The Prodigal Son. 3

"And when he came to his senses." This means that he had recovered his sanity, for previously he was beside himself—out of his mind. The Scriptures represent the sinner as suffering from spiritual insanity, and regeneration as the bestowment of a right mind. In Ephesians 4:17,18 the saints of God are exhorted to "walk not as other Gentiles walk—in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Again, in Mark 5 we have in the demoniac a type of the sinner in bondage to Satan, who, when delivered by our Lord, is seen "sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind."

Finally, in 2 Timothy 1:7 the change which the new birth produces is described in the following terms: "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Insanity is the lack of capacity to think correctly, and to form proper estimates of ourselves and others. It is a suffering from various forms of hallucination. An unmistakable evidence of insanity is, that the one whose mind is deranged is quite ignorant of the fact, and supposes himself to be all right. What is true in the natural realm—has its counterpart in the spiritual realm. The sinner's understanding is darkened; his mind is full of strange delusions; he is unable to arrive at correct conclusions; and what is the saddest part of it all is—that he is totally unconscious of his spiritual disease.But when the Holy Spirit of God has worked upon a man, these hallucinations are removed, the darkness is taken away from his understanding and, like the "prodigal," he "comes to his senses."

8. He said, "I will arise and go to my father." (v. 18). It is not until after the sinner has been made to feel "the mighty famine" that exists in the far country, it is not until he has discovered that "no man" can give unto him, and it is not until he has "come to himself," that he begins to reason aright and remind himself that in his father's house there is "bread enough and to spare." And it is only then that he declares "I will arise and go to my father," which means, it is only then that the will begins to move Godwards.

And what is the next thing that we read? Why, that the prodigal not only determines to arise and go to his father—but he announces that he will "say unto him, Father I have sinned against heaven and before you." In other words, he is now willing to take the place of a lost sinner before God. That is what repentance is.

9. "I will say, 'I have sinned against heaven, and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son—make me as one of your hired servants.'" (Luke 15:18,19) He is still legalistic. Applying the language of this to the history of the sinner coming to God—we here reach the point where, though the Holy Spirit has done much for the awakened one—revealing his need, and enlightening his mind, directing his will, and producing conviction—the work of grace is not yet complete. The sinner is now deeply conscious of his own utter unworthiness—but not yet has he learned of the marvelous grace of God which more than meets his deep need. This comes out in the fact that the highest conception that the mind of the returning "prodigal" rose to was that of being made one of the "hired servants." How legalistic the mind of man is! How tenaciously he clings to his own performances! How strenuously he will contend for the need of bringing in his own works! A "hired servant" is one who has to work for all he gets.

10. He "arose and came to his father." (v. 20) Blessed be His name, God does not cease His patient work within us until this point has been reached. Dull of comprehension though we are, our minds at enmity against Him, our wills essentially opposed to Him—He graciously perseveres with us until our understandings have been enlightened, our enmity has been removed, our wills so subdued—that we arise and come to Him.

And what was the reception the prodigal met with? Do you know what portion was meted out to a "prodigal son" under the Law? Read with me the following passage: "Suppose a man has a stubborn, rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him. In such cases, the father and mother must take the son before the leaders of the town. They must declare: 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a worthless drunkard.' Then all the men of the town must stone him to death!" (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

How then did the father receive this "prodigal"? And this brings us to consider:

The prodigal's RECEPTION. How many an exercised heart has wondered what sort of a reception he would meet with if he came to God. Blessed it is to ponder the closing portion of the third part of this matchless parable. In expounding the significance of what is recorded of this "prodigal son" as he departed from the "father," we have seen portrayed the representative experiences of the sinner. As we turn now to the happy sequel, we shall see that what happened to him as he returned to the "father," also pictures:

1. The hearty welcome he received. "And he arose, and came to his father—but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (v. 20). How inexpressibly blessed this is! Five things (the number of grace) are here predicated of "his father."

First when he was yet a great way off his father "saw him." And what does this tell us? Why, that the father was looking out for him! The father was eagerly waiting for him. And how keen are love's eyes! Even while he was yet "a great way off" his father saw him. But how solemnly this brings out the distance in which by nature we were from God! Even after the sinner has "come to himself," and turned his back upon the "far country," and has set his face homewards, he is "yet a great way off"! Nevertheless, all praise to His sovereign grace, "But now, in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)

Second, his father "had compassion." The prodigal must have presented a miserable appearance: he had devoured his living with harlots (v. 30)—the illicit love for the things of the world, instead of loving God with "all our hearts". He had suffered the effects of the "mighty famine" (v. 14). And he had gone out into the fields to "feed swine." (v. 15) What a pitiable object he must have been! Yet did his father have "compassion" on him! And O dear Christian reader, how did you and I look just before the Father received us? Understandings darkened, hearts desperately wicked, wills rebellious, His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ." (Ephesians 2:4,5)

Third, his father "ran" to meet him. We do not read of the "prodigal" running as he set out to return to his "father." All that is said of him is that "he arose, and came to his father." But of the "father" it is said that he "ran"! Do you know dear reader, that this is the only verse in all the Bible which represents God as being in a hurry! In the restoration of the ruined earth He acted orderly, we might say leisurely. In everything else but this, God is viewed as acting with calmness and deliberation, as befits One who has all eternity at His disposal. But here is what we term, the impatience of Divine Love.

Fourth, his father "fell on his neck." He not only "saw him" while a great way off, he not only had "compassion" on this rebellious prodigal, he not only "ran" to meet him—but he "fell on his neck"! He embraced him—he flung around him the welcoming arms of love.

Fifth, his father "kissed him." Once more we would point out that nothing is said here of the son kissing the father. It is the "father" who takes the lead at every stage! He "kissed" him, not rebuffed him. He "kissed" him, not bade him depart. He "kissed" him, not chided him for his wanderings. What marvelous grace! How all this reveals the Father's heart! The "kiss" speaks of love, of reconciliation, of intimate relationship.

2. The prodigal's response. Notice now the prodigal's response. "And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son" (v. 21) Notice three things.

First, he is deeply conscious of his sinful condition, and he hesitates not to confess it. And the nearer we approach the thrice holy God—the clearer shall we perceive our vileness.

Second, he was profoundly convinced of his unworthiness, and delayed not to own it. It is a discovery of the marvelous grace of God which brings us to a deeper realization of how thoroughly undeserving we are, for grace and merit are as much opposed to each other as light and darkness.

Third, observe that he says nothing new about being made a "hired servant". No! the wondrous grace of the "father" had taught him better.

Next Part The Prodigal Son. 4

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