Luke 15:11/32 ¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me”. And he divided unto them his living.
It is interesting to note that at the younger sons prompting the father gave both sons their allotted inheritance
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
The younger son here learns one of the lessons of life ,the loss of his independence. Namely I can do it all by myself in my own strength.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
The result of the younger sons immaturity is a life of servitude and the loss of his status in the eyes of his fellows.
And when he came to himself, he said, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants:”
He now reflects upon his former status, and is humbled by his own immature decisions. And makes a decision that he would rather be a servant in his Fathers household , instead of being treated like a dog under a foreign master.,living on scraps.
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.
His return and the discovery how much love his Father reveals humbles him some more., his independent nature is completely shattered, the arrogance is lost completely in his Fathers embrace.
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.
This unexpected response to his return, brings out all the emotions, in tears now he understands fully the folly of thinking he could go it alone.through life.
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: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
Expecting to be disowned, the child discovers what redemption entails. Expecting judgement he receives exactly the opposite, grace and mercy. In his mind he was prepared to become a servant without any authority, yet he receives the unimaginable.A restoration of sonship. A fully empowered Son of God in his Fathers presence, clothed with the kingly garments of righteousness in his fathers sight , and the seal of newly found authority in his fathers kingdom. He can now issue decrees and seal them with the kings ring on his finger. His feet are shod with the gospel of his Father’s Grace and Mercy. Whatever the restored son decides will be fulfilled by the servants of his Fathers Kingdom.
And they began to be merry.
A royal banquet takes place as the Younger Son is restored to throne room and seated at the Fathers right hand.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked “what these things meant”.? 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.”And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 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: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”
The Legalistic brother’s angry response, who had disowned his own brother ,reveals his shocked discovery of the grace and mercy extended by his father to one he decided was dead in trespass and sin.
And he said unto him, “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 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.”
This son of works who spent his time in the fathers fields had to discover on his return that he to should be ruling and reigning at the right hand of Father. He is reminded of his allotted inheritance by the Father , that he too has authority over the Kingdom,for dominion over all the Fathers rights are shared by the enthroned Sons and Daughters of God.
