The prodigal son gives us a pretty good picture of a sinner starting out in life of sin. The son left the parental roof and went out upon his own, so to speak where he would be free of all restraints of his loving parents and could do just as he pleased. That is just about the way our youthful delinquents are starting out today. They rebel at the discipline of their parents and restraining influences of their conscience, going a little further in sin by degrees until they become entangled with the law. If the parents would discipline their children from the start and see to it that their children were always obedient, most of our juvenile delinquency problems would be solved. This system would apply to our (Christians) homes in general. In the homes of the children of the saints where they are brought up according to the Word of God every bit of juvenile delinquency could be avoided, for the words of God, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." Are absolutely true.

In this parable we see how willingly and gladly the father received his erring son back into the family and provided a feast to celebrate in return. By this expression of love and forgiveness on the part of the boy's father, Jesus means to portray to us the boundless love of our heavenly Father, who is willing and anxious to take every sinner into His arms, so to speak, and forgive him of all his sins, no matter how great they be. If we will only come to Him and confess our sins, He will cast them all into the sea of forgetfulness and remember them against us no more forever. And there will be great rejoicing in heaven over every precious soul that forsakes his sinful ways for the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life in heaven. This is your invitation, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Just think how wonderful it would be to have communion with One so loving, kind, and merciful as the almighty God of heaven; then open your heart's door and let Him in!

The Son Demands Inheritance

Luke 15:12---Give me the portion of goods---To us it would seem strange that a father who had his son's beast interest at heart would grant such a request. However, in those days it was the son's legal right to make this demand.

Verse 13---Wasted his substance with riotous living---This verse says that he went into a far country. No doubt the devil put this idea into his head so that it would be more difficult for him to return when he realized his mistake in leaving. It seems that he went into the deepest of sin, for verse thirty tells us that he was among the harlots. Thus we see how serious it is to give oneself over to the devil with no one to restrain. The devil surely did a good job of bringing ruin to his mind, body, and soul and rob him of his living.

He Comes to Want

Luke 15:14---He began to be in want---A young man like this one will have friends just as long as his money holds out, but when it is gone his friends will be gone too, for they are not the right kind and are interested only in the money that is being spent on them. This is a warning to us to choose our friends with care, and our very first selection should be the One that "sticketh close than a brother," Jesus Christ. As long as we stick close to Him we need have no fear, for He will stick close to us to the very end and take us right into heaven.

Verse 15---Sent him into his fields to feed swine---This was considered the basest and vilest of all employments, and to a Jew, most degrading. Thus we see what sin will do for a one-time innocent and respectable young man. How wonderful it would be if we could get all our young people to observe the admonition in Ecclesiastes 12:1, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Oh, how quickly did the evil days that he found no pleasure in living. But there was one thing in his favor. He saw the error of his way and took the right way out, acknowledge his sin, and returned to his father.

Verse 16---With the husk that the swine did eat---This gives us some idea of the state of want. He was not earning enough to be able to satisfy hunger with what was, to him, desirable food.

He Makes A Good Decision

Luke 15:17---When he came to himself---When he realized how foolish he had been in leaving his father's house, he decided to do something about it. No doubt the father had been praying earnestly that God would cause his son to see the error of his way and return home, and his prayers were beginning to have their effect. This should be an encouragement to all parents that have unsaved children to begin to call upon God with all the earnestness of which they are capable and not let up until their prayers are answered. This will bring results and make God happy.

Verse 18---I will rise and go to my father---What a wise decision he made! He knew he had sinned against his father and God and decided to seek forgiveness. This is the only way we can get rid of our burden of sin, and the quicker we make up our mind to do it, the better off we will be.

Verse 19---Make me as one of thy hired servants---He humbled himself and became willing to be one of his father's servants. This is just the attitude that we all must take. When we come to Jesus for salvation, we must be willing to become His servant and let Him have complete control of our lives.

Wonderful Reception

Luke 15:20---Fell on his neck, and kissed him---The wayward son's return brought great joy to hid father's heart. No matter how much we have sinned against God we never have to be afraid that God will not take us in His arms, as it were, when we come to Him with a contrite heart. He will take away the burden of sin and welcome us into the family of God.

Verse 21---I have sinned against heaven---The father was so overjoyed at his son's return that he did not wait for him to finish his confession before letting him know, by his acts of love, that all was forgiven.

Verse 22---Bring forth the best robe---Nothing was too good for the once lost son whose sin had been forgiven. Just so does God lavish His affections upon all those who seek Him with their whole heart. He will clothe us with the white linen robes of righteousness and put a song of joy in our heart.

Verse 23---Let us eat, and be merry---Thus we see how the son's decision to return home paid off. Oh, how much more will our decision to return to God serve Him with reverence and godly fear the rest of our lives pay off! We can feast at Father's table until our soul is fat and flourishing.

Verse 24---My son was dead---That is, he was dead in sin. He had been lost to all that was good and had been given over entirely to evil. But now he was alive again to do good and forsake evil ways. This surely was a time to be merry.

The study of this lesson should help every person that does not know God in the forgiveness of sins to see that he is the wayward son wasting his life in riotous living. You may be living a good moral life in the eyes of the world, but you are wasting your life and will be weighed and found wanting in the day of judgment. We want you to know that God is even more loving than the father in the parable and stands ever ready with open arms to welcome you into the family of God the minute you come to Him, confessing your sins and asking forgiveness. God loves you more than any earthly friend you may have and will be made happy at your homecoming. Won't you come to Him so that the gift of His dear Son, as far as you are concerned, will not have been in vain?