You are always welcome! (Luke 15b)

Luke 15:11-35
Key verse 15:24

As the world is changing quickly, we see more different kinds of people in school and at work. The other day one of my colleagues retired. She was nice and she helped me a lot to finish an important project. So I attended her farewell party. When I left there, I gave my thanks to her and hugged her. And then I noticed a lady standing beside her. I thought she was her sister. But to my surprise my colleague said, “David, she is my wife.” Another day while working a project at work, I learned that the University provides a same dormitory room for students whose genders are different if they ask. Some of them are transgender students. We will see this kind of thing more often. We will see more people who do not fit for our standards. What should we do with those people? How should we live as Christians in this world?  

In the previous passage, Jesus told two parables to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who complained that Jesus ate with sinners. Then Jesus taught them two parables that God earnestly searches for sinners and rejoices so much over sinners who repent. He continued his teaching in his third parable, which we are going to study today. The parable in today’s passage is similar to the first two parables in that they all teach how much God rejoices over a sinner who repents. But the third one depicts God’s heart and joy for a sinner in detail. It also points out the problem of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who dissociated themselves from sinners. From today’s passage, we can find the answer on how to see people whose ideas and life styles are very different from ours. I pray that through the passage we may have God’s heart for sinners and his joy over one who repents.

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.

There lived a father who had two sons. He was wealthy and had many hired servants in his house. The family lacked nothing. They wore good clothes and food was abundant in the house. The father loved his sons so much. He celebrated their birthdays without fail and occasionally ate out and played with them. He provided them with all they needed. Most of all, the father taught them the Bible and worshiped with them since their childhood. The two sons had the best father in the world. His friends envied them so much. Then one day the younger son came to his father, “Father, I think I have grown enough to be independent. I would like to live my own life. Please give me my inheritance now.” What if your son asked you to give him his share of your property now even though you are not that old to die? I would be shocked and then reject the request. In Jewish society, it was much more disgraceful to claim the inheritance while the father was still alive. As we will see later in verse 13, the son seemed to already have a plan to leave his family and his hometown so he needed his inheritance now. He wanted to be his own man and sought after freedom. He did not want to live in his father’s house forever. He got bored with his static life and with his father’s Bible study. He felt he was boxed in. So, he wanted to venture out and have new experiences in the world. He thought that he would be happy by leaving his father’s house and becoming independent.

How did the father respond to his younger son’s request? The younger son’s request was a bolt from the blue for the father. The rumor about this would be circulated quickly and his family would be disgraced by his son’s inappropriate deed. But what really concerned the father was what would happen to his son. The father knew that his son would be troubled with his inheritance. His son would be easily tempted and deceived by the world. The father was agonized but prayed about what would be the best way for his son. The father would lose the property but did not want to lose his son. He hoped that his son would come to his senses. He would wait until that time. So out of love he divided his property between his sons. The father was patient and caring for his son even in such a difficult time.

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.

The younger son was so excited with his inheritance. Soon he gathered all he had and cashed out his inheritance. Then, he went to a far country, leaving an email to his father, “Father, thank you for you inheritance. I want to experience new things in another country. I will be successful there. Good bye.” In the far country, he did not have to study the Bible or go to worship weekly. Instead, he could do whatever he wanted with his money. He squandered his property in wild living. He rented a luxury hotel room and ate expensive food every day. He bought a Lamborghini and went to the casino or partied almost every night with his new girlfriend. He felt he was somebody there. One day when he swiped his credit card at a restaurant and it was rejected. He did not realize that his bank account balance was getting lower and finally reached down to zero. Immediately, he was kicked out of his hotel and all the people around him left him. Overnight he became homeless. No place to go and no people he could ask for help. Nothing was left with him.

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.

Worse still, a severe famine came to that country and he began to be in need. He was starving to death! Then he barely got a job but it was feeding pigs in the field. Pigs were regarded unclean to Jews (Lev 11:7; Deut 14:8) so tending to them was repugnant to him. It hurt his self-esteem and compromised his identity. Regardless, he had no other choices because he was hungry. He even wanted to fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating. When seeing the pigs eating pods, his stomach growled more so he tried to get some from the pigs. But he was pushed away by the pigs. No one gave him even such pods though he was starving to death. He cried in hunger among pigs.

One time when I was in the military service at a remote place, food was not provided for a while and our squad had to go out to get anything to fill our stomach. We ate even grasses in the field. I had never experienced such a hunger. Hunger made me so miserable. My college diploma, my knowledge, and my self-esteem did not help me there. I felt I was nobody. The younger son thought he could be somebody, but he became nobody, even lower than pigs. He had been a precious son to his father but he was dying of hunger among pigs in a foreign country. Why did this happen? It was because he left his father.

His misery was the consequences of sin – his unthankful heart and pride. The younger son represents humankind who left God. We humans think that we will be free without God. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, thinking they would be like God. But they rather felt shame and fear. Then they were cursed to live for food and die. When we are disconnected from God, we are degraded and live for bread and pleasure. Without God, we have only fear and death. We are dead without God.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

In such misery, the younger son came to his senses. He began to see who he was and who he should have been. He realized that leaving his father’s house was wrong.  He remembered his father’s house where he did not lack anything. Even his father’s servants had more than enough bread. He said, “In my father’s house, I was never hungry. Whenever I opened refrigerators, they were always filled with lots of food.” He missed everything in his father’s house and even a piece of Domino pizza that was left dry after the Thursday Bible study. He realized how much he was happy in his father’s house and how much blessed it was to live with his father. Then, he felt he should go back to his father because that was the only way for him to live and that was a right thing to do. But there was one thing he felt he should do first. What was that?

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 servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

When he came to his senses, he also realized what wrongs he did to his father. “I will say to my father, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I did not appreciate your care and love for me. I have dishonored you. I lost everything you gave me. I am sorry. I am not worthy to be your son. Treat me as one of your servants. Allow me to stay in your house.’” It was interesting that the younger son said he sinned first against heaven. Heaven refers to God. He came to know that his wrongdoing went against God. He began to see himself before God. Through his distress and troubles, the younger son was humbled and came to understand who he was before God. Now he wanted to reconnect to his father. He wanted to restore his relationship with him and honor him. He was greatly shamed and distressed, but regardless he was encouraged to go back to his father. He pulled his strength together and got up. He was dirty and smelly. But he got up and went to his home to live again with his father.

There was one missionary kid. He was so smart. From his childhood, he had studied the Bible and attended all kinds of meetings and events in the church. Everyone thought that he was an exemplary kid. But he himself felt he was not free and wanted to live his own life. Then he had an opportunity to live somewhere for his job. He thought he could enjoy freedom there, still keeping his faith. But soon he found himself indulging in worldly pleasure. He enjoyed it and then could not control him anymore. His body and spirit was totally wounded and devastated. He began to regret and realized that he was not a good kid but a miserable sinner before God. He came to realize that he could be free only in God. Then he repented and came back to God.

As such, repentance is to confess our sins humbly and sincerely before God. Repentance also involves action, which is to leave our sinful life and come back to God. Come to God as you are. Confess your sins. Reconnect with God. Restore your broken relationship with him. That is the right way to live.

“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.’

He was still a long way off but amazingly his father immediately noticed him. After his younger son left, the father missed him so much. Since his son left, the father had a habit to look at the hill where his younger son was seen last when he left for a far country. The father was anguished and prayed for his younger son every day and every moment. Though his son left him and hurt him, he still loved him and waited for him to come back.

Then one day he saw someone walking down from the hill. Immediately, he sensed that was his younger son. The son’s clothes were worn out and he was walking on his bare feet. He looked like a homeless man. The father said, “That is my son! Oh my God!” The father was filled with compassion. His heart was broken. The father ran toward his son. His running looked undignified and even funny. But the father did not care. He rushed to his son and hugged his son, “My son!” He kissed his son on his dirty cheeks. The father did not care though his son was dirty and smelly. His eyes became tearful.

The son had nothing to say but confessed his sin. He knelt down and said, “I am so sorry for what I had done to you. I sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me stay in your house.” And he was also about to say, “Make me like one of your hired servants.” But the father did not need to hear further. That was enough. The father already forgave his son and embraced him again. As such, their broken relationship was restored and the son came to have peace with his father.

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.

The father put the best robe on his son and gave him a ring and shoes. In ancient times, the robe showed the person’s social status. The ring might have contained the seal of the family. In other words, the son was reconciled and welcomed back as a full member of the family. Then the father killed a fattened calf, which was kept for special occasions. This was the special occasion for the father to celebrate the coming of his son. Why did the father celebrate?

24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

The father celebrated because the younger son was lost and dead and then found and alive again. The son was lost because he left his father. He was dead because he was disconnected from his father and then became a slave to sin. But he was found because he came back home. He was alive because he repented and became a member of the family again. The father was so joyful like the shepherd who found his lost sheep and like the woman who found her lost coin in her house. “I cannot believe this. My son is here with me! Hello my neighbors, my younger son has come back home. He was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Come to my house. We will celebrate.” The father had music played and danced.

This depicts God our Father who welcomes and rejoices with a sinner who repents and comes back to him. When we repent and come back to him as we are, he does not ask our sins anymore. Even though our sins are great, his compassion and love is much greater and he forgives us when we repent. Micah 7:18-19 say,

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

God knows all our sins. Nevertheless, he does not judge us or give up on us. Instead, he has compassion on us. Whoever comes to him in repentance, he welcomes him and forgives him and takes him as his child. He sent his son Jesus and has taken all our sins upon him so that we all can come to him in Jesus’ name and have peace with him. He wants us to come back to him. He is earnestly waiting for sinners to come to him. “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. (Hosea 6:1) Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…” (Joel 2:13)” Do you feel you are distant from God? Do you still hang around in the world? Do you suffer in your sins? Come back to God. He understands you and will not judge you. But he will welcome you, forgive you and heal you because he is our Father. You are always welcome!

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.’

In the meantime, the older son came back from the field. Then, he heard music and dancing. He wondered what was going on and then heard from a servant what was happening. What was his reaction?

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!’

The older son got angry and refused to go in. He refused to acknowledge the prodigal boy as his brother. Then, his anger and complaint burst out. His father came out and entreated him, but he did not listen. Rather he protested that the father was not fair to him. He said he had worked as a slave for his father and didn’t get even a young goat for himself while his prodigal brother got a fattened calf. In some sense, his complaints had a point. However, it was not right that the father treated him as his slave. Most of all, his concern was about the property his brother squandered not about his brother who was in need. He thought that he was right and worthy but his younger brother was sinful and unworthy.

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.’”

The father said to the older one, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.” According to verse 12, he father already gave his portion, probably two-third of his property since he was the first son. But the older son thought that his father took his inheritance and he worked as a slave. He never appreciated his living with his father. In that sense, he was not much different than the prodigal son who had been unthankful. Actually, now he was worse than the younger brother. His younger brother repented and appreciated his father’s love and care whereas he still complained. In some sense he was another prodigal son staying in the house.

But the father’s view of the younger one was different. He saw his younger son with compassion rather than with a judging mind. To the father, what the younger son did and what happened to him no longer mattered. What mattered to him was that his younger son had been dead and became alive again. So, it was fitting to celebrate and be glad. His affectionate appeal showed that he also loved the older son and wanted him to join the celebration together.

Concluding the parables, Jesus invited the Pharisees and the teachers of the law to welcome sinners. They were like the older son. They judged sinners and stayed away from them as if they were righteous and worthy of God’s kingdom. But that was not the case. They were unworthy sinners too who needed God’s compassion. They should have known that they lived by God’s grace not by their self-righteousness. We humans live by God’s grace. If God were like the Pharisees, no one could come to him.

We should remember how God saved us. Was it by our righteousness or by his mercy and grace? Yes, by his mercy, by his grace, and by his compassion. God has compassion on sinners. I was a sinner and I am still a sinner. As I grow older, I find more of my sins. But God my Father has shown me more of his compassion. We live by his grace and mercy alone. Therefore we should also view others as our Father does and join him in welcoming sinners with his compassion.

There is always a person we can’t bear wherever we go. We think the person is incorrigible and unworthy. But God views differently. He has compassion on the person too as he has compassion on us. We have no right to judge others. We are forgiven but we are still sinners too.

There are so many young people in college who are like the prodigal son. Some of them go wild in sin. Some are alcoholic and suicidal. Some have a different sexual orientation. What should we do with them? Should we stay away from them? No, we should embrace them and lead them by truth. Jesus did not say we should leave the world. Instead he said we should be the light and salt of the world. God did not stay above and say, “Come up to me.” Instead, he came down to the earth to save sinner like you and me and take us up to heaven. God is God of compassion. He is our Father. God says to all of us, “Come back to me. You are more than welcome.” Let’s pray that we may have his compassion so that we can welcome any kind of people rather than judging them according to our human standards. 

By David Yun