Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
540 words, 3 minutes read time

He Returns To A Great Celebration

Scripture: Luke 15:21-24

In the previous the younger brother came to himself and decided to return home to his father as a hired servant. His father had been waiting for him and when he saw him, he ran to him and embraced him. In this lesson we will learn what the son says to his father concerning his sin and how the father responds.

^{Lk 15:21} “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

In verse 18 – 19, the son had prepared what he would say to his father when they met, and now in the presence of his father, he repeats it, but before he could finish it, his father cut him off before he could ask to be treated as a hired servant. It is clear that the father has forgiven him of his sin against him and is thankful for the change of heart he sees. With the son confessing his sin against heaven, there is evidence of a changed heart toward God also.

Either the servants came to see why the father was running or the father and son had walked together back to where the servants were, but now with servants present, the father instructs them to “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.” This is a picture of the finest clothing, resulting in the son being splendidly dressed. The ring may have contained a seal, which would indicate reconciling and welcoming back as a full member of the family. Shoes for his feet would probably indicate that the son returned barefooted. Surely the young man showed his poverty by his lack of shoes and poor dirty clothing.

The father gave further instruction to the servants: “Bring the fattened calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate.” The fattened calf would be “tender and good” (Genesis 18:7) and was kept for special occasions. This was indeed a special occasion and a time to eat and celebrate, not in godless self-indulgence but in thanksgiving to God for what he has done. A short time back, this rebellious son left with his inheritance, dead in trespasses and sins, but at his deepest time of need, his heart opened to God and he found life. He was a lost sheep that has been found and as a result there is reason to celebrate.

Conclusion

As the celebration progressed the older son apparently returned from working in the field and expressed his feelings about what was taking place. This new challenge for the father will be covered in the next lesson.