April 21, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Luke 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25  Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

There are several things to remember here in this parable. 1.  Jesus is speaking to the publicans, sinners and Pharisees. It is the Pharisees that murmured at His teachings. They complained.

2. The parable speaks about a young man who took all his inheritance and left home and spent it on riotous living. Realizing his wrong he repented and returned home to his loving forgiving father. This is a wonderful picture of a sinner repenting and turning to our loving and forgiving heavenly Father.

When the young man returns the father receives and forgives and rejoices with great celebration.  There is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents.

However, in this parable there is another prodigal which represents the Pharisees and religious piety. The older brother comes home and is upset that the fathers forgives and rejoices over the son that was dead and now was alive he was lost but now is found.

Luke 15:28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Jesus is making this parable because of the murmuring Pharisees. The religious crowd does not understand nor rejoices in the fact that believers are made free, they do not rejoice in the fact that God blesses believers. In fact the Pharisaical crowd is against true salvation.

Matthew 23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Acts 4:1  And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 4:18  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

The lost world believes they should have the blessing of God and reject the fact that God saves and receives only the repentant sinner. In fact in verses 29-30 you saw the older son trying justify his self-righteousness saying you never did this for me and look at him (referring to his brother) he is a sinner.  Self justification never brings repentance.

Most people do not understand true repentance and true salvation for it brings change and freedom and brings the sinner into wonderful relationship with God.

2Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Not only is there a complete change, there is a great love established between the saved sinner and the Lord Jesus.

John 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Not only is there a complete change, there is a great love established between the saved sinner and our heavenly Father.

John 16:27  For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

My friend, do you have this kind of relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ the Son?

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook