You have heard the term, “prodigal son.” It describes a child who has rebelled and chosen to live a life contrary to the way he was raised. A child who has chosen instead to live a life of selfishness and self-gratification. In the book of Luke, chapter 15, Jesus is teaching to the tax collectors and the sinners that had gathered around to hear Him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were upset because Jesus was teaching the word of God to those they viewed with contempt—those people they didn’t deem worthy to speak with, much less teach.

“And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

I want to set the stage for you. Jesus is teaching and among those who had come to hear Him teach were tax collectors and sinners. A tax collector was a Jewish person who worked for Rome, extorting money from the impoverished people to line their own pockets and make themselves rich. To say they were hated, would be an understatement. The Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the Jewish people, were angry that Jesus was instructing these people who were so hated. They did not deserve to hear about the word of God. In this moment, Jesus is not only addressing the sinners in His midst, but he is also addressing the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.

Jesus paints a picture of a truly unworthy son. First, he doesn’t even wait for his father to die, before he demands his inheritance from his father’s estate. This would be a slap in the face to any parent! I don’t want to wait until you die-just give me my money now! Next, the son takes off with his newfound wealth and squanders it on wild living. No thought was given to how hard his father had worked or all the sacrifices that had been made by the father on behalf of his children. The son in his selfishness blew threw the money, throwing it at anything that gave him pleasure, without thought of anything beyond that moment. Then comes the point when the son finds himself destitute and broke, hungry and without anyone to help him. He finally comes to his senses and decides to return to his father. But knowing how great his sin, he cannot bring himself to return as a son, so he decides to ask his father to make him a hired servant. A hired servant was a third-class worker, hired and paid like a common day laborer. They had no relationship with the family, no standing, no influence; they were disposable.

But we are not disposable to God! Look again at Jesus’s words, “But while he (the son) 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.” Even after all the evil, selfish and hateful ways the son had hurt the father, the father was watching for him to return. And in His love, the father runs to him, covering him with His love and forgiveness. This is how God feels about us! He is watching for us, yearning for us to return to Him. His greatest desire is for us to come to our senses and walk away from the selfish, sin filled lives and to return to His embrace. And when we do accept His invitation to come home, we are not made into a disposable hired hand. No! We are brought into the family as a full member. We are given the ring of a son, with all the power and influence that comes with it. We are given a robe and shoes to cover our nakedness. God, our Father, plans a celebration to welcome us back and to show everyone how happy He is that we have returned.

One more point that really struck me as I was studying this passage. The older son is understandably upset after the disrespect that was shown to the father and is angry when he returns to see the celebration on behalf of his wayward brother. I am sure you can understand his resentment. But look at it from Jesus’s point of view, instead of through our faulty human eyes. The Pharisees were angry that Jesus was teaching the unworthy sinners, just as the older son was angry that the father planned a celebration for the prodigal son. Oh, how this convicted my soul! I am a Pharisee in my heart? I would rather see someone I deem unworthy, suffer the punishment of Hell, rather than celebrate their return to the Father? No! My broken human soul and heart may agree with that, but I know that is not what God would want. We are to celebrate when a sinner repents. And unlike the older brother in Jesus’s parable, we are to run with open arms and embrace the lost, rejoicing that they have been found and brought back into the family!

Let us not be like the self-righteous Pharisees, who were lost within their own self-importance. Let us put God’s heart above our own, and reach out to the lost, embracing them and welcoming them into the family, with all the love and celebration that God, our Father, intends. “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”