Prodigal Son - 3

Younger son

First, his request

• Luke 15:11

Second, his rebellion

• Luke 15:13-16

A shameless request leads to shameless rebellion

• Ephesians 2:12

The Loving Father

Father reenters the mind of the son

• Luke 15:17

Repentance begins with an accurate assessment of your condition 

He thinks about his father’s hired men

His father was a generous man!

• Hired men were day laborers
• Day workers hoped somebody would come along and hire them

He remembers that his father paid them more than enough

• Leviticus 19:13

Hired men were not slaves, they were lower than slaves

• Matthew 20:1-16

But he’s ready to go back to this man that he knows to be merciful, generous, and compassionate, and kind 

All he can do is humble himself, face his shame, admit his terrible sin.

And maybe, maybe if he can work long enough, he can earn back what he lost.

Here is the son’s plan: Make me one of your hired men

• Luke 15:18-19

Pharisees would agree with this plan

• He has to earn his way 

His sensible thinking moves his will

• Sinner comes to himself
• Sinner says, “There’s only one to whom I can turn, that’s the Father, whom I have dishonored.“
• Sinner says, “I have to cast myself on His mercy, forgiveness and love.”

Sinner says, “I have to tell Him that I’m willing to work to do whatever I need to do to earn my way back.”

Everybody would have understood that.

• Ezra 9:6