Luke Part 2 Week 30

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 15:20-21 

²⁰ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’” 

The father was thrilled to see his younger son returning home. He gave his son a great welcome with hugs and kisses. The son admitted he had sinned against his father and against heaven. He acknowledged he was not worthy of being called his father’s son. Imagine how this thrilled the heart of his father. 

REFLECT 

If you are a parent, have you ever welcomed a disobedient child like this? 

RESPOND 

Such embracing and kissing not only accompanies welcoming a disobedient child, but also in saying goodbye to someone you do not expect to see again. See what the apostle Paul’s friends did when they did not expect to see him again by reading Acts 20:36-38.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 15:22-24 

²² “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” 

In Jesus’ story about the prodigal son, the father calls for an exuberant celebration for him when he returned. Having not previously heard from him it was as if his son were dead. The father said, “He was lost, but now he is found.” Thus, in Luke 15, the three stories could be referred to as “the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.” Observe the rejoicing when each was found. 

REFLECT 

The “ring for his finger” indicates his full acceptance in the family with all the rights he had before. 

RESPOND 

In the story of Esther the king’s signet ring had a significant part. First the ring was given to Haman who wanted to destroy all Jews (Esther 3:9-11). The ring could be pressed into a substance and give an impression needed to prove that the document was from the king. When Haman’s sin of wanting to destroy the Jews was exposed the king’s ring was given to Mordecai to supersede the previous decree given through Haman (see Esther 8:7-8).  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 15:25-27 

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, ²⁶ and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’” 

Some Bible scholars think the older son was the real “prodigal son.” In considering who was being referred to in this parable of Jesus, it seems the older son represents the religious leaders who did not think they needed to come to the heavenly Father for forgiveness. Remember, that Luke 15:1-2 sets the background for the reason Jesus told these three stories about the lost sheep, coin and son.  

REFLECT 

Does this help you to see the importance of considering the larger context in the Bible when looking at some specific verses? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how each of you might have felt had you been the older brother in this story. What would have been the godly thing to do and feel like? 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 15:28-30 

²⁸ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, ²⁹ but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. ³⁰ Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’” 

The older brother seems to have forgotten that when the younger brother wanted his inheritance, the father divided it between the two of them. The older brother already had half of the wealth of the family. He was upset because he didn’t think his younger brother deserved his father’s forgiveness. Do you see how he was acting like the religious leaders who were upset with Jesus? 

REFLECT 

What is it like for you when you hear of a notorious gangster being saved? Do you have a thought that he doesn’t deserve God’s forgiveness? What should be your thought? 

RESPOND 

How do believers get to the place where they are pleased when others are forgiven and not have an unforgiving spirit in their hearts? Read Ephesians 4:31-32 to see what the apostle Paul said should be done. Thinking about how desperately you needed to be forgiven helps you to be forgiving of others.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 15:31-32 

³¹ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. ³² We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” 

The loving father sought to make his older son understand why he was so overjoyed when the younger son returned. It was as if someone had come back from the dead. The Bible does not record how the older brother responded to his father’s comments. What do you think the older brother likely said and felt like in spite of his father’s love expressed for his younger brother? 

REFLECT 

Have you ever had the emotions toward someone like the older brother was having? If so, how did you change your mind about such wrong thinking? 

RESPOND 

In summary, some Bible students see the younger son picturing a believer out of fellowship with God and returning to the heavenly Father to ask forgiveness. Such a view would say 1 John 1:9 is the answer. Others see the older son picturing the religious leaders who were rejecting the heavenly Father. Such a view would say John 3:16-18 is the answer. Discuss with a friend what you think.