Anchor My Faith

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson
Author: Stephen Weller
748 words, 4 minutes read time

He Is Convicted of Sin

Scripture: Luke 15:17-20

In the previous lesson, we left the younger son in a desperate condition caring for pigs, a repugnant job for this Jew. In this lesson we will learn what he plans to do about that condition.

^{Lk 15:17} ‘“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’”

This younger son looked at his present desperate condition and thought back to the conditions under which his father’s hired servants lived and realized how much better off they were than he currently was; they had more than enough bread to eat while he was perishing with hunger. How much better it would be, he thought, if he could go back and be one of his father’s hired servants. He felt, because of what he had done, his sin against his father, that he could not go back his father’s son. Not only did he see his sin against his father as grievous, but his sin against heaven, that is against God himself. He decides to return with a repentant spirit and request that he be treated as a hired servant.

L^{k 15:20} “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

After thinking about his living conditions and his attitude, the younger son comes under conviction over his sin against his father and against God and decides to return to his father with a repentant heart, not as his son but as a hired servant. How often do we have desires to go and do something that is not best for our lives and then come to realized that we have sinned against God and maybe others? Was that not a time when, like with this younger son, God was then able to penetrate the heart and start a work of restoration or in the case of a believer, continue the process?

Like with God, the father gave the younger son what he requested and let him go with the hope that the cost in wasted resources would be sufficient to do the work of conviction and bring him back as a restored son, not one in rebellion as he formerly was. While the son was away the father prayed and continued to hope for a changed heart, and as he did, he continued to watch in the direction in which his son left for his possible return.

Then one day the father sees him in the distance and feeling compassion for him, he runs to him and embraces him and kissed him. At that time, for an elder to run was considered to be undignified, especially a wealthy land owner, but his compassion and love for his son was so great that he cast aside behavioral conventions and ran to meet his son.

To embrace him literally meant “to fall upon his neck.” We see this behavior in the following: Genesis 33:4 ESV: “But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”; in Genesis 45:14 ESV: “Then [Joseph] fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.”; and in Genesis 46:29 ESV: “Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.”

Conclusion

As we bring this lesson to an end, James 4:8 ESV comes to mind: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The younger son was convicted of his sin and desired a pure heart and to be near his father, hoping his father would accept him back. When we, in disobedience, move away from God, the invitation is always open for us to again draw near to him and he will always be there to draw near to us.