Wise Father’s Build

Examining the Father of the Prodigal Son

We’re going to look at a well-known, traditional passage from a different angle. If you have attended church for a number of years, you have heard this passage preached on, and if you’ve been a Christian a long time, you’ve possibly heard dozens of sermons or read articles or books on the Prodigal Son. Today, we are going to look at the passage and focus on the father more than the sons. May it illuminate our understanding of God’s hope for us and inform our approach to our children and our lives. 

 Movement 1: Father Loses Son (Luke 15:11-19)

Psalm 145:8 - “The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.”

2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 26:12 - Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Prov. 12:15)

Psalm 119:9-12 - How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. (Josh. 1:8, 1 Timothy 3:16)

Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Colossians 3:23-24, Eccl. 2:24)

Hebrews 13:5-6 - Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” (Matthew 19:21-24)

Psalm 127:1-2 - Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. (Matthew 6:25-33)

Luke 15:13 - And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

Prov. 13:11 - Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.

Eph 5:15-17 - Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Movement 2: Father Receives Lost Son (Luke 15:20-24)

Matthew 6:14-15 - “If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 18:21-22, I John 1:9)

Ephesians 6:18 - With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (1 Thes. 5:17, Philippians 4:6-7)

1 Chronicles 16:8,11 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples… Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. 

 Luke 15:22-24 - But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ (1 Thes. 5:16)
Jeremiah 32:41 - “I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.”

Movement 3: Father Loses Son (Luke 15:25-34)

Jeremiah 31:3 - “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 15:32 - we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.

Proverbs 1:7-8 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.