John MacArthur The Prodigal Son

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John MacArthurThe Prodigal Son

• This elder son had no better relationship with
  his father than the Prodigal did when he first
  left home.

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Matthew 2629 (NIV)

• "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of
  the vine from now on until that day when I drink
  it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

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Revelation 199 (NIV)

• Then the angel said to me, "Write 'Blessed are
  those who are invited to the wedding supper of
  the Lamb!'"

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(No Transcript)
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The True Elder Brother

• Campaign
• A Tale of Two sons

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Whats Happened

• Father divided the wealth
• The younger son left
• He lost everything returned to be a worker
• Greeted by Fathers love he was received as a son
• A celebration was ordered

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Whats Happened

• The older son came back
• He inquired about the celebration
• He refused to go in
• His father pleaded with him
• A revealing exchange
• An open endinga question

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Connections

• From Kenneth E. Bailey
• The list of parallel issues found in the two sons
• The theological content of the story

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The Audiences
Within the Parable
Original Audience
What We Understand
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The story gives fresh meaning into what it means
to be lost
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Luke 1910 (NIV)

• For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what
  was lost.

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But, a similar question is just as real for the
younger son, How did he act at the banquet the
next day?

• The story ends with the question, Did the elder
  son (will I) go into the banquet?

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The greater question may be, What do you believe
about the fathers response to these two imagined
choices?

• Who do you believe God is? What do you believe
  about Him?

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John 159 (NIV)

• As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
  Now remain in my love.

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Jesus, as aTrue Elder Brother
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(No Transcript)
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A True Elder Brother

• Loves the father and his values (finds peace at
  home)
• Leaves home to find lost sons and daughters
• Will give anything to find a lost brother or
  sister
• His greatest joy is reconciliation

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2 Corinthians 517b-18a (NIV)

• If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation the
  old has gone, the new has come! All this is from
  God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ

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John 842 (NIV)

• "If God were your Father, you would love me, for
  I came from God and now am here. I have not come
  on my own but he sent me."

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Jesus The True Elder Brother

• By telling the story in a trilogy Jesus has
  implied that He is the missing character in this
  story.
• He left Fathers home to search for the lost
  son(s) (and daughters) and will pay any price to
  find them and bring them home.

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Reconsider the man on the right in Rembrandts
painting is he possibly the true elder brother?
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John 159-12 (MSG)

• Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep
  my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in
  my love. That's what I've done kept my Father's
  commands and made myself at home in his love.

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John 159-12 (MSG)

• I've told you these things for a purpose that my
  joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly
  mature. This is my command Love one another the
  way I loved you.

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The True Elder Brother

• Campaign
• A Tale of Two sons