Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers and to all of you who hope to be father someday. Please open your Bible with me to “The Tale of Two Sons and Their Dad.” It’s found in the Gospel of Luke at chapter fifteen. Most of you, very likely, know the story of the Prodigal Son. So, for Father’s Day this year I want to direct you to the father of this prodigal. Now, before I read it, let me comment on parables in general. Parables don’t tell us everything. Second, everything in a parable is not symbolic of something else. And third, although parables were spoken for a particular reason and spoken directly to some specific people, they always have a message that goes beyond those people. This particular parable was spoken to the Pharisees. Look with me at Luke 15:1. Luke 15:1 “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. (2) And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. (3) And he spake this parable unto them, saying,…” The people who wanted to hear Jesus teach were the publicans (these were the Jewish tax collectors) and the sinners. These were the people whose sins were obvious to everyone; drunkards, prostitutes, thieves, and possibly even murderers. The ones who didn’t want to hear Jesus teach, though, were there as well. They arrived and began to criticize Jesus because He was eating with the quote “sinners.” This, in itself, tells you a lot about the Pharisees, doesn’t it? The fourth thing I want you to see about the parable is this. This one we call “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” is really “Part three” of one parable. Part one is a story about a shepherd who lost just one sheep. Part two is a story about a woman who lost just one coin. So, keep in mind when you read a parable in the Bible that there’s a setting for them and the LORD spoke them to a group of people.
Now, practically speaking, you might not be a Pharisee nor a sinner, but, as you are about to see, this parable is a word about three important people, two sons and a father. Please follow with me as I read a portion of it. Luke 15:11 “And he said, A certain man had two sons: (12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. (13) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. (14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. (15) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (16) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. (17) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (18) I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (19) And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” I want to say something today first, about the younger son. Then a word about the Father and then something about the older son. First, then, the younger son. 1. He was tired of staying at home and had given in to the desire to go. Just where? He didn’t know. He just didn’t want to endure another day doing the ordinary things; like working hard in the fields, learning to develop character, learning how to relate to everyday people, and maybe even, learning how to handle his money.