522. LUK 15:11, LUK 15:16. THE PRODIGAL SON

Luk_15:11, Luk_15:16. The Prodigal Son

"And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that faileth to me. And he divided unto them his living," &c.’97Luk_15:11, Luk_15:16.

Of all the Saviour’s parables, this is one of the most interesting and affecting. It is impossible to read it without being struck with the felicity of its descriptions, and the tenderness and compassion which it breathes throughout. Surely sin was never painted in more striking colors, or human wretchedness in more piteous strains. And where can we find such an instance of the paternal love and compassion, as is presented to us in the conduct of the father? Let us then examine and dilate on the important particulars it presents to our view. Let us look at the prodigal,

I. In his original circumstances of honor and happiness. He was in his father’s house a partaker of all its comforts and enjoyments. The object of paternal affection, bearing the honored name, and moving in the honored rank of his family. This was man’s original state’97upright, innocent, and happy. God his Father. Eden his home. The earth his domain. Angels his companions. Bliss his portion. All that divine wisdom and love could provide, he possessed. All that he could really enjoy was provided. An ample portion was his inheritance. See him,

II. In the arrogance of his presumptuous claim. What did he really want? Where could he be more dignified or happy? But he seeks to have his portion to himself. He desires to do with it as he pleases. He seeks to throw off parental restraints and control He deems himself sufficient for the management of his own concerns. What was the original sin but throwing off God’s restraints, though reasonable and kind, and really for man’s good? He desired to act as he pleased, and to have his powers and possessions at his own disposal. Alas! this claim was foolish, ungrateful, and, as the sequel shows, fatal to his hopes and happiness. Observe him,

III. In his dissipated, wanderings. His portion awarded him, he flies the paternal roof, escapes the parental jurisdiction, and goes into a far country. Sin is the soul’s moral departure from God. Sinning is wandering from his family and throwing of his authority. Every step in the course of transgression is going farther and farther from the Lord.

(1.) This wandering is very gradual and insidious. The moral aberrations are at first small, and only just perceptible. Our first parents gazed on the forbidden tree. Then admired it. Then desired. Then, with the passions on the side of evil, they reasoned and listened to the temptations of the seducer. Then the hand was stretched out. And last of all the fruit was eaten. This generally is the gradual and insidious course of the sinner. The prodigal would retire at first a day’s journey from his home.

(2.) This wandering is increasingly rapid. The habit and love of evil formed, the course is downward and rapid. Respectability and decency are discarded. Conscience becomes seared’97self-respect abandoned. The good opinions of others despised. Now enormous sins are easily perpetrated. No fear of God before the eyes. He now runs greedily and hastily to do evil. He can blaspheme’97mock at sin. Sit in the scoffer’s chair. Be the hearty associate of the vilest of the vile. He is sold, body, soul, and spirit, to do wickedly.

(3.) This wandering is awfully dangerous. It is the way of shame, misery, and death. Its paths lead down to an early grave, and to the depths of hell. Observe the prodigal,

IV. In his wretchedness and misery; Luk_15:14. "He had spent all." Sin is fearfully expensive. Let the experience of the drunkard, the gambler, and the pleasure taker certify to the truth of this. Every vice except that of avarice is so, and that feeds on the very vitals of its victims. Pride, ambition, profligacy, are all ruinous to the means of those who wander in their dissipated paths. "He spent all." A rich portion was gone’97gone rapidly and foolishly. Now comes the moral dearth’97famine. The means are exhausted. He begins now to be "in want." The first transgressors were expelled the garden; they lost every tree, and all the luxuries of Eden, by tasting of the forbidden fruit. Mad experiment! Ruinous meal! Profligacy is followed by want, extravagance by misery. This is the history of myriads. Behold him,

V. In his unalleviated distress. The proud prodigal becomes a swineherd, the most degrading and miserable of all occupations. What filthy employment Satan gives his vassals to do! How iniquity degrades and debases! It is a constantly falling state’97men sink lower and lower, until, covered with infamy, their souls commingle with the vile and the lost in the abyss of woe beneath. Even swine’s food is not given him; Luk_15:16. By husks is meant the fruit of the carob-tree, which was used in feeding swine, and on which the most poor and wretched were compelled to live. Where are his evil associates? Why not go to the haunts of his former pleasures and noting? Sin is a cruel, hardening thing. Sinners victimize one another. Rob and destroy each other. "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." There is no aliment of life and comfort in the region of sin. Ah! the contrast between the prodigal’s state now and when at home in the midst of plenty and comfort. Look at his wan and pallid countenance. Look at his ragged, filthy dress. See him at his cursed employment. For cursed, said one of the Rabbins, "is he that feedeth swine." See him seeking the meanest fare in vain, and what is the conclusion to which we must come? "The way of transgressors is hard." "It is a hard and bitter thing to sin against the Lord."

Autor: JABEZ BURNS