didn't respond to the speech. Look at how the father responded:

• Instructed his servants to bring out the best robe and put it on junior;
• put a ring on his hand;
• put shoes on his feet;
• prepare the fatted calf and let us eat and be merry.

This was going to be a huge celebration with food enough to feed dozens of people. This special well-fed calf had been kept in a special pen and fed wheat grain for a month or longer. Yep, dad had been expecting this day to come and he wanted to be ready for the party. A robe, ring signifying authority, and sandals showing he was no longer poor-all was ready and waiting on junior to return. Little did the boy know what awaited his return. Dad had it all planned out and under control.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (verse 24)

So the boy went from a stinky sinner to a sweet son. What a good story Jesus told. Yet, it is not ended.

Tomorrow we will discuss what happened when the older son came in from working in the field.

LET IT GO

We put aside pride and humbly come before You, Heavenly Father.

We are stinky with sin, unworthy to be Your child. 

Please forgive us.

Have mercy on us today.