Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 39 – June 1978

 

Such A Nice Chap

 

Sermon by Rev. P. H. Pellicaan, B.D. on Luke 15:11-32

Scripture reading: Luke 15:25-32.

Psalter Hymnal: 76; 10:1, 2; 10:3; 450:1; 186; 438:1, 4

 

Our text is the second part of the parable which is usually called ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son’. This is however, not the right name for it. The central figure is not the son who, after having wallowed in the mud of depravity, decides to go home. No, the central figure is: THE FATHER WHO LOVES HIS SONS, THE ONE WHO LEFT HIM AS WELL AS THE ONE WHO STAYED HOME.: Only if we see it that way do we find here ONE parable. If the sons are central in the story, then we would have two parables.

Consequently I am not bringing a message about the son who stayed home, but the message is about the father who not only showed his love to a repentant sinner but who also showed his love to the son who was a kill-joy on the day his brother returned.

The message in this parable is very clear: the Lord loves His lost sheep. He greatly rejoices when He finds them back. Wicked, sinful people who say “Father I have sinned” are accepted in love. But then He goes on to appeal to people who are self-satisfied, self-righteous, proud of their obedience, their decent life. It is a message for the Pharisees who were shocked by Jesus’ mercy for sinners. Oh, they too believed in conversion. But then, sinners who had been converted would have to do penance, do many good works and then, after a long trial-period they could be received again in grace. But even then they would be in a different category for the rest of their lives.

The Pharisees, of course, were in many ways examples of obedience, being very strict, very conscientious in their religious duties. In this parable the Lord pictured their attitude in a very fair way. He could have mentioned – as He did at other times their hypocrisy, their complete disregard for widows and poor people in general. In this parable He passed all that by. He only pictures them in their industry, their zeal, their willingness to work, to fast, to sacrifice. This son worked in the field, all day, every day. He only rested when he had to stop work.

On the day that his brother returned he may have heard or seen something about it, but that was no excuse to stop working. After all: the father wanted him to work so he plodded on. His work done, he then comes home and hears music and dancing. He can’t understand what this is all about, so he makes enquiries and is told by one of the servants that a party is being thrown for his returned brother. Then his anger rises. Fancy that, that no- good brother of his, that black sheep of the family who did unspeakable things, HE is the centre of all that joy, that singing and that dancing… He decides to have nothing to do with that. And that was not just his first impulse, no he had made up his mind and did not want to give in.

And so the situation is that the prodigal son went home, and his brother, on that same day, left home. And the father had to go out again to invite a son who was lost. It is a sad ending to a wonderful story. We do not hear that he let himself be persuaded by his father, that he felt sorry for his ungracious attitude and finally went inside to welcome his brother. No, he stubbornly refused to give in. And he had reasons for that, plenty of reasons! For so many years he had been doing his duty, had laboured and slaved in his father’s service. He had been very profitable to his father: he had not spent his money, had not wasted his life. Other people may have said: what a comfort for that poor father that at least one of his boys is such a nice chap, so reliable and steady.

These kinds of people are an asset to any organisation, and also to the church. They are strict, faithful, willing to serve, sober in their habits. Isn’t that commendable? Isn’t it great to have people who are willing and industrious, members to whom church-membership is not a formal matter but who go to great lengths to show their willingness to serve?

Sure, it is great to have members like that. But the Lord Who looks on the heart, may have a different opinion. This man did a lot of work, sure. But he did it with a cold heart. His only incentive was: obedience. Love did not enter into the picture and as a result of that he had no joy in his work. He was a stranger to his father even though he was very familiar to him. After all, they lived in the same house. He dutifully did what he reckoned was wanted by the father and that was all.

“So many years….!” he said. You can hear the weariness in it. He could never stop, there was always more work to do. But he DID it!

Here we find a picture of the attitude of the Pharisees. They lived so strictly and in… doing that they reckoned that God would be mightily pleased with them. They kept their own account of everything they did during so many years: fasting regularly, giving tithes all the time. All the overtime they made was carefully recorded in their books. They were not supposed to do all that for nothing, were they?

On the day that the prodigal son returned the father looked into the heart of his eldest son, a heart full of bitterness, anger, coldness. And he realized that he had lost this son. This son does not love his father, neither does he love his brother. He only loves himself. He spoke about his brother as “that son of yours…”. It is horrible to look into this heart. There is no tenderness, no love, no warmth. He is indeed lost, dead!

It is an alarming story. All this happened IN the father’s house…! And so it appears that you may live close to God, be a faithful church member, an active member. It is even possible – according to Hebrews – to be enlightened, to taste the heavenly gift, to be a partaker of the Holy Spirit, to taste the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come – and yet be dead, spiritually dead! For God looks upon the HEART, and He wants to see there: love, humility, peace, joy. But the eldest son was only concerned with himself. He worked so hard, he tried so strenuously to please the father by his obedience. The result of such an attitude is: a dreary life, always worried, always in doubt whether his work would suffice.

That is characteristic of this type of person: they know no joy. They are always complaining, never satisfied, always jealous of others. They think that God is stingy with His gifts, they never receive something extra which would enable them to enjoy life. Oh, they don’t starve they lack nothing. But there are no extra’s thrown in. As this son said to his father: “You never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.” Take for instance my brother, that son of yours. What marvellous parties must he have had! And what did I get? NOTHING!

Now what is the trouble with this man? HE WAS BLIND! He never realized that he was the owner of the house, the land, and everything that was on it: His brother already had received his share, so it was clear that he would be the sole heir. The father told him that much: “All that I have is thine”. He had never dared to touch it, to regard it as his own. He was afraid that if he did, the father would disapprove. He was scared of his father.

And again, what a penetrating message to all of us! We are wonderfully privileged, are loaded with blessings, are immensely rich. We may live without fear, without worry, carefree and joyful. The Holy Spirit enlightens our heart, the power of Christ’s resurrection is at our disposal. We are looked after and cared for by a faithful Saviour. Paul and Silas, when they were in jail with their backs smarting from the scourging, their feet locked in stocks, realized their riches and burst out singing. “Rejoice!”, Paul said, “and again I say: rejoice!” We have every reason to rejoice, living in the sunshine of God’s love, in His kingdom of grace, looking forward to the marriage feast of the Lamb.

And yet, how many people are in their heart scared of God.. It is a terrifying idea to them that one day who knows how soon they will stand before Him. They know that Jesus said: but they do not dare to do that. They are frightened, even when they pray. They do pray, because it is expected of them. They come to church because they are supposed to do that. They confess their sins for God expects that. They read their Bible, because it would be wrong not to do it.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! It is the attitude of the eldest son. And out of a joyless life they will enter into eternal darkness.

It will be said to them: “I never knew you!” This becomes clear in this parable: the father really did not know his son. He could not understand him. They lived in different worlds. And that is a fact!

You may regularly come to church and yet live in a different world. You do not live in the Kingdom but in the darkness of your own fear, in the lovelessness of a cold heart. The joy in father’s house is not interrupted, but some people exclude themselves from that joy. They prefer to stay outside in darkness, bitterness, loneliness. It is a terrible thing…!

But then, the centre of this parable is not the prodigal son who returned. Neither is it the eldest son who excluded himself. But the centre is the father who was willing to forgive the shameful sins of his younger son and who was also willing to pardon the bitter, miserable attitude of his elder son. He did not in anger send him packing. The wonderful thing is: he appealed to him. “Child,” he said, “my son”! How great is his love. He went after his son who angrily walked away. He offered him all that he had, all I have is yours! It is not too late to repent and to enter into the joy of singing and dancing.

It is a parable, it is not history. But the prodigal sons are still vagabonding in the world. And the other sons are still sitting in church, dutifully. After all – they are supposed to go to church. Conscientiously they go through all the motions of a Christian life. But they have no love, no joy, no light! HERE IS a message for them, an urgent message. Please listen, give heed. On behalf of the Father we tell you: THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED YET!

Won’t you come and join the feast, please? You are most welcome!

AMEN.