THE PRODIGAL SON ,THE  SELF RIGHTEOUS ELDER BROTHER & THE LOVING FATHER  Lk 15 : 1-2 and 11-32

I. Background
   A. The Publicans & Sinners came to hear Jesus
   B. The Pharisees mocked Jesus because he ate with sinners
   C. He gave 3 parables about the lost sheep , the lost coin , and the lost boy

II. The Parable Of The Prodigal Son
   A. The son represents those that are not religious - the publicans & sinners ; he loved sin more than his Father
   B. To get away from any control by the Father ( God ) he demands his  share and want to on his own
   C. His Father gave him one third of all his goods and the son takes off for his free of his Father's control
   D. He wasted one third of a very rich man's goods - sin lost its satisfaction
   E. After a famine came on the land he got a job feeding pigs - the job did not provide enough food to live
   F.  He " comes to himself " and realized being a servant for his Father was better than being at this place

III. Parable Of The Loving Father
    A. The Father represents God
    B. While the son was a long way away the Loving Father saw him ragged and pitiful and ran to him
    C. The son started his speech about how deep in sin he had become but the Father interrupted
      i) bring the best robe
      ii) put a ring on his hand
      iii) put shoes on his feet
      iv) kill the fatted calf and let's have a party
      v) my son is alive again !
 
IV. Parable Of The Self Righteous Older Brother
   A. The older brother represents those that think they set the standard of righteousness ( like the Pharisees )
   B. He really served the Father as a slave for ultimate reward - not out of love !
   C. You never gave me a party but this sinner's return causes you to forgive him and have a party
   D. You don't appreciated me that obeys your commands ; he disrespected his Father and brother

V. Take Homes
   A. The paths of a wayward son
      i) participates in open sin
      ii) sin brings misery
      iii) repentance
      iv) FULL  forgiveness
   B. When people in sin repent God forgives & forgets
   C. Self righteous people ( like the Pharisees ) seldom repent ; serve for reward only ; and are NOT forgiven ; even  God's word is not enough for him to repent  
   D. Both sons were LOST ; one repented - the other did not