OUTLINE OF THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON (Lk. 15:11-32)

A. Alienation I (The steps from riches to rags)

    (1) The younger son made the basic decision to live for himself (v. 12). He demanded his share of his father’s estate, even though his father was still living, and he left the father’s house, traveling to a distant country to live.

    (2) In living for himself, he made wrong decisions; he couldn’t handle his independence (v. 13). No doubt he started out thinking he could manage his own life and property better than his father. But it wasn’t long before he had wasted his property and became poor. A great famine then arose, and he was not prepared for this. His was an “easy come, easy go” philosophy; he did not save for a time of need. And so he suffered further as a result of his decisions.

    (3) Making wrong decisions led to a helpless state, beyond self-help (v. 15, 16). When he had spent everything, that was the end of his material resources. All he had left was his services. So he tried to find word, and finally landed a job feeding pigs. He became so desperately hungry that he was ready to even eat the pods he was feeding the pigs. “And no one gave him anything.”

B. Restoration I: The Son's Part (The steps from rags back to riches)

    (1) He realized his need and his father’s wealth (v. 17). “when he came to himself” – when he saw things as they really were, when all the illusions of his “run-away” days were gone, he thought of the relatively good position of his father’s servants. They had “bread enough and to spare!” And here he was, a son, who should have been over the servants, starving in a distant country.

    (2) He made the basic decision to go back home, and acted on his decision by heading for home (v. 18, 20). First he made the decision, and then he followed through. When he decided to return to his father, at that point he believed that he had the answer to his problem. But this belief, or faith, was completely ineffectual until he got up and went back. This is faith without works, which James tells us is dead (Jas. 2:14-26, esp. 17).

    (3) He confessed his sin and unworthiness to his father – no excuses (v. 21). His words reflect his real feelings – he was completely humbled. He made no demands, no excuses. He just asked to be taken back as a hired servant. Also, he didn’t blame his troubles on the famine. That would be an obvious scapegoat; it would relieve personal guilt.

C. Restoration I: The Father’s Part

    (1) The father runs to meet him and embraces him (v. 20)

    (2) The father receives him back as a son, and sets him up in honor (v. 22-23)

    (3) They begin to celebrate (v. 24)

D. Alienation II

    (1) The older son is working hard (v. 25, 29), but he was lost too. He lived with his father, but didn’t share in his father’s love and forgiveness. The older son thought of himself as a servant rather than as a son. He lived in the midst of wealth as if he were poor; he never asked!

    (2) He is invited to the celebration (v. 27, 28)

    (3) He chooses to stay outside and complain (v. 28-30)

E. Restoration II: The Father’s Part

    (1) The father goes out of the house to his older son (v. 28)

    (2) He pleads with his son to join the party (v. 28)

    (3) He reminds his son of his heritage as a son, and shares the reason for the rejoicing (v. 31, 32)

F. Restoration II: The Son’s Part

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