Luke 15:11-32; Matt. 21:28-32
Sunday, December 1, 2002

Removing My Heart Mask

Introduction:
Read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). 

One must understand this parable as a subpart of the larger Gospel narrative and Luke announces in vv. 1-2 its cast of characters: (1) Jesus, (2) sinners, and (3) scribes and Pharisees. Compare this with a parallel message found in Luke 5:27-32. What was the issue troubling the scribes and Pharisees? 
“this man _____________ ____________ and ________ with them.” 

The Pearl of Wisdom from this study is that we find great joy in true _________________. This lesson raises two questions:
• Does everyone need to repent? 
• What enables one to remove his/her heart mask and discover the joy of repentance?

Dig Deeper:
I. Jesus concedes the absolute truth of the charge of the scribes and Pharisees that he welcomed the moral outcasts into the kingdom and on this basis he presents a touching lesson in parables. 
a. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is the third of three parables recorded in Luke 15 about things that are __________ and then __________. 

II. When God first gave Israel their land, they believed that it should remain in the family. Consequently, a basic law of inheritance developed – the family possesses the land, rather than a private individual. The Law of Moses dictated that the right of inheritance belonged only to the sons of a legal wife (Deut. 21:15-17; Num. 27:8-11). The eldest son would receive a double portion, and the others received equal shares of the estate. Even prior to the death of the father, a younger son could request possession of his share of the estate and turn it into cash. Apparently, that is what happens in this parable. 

III. Trace the emotional pilgrimage you think the younger son traveled from his leaving to his return. What was he feeling and thinking during each stage? 

IV. Jesus wanted to convince the scribes and Pharisees that even horrible sinners are capable of repentance. Identify some of the things highlighted in this parable that would have been repulsive to the Pharisees. 

V. The earthly ministry of Jesus grounded itself in the nature of God. The Jewish leaders thought they had a prima facie case in that Jesus was not who he claimed to be. If he were the Son of God, he would not associate with the unseemly, unclean, secular and needy people. 
a. In the person of the father we see an awesome display of God’s grace in action! Identify in the parable the various ways that the father exemplified God’s total acceptance of repentant sinners. With regard to the nature of God, what does this parable teach us? 
b. Whatever a person thinks about God largely determines that person’s ministry and mission. If one understands God to be concerned and compassionate about the sin-sick condition of all men, that person will possess a strong concern for lost, lonely, hurting, and guilty people. 

VI. The main purpose of this narrative is to encourage all sinners to repent, regardless of the extent to which they may have degraded themselves. Find evidence in the parable that the prodigal was able to repent. 
a. A no lesser emphasis in this parable is the rebuke to the hard-hearted older brother speaking directly to our need to rejoice in the salvation of others. The superior elder brother represents the arrogant Pharisees and teachers of the law. They spurned the kingdom because they didn’t want to share in it if undesirables were going to be allowed in also. 

VII. Read the Parable of the Two Sons (Matt. 21:28-32).
a. Which son obeyed the father? 
b. Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the religious establishment of his day. They were pious in their speech and demeanor but were really unrepentant frauds and hypocrites eager to tell others what to do but unwilling to “lift one finger” themselves (Isa. 29:13; Luke 11:46). 
c. The tax collectors and prostitutes, on the other hand, were openly unfaithful to God. However, later they responded in repentance and eagerly embraced the kingdom of God.

A Modern-Day Case Study:
Having been active in the church for many years, Stan and Mary are having a difficult time with the “baby-boomers” who are now returning to church. These baby-boomers want special groups and classes to help them work through their “prodigal problems” like addictions, broken relationships, compulsive behaviors, and co-dependency. Having never experienced these problems, Stan and Mary are having a hard time relating to these people and question the need to deal with these complex problems in a church setting. 

Can you relate to the feelings of Stan and Mary?

How should the church respond? 

And what might our handling of these kinds of people suggest about our view of God?

It is true that a church’s ministry strategy to hurting people grows out of their understanding of repentance and forgiveness?