Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / The Prodigal Son - Part 2: The Father
Transcript
- 0:00Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Luke chapter 15.
- 0:05Having finished our exposition of the book of Acts, Luke's second account is account of the work of the risen Christ.
- 0:14We're taking just a short little interlude to do some smaller expositions.
- 0:21And we've come to his first account of Jesus's earthly ministry.
- 0:25And a particular set of parables that he told in Luke chapter 15.
- 0:32Now, like we did last week, I'm going to read the entirety of the chapter to you.
- 0:37Because we want to set this parable that we most often know as the parable of the prodigal son in its proper context.
- 0:45There's a great truth being communicated here.
- 0:48And we don't want to miss that as we study it across these three weeks.
- 0:52Last week, today, and the next as well.
- 0:55Our focus for today, though, as we read the chapter and we'll come back to, is verses 20 through 24.
- 1:05So, Luke chapter 15.
- 1:07Before I begin reading, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
- 1:12It was written for His glory and for our good.
- 1:15We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
- 1:21Luke chapter 15, beginning in verse 1 and following.
- 1:26Now, the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Him.
- 1:30And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them.
- 1:37So He told them this parable.
- 1:40What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
- 1:49And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
- 1:54And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.
- 2:02Just so I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
- 2:12Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
- 2:21And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.
- 2:29Just so I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
- 2:36And he said, There was a man who had two sons.
- 2:41And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of my property that is coming to me.
- 2:46And he divided his property between them.
- 2:49Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country.
- 2:55And there he squandered his property in reckless living.
- 2:59And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
- 3:05So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
- 3:12And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
- 3:17But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread?
- 3:24But I perish here with hunger.
- 3:27I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
- 3:34I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
- 3:37Treat me as one of your hired servants.
- 3:39And he arose and came to his father.
- 3:42But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
- 3:51And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
- 3:56I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
- 3:59But the father said to his servants, Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
- 4:12For this, my son was dead and is alive again.
- 4:16He was lost and is found.
- 4:19And they began to celebrate.
- 4:22Now his older son was in the field.
- 4:25And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
- 4:28And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
- 4:32And he said to him, Your brother has come and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.
- 4:40But he was angry and refused to go in.
- 4:43His father came out and entreated him.
- 4:46But he answered his father, Look, these many years I have served you and I never disobeyed your command.
- 4:52Yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends.
- 4:57But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.
- 5:05And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
- 5:11It was fitting to celebrate and be glad.
- 5:13For this, your brother was dead and is alive.
- 5:17He was lost and is found.
- 5:20And so, as I said, our major attention is on this parable that's most often called the parable of the prodigal son.
- 5:33And there are many commentators who have a problem with that title.
- 5:37Say it should rather be called the parable of the two sons.
- 5:41Or the parable, as Tim Keller says, the parable of the prodigal father.
- 5:45Father.
- 5:47Because we can, if we only think of the younger son, we can miss the point altogether of this text.
- 5:56You see, Jesus is juxtaposing the attitudes of the Pharisees and the scribes with the rejoicing of heaven over lost souls being found.
- 6:08He is not in any way suggesting to the Pharisees and scribes that they themselves are righteous.
- 6:15They are as desperately lost as those Gentiles and tax collectors that are gathering around Jesus.
- 6:22But they don't have a perception of this.
- 6:25They are the older brother.
- 6:29And so, we're driving to that point, which we'll make readily and at length next week.
- 6:36Last week, we focused on verses 11 through 19, the younger son, the one that we call the prodigal.
- 6:44And we noted the various stages in the history of this type of sinner, this licentious sinner.
- 6:54They were, as follows, number one, a desire for independence from God.
- 7:01The truth of it is that we never really are independent from God, but we can seek to be independent from Him.
- 7:05We can believe that we are independent from Him.
- 7:10The second stage in the history of this sinner is the indulgence of self.
- 7:17Investing in us.
- 7:18The experience of the fleeting pleasure of sin to its end.
- 7:24The third, which some people reach, and I pray you never do, is insanity of the soul.
- 7:33This young man came to the place where he wanted to eat inedible food.
- 7:38Food that was given to pigs.
- 7:41He was brought that low in his sinfulness, in his rebellion against the Father.
- 7:47And then, as the prodigal seems to, and if you have come to place believing faith in Christ,
- 7:55we see on his part repentance and faith.
- 8:00We see him come to himself, believing that his Father will be good to him,
- 8:05and will take him back into his control and care.
- 8:09This morning, we're going to focus our attention on the love of the Father for the younger son.
- 8:17And today, if you're here with us, you find yourself in one of three places.
- 8:26Number one, it is possible this morning that you are presently the prodigal son.
- 8:35You've sought your independence from God.
- 8:38You indulge yourself.
- 8:40You may even be finding yourself this morning at the very end of yourself.
- 8:45Maybe that's why you chose to accept an invitation to come to church.
- 8:51You don't know where else to go.
- 8:54You've sought out the pleasure of the world, and it has left you wanting.
- 8:58My hope for you this morning, my prayer for you this week,
- 9:04is that you will see with what kind of love God loves.
- 9:11That you will see that God's love is offered freely and lavishly to anyone
- 9:16who will come to him in repentance and faith,
- 9:20and that your heart will be drawn to him.
- 9:22Secondly, you may find that you are the elder brother
- 9:30who we'll talk about more extensively next week.
- 9:35But that's to say that you are self-righteous.
- 9:39You think you've done enough good to seek God's pleasure.
- 9:45You desire to obey God,
- 9:47but that desire, that obedience has nothing to do with a love for him,
- 9:53but is rather motivated by what you can get from him.
- 9:56You think there's some promise on the other side
- 9:59if you will simply obey.
- 10:03You also, just like the younger son,
- 10:06wish that the father was dead,
- 10:09and your sin may be the worst of the two
- 10:11because it is so much more deceptive.
- 10:14You think you're accepted by God by your works,
- 10:18and your works will come up short.
- 10:22My hope for you this morning
- 10:23is that you will also see your need for repentance and faith,
- 10:29that you would love God in his ways to have him,
- 10:33and not merely what he can give you,
- 10:36that you also would fly home to your father,
- 10:40that you may rejoice in his goodness to mankind.
- 10:44The third position you may find yourself in this morning,
- 10:48I hope that most of you, if not all,
- 10:52find yourself in this place,
- 10:54having been a rebel of one kind or the other,
- 10:58having been the younger or been the elder son,
- 11:02you have humbly returned to God,
- 11:04and he has given you a place in his household.
- 11:08My hope for you this morning
- 11:09is that you will appreciate afresh
- 11:11God's loving kindness towards you.
- 11:15Beloved, it is very possible to be found in Christ,
- 11:19to be justified before God
- 11:20because of what Christ has done on our behalf,
- 11:23and to forget it,
- 11:25and to function as if.
- 11:27We need to earn our way to God,
- 11:30or to function as if we can live however we want,
- 11:33and be accepted by him.
- 11:36It's very possible to find ourself
- 11:38in the proper stance with the Lord,
- 11:41but not living in accordance with it.
- 11:45So I hope this morning you will appreciate once again
- 11:48how good the Father is to his people.
- 11:53As his sons and daughters,
- 11:54we would want to live in his house joyfully
- 11:56and obediently.
- 11:59That despite how difficult your week may have been,
- 12:02that you will revel today in the fact
- 12:04that you have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ,
- 12:08given the authority to be a herald of God,
- 12:11and you have been called a son.
- 12:15So we're going to consider the love of the Father
- 12:18toward the younger son.
- 12:20On the front of your bulletin
- 12:22is a quote by A.W. Tozer
- 12:24from a book he wrote called Knowledge of the Holy,
- 12:26which I commend to you.
- 12:28He was a 20th century American pastor,
- 12:31and he said this,
- 12:33speaking of God's attributes
- 12:35as they relate to his love.
- 12:38Because God is self-existent,
- 12:41his love had no beginning.
- 12:43Because he is eternal,
- 12:45his love can have no end.
- 12:48Because he is infinite,
- 12:49it has no limit.
- 12:51Because he is holy,
- 12:53it is the quintessence
- 12:54of all spotless purity.
- 12:58Because he is immense,
- 13:00his love is an incomprehensibly vast,
- 13:04bottomless, shoreless sea.
- 13:08So let's get to it.
- 13:10Let's consider the Father's love
- 13:12toward the younger son.
- 13:14The outline for this morning's text
- 13:15is as follows.
- 13:18Number one,
- 13:19the compassion of the Father.
- 13:24Number two,
- 13:27the son interrupted and restored.
- 13:33And number three,
- 13:35the celebration of the Father
- 13:37and his servants.
- 13:42Number one,
- 13:44the compassion of the Father.
- 13:46We see this throughout
- 13:48our text for today,
- 13:50but predominantly,
- 13:51mostly I want to look at it
- 13:52in verse 20 this morning.
- 13:56We see,
- 13:57coming off the rest of our text
- 13:59from verse 19,
- 14:01the prodigal son arose
- 14:03and came to his father.
- 14:07Now,
- 14:08it's really important
- 14:09that we understand
- 14:10what this young man
- 14:13would have been going back to
- 14:14in this particular culture.
- 14:17Remember that this story
- 14:19is being told
- 14:20predominantly to these scribes
- 14:22and Pharisees, right?
- 14:22Jesus is driving this point
- 14:24and he is using
- 14:27shock and awe
- 14:29to accomplish it, right?
- 14:31Already,
- 14:32these Pharisees
- 14:33and scribes
- 14:33would have just been
- 14:34astounded
- 14:35by the flagrant
- 14:38disobedience
- 14:39of this young man, right?
- 14:41This young man
- 14:42in asking for his inheritance
- 14:44from his father
- 14:44has said to his father,
- 14:46I wish you were dead, right?
- 14:48He's gone to him
- 14:48and said,
- 14:49just go ahead and die
- 14:50so that I can have
- 14:51what's coming to me, right?
- 14:53He has gone off
- 14:54to unclean people,
- 14:56to Gentile lands.
- 14:58He has spent this money
- 15:00in a licentious way.
- 15:02The older brother tells us
- 15:03he must have heard reports
- 15:05that he sent it on prostitutes.
- 15:07He finds himself now destitute,
- 15:10caring for unclean animals.
- 15:14These scribes and Pharisees
- 15:15are astounded
- 15:16at the rebellion
- 15:18of this young man.
- 15:21So remember in this culture,
- 15:23God's given instruction
- 15:25in Deuteronomy chapter 21
- 15:27that if a son is rebellious,
- 15:29he will not listen.
- 15:30There's no bringing this son
- 15:33to correction.
- 15:34That the people of the town
- 15:35were supposed to take the son
- 15:36outside the gate
- 15:37and stone him to death.
- 15:38So this is the kind
- 15:40of serious culture
- 15:42that is looking at the story
- 15:44and thinking about obedience.
- 15:47Now, the instruction
- 15:48of Deuteronomy 21
- 15:49was very rarely,
- 15:51if ever, followed
- 15:52in this day,
- 15:54but there would have been
- 15:54a great deal of scorn
- 15:56for this young man
- 15:57as he comes back.
- 15:59The cultural expectation.
- 16:02These scribes and Pharisees
- 16:03are thinking to themselves,
- 16:04oh boy, here it comes.
- 16:05The son's about to get it
- 16:06from his father.
- 16:08The cultural expectation
- 16:10is that the father
- 16:11would have had nothing
- 16:12to do with him
- 16:14until the son had sat
- 16:17outside of his gate
- 16:18for an extended period of time.
- 16:21Weeks, even months.
- 16:24Sat outside the gate.
- 16:26And the job of the town folk
- 16:28would have been
- 16:29to ridicule him.
- 16:31Would have been
- 16:32to tell him
- 16:33what a horrible,
- 16:34disobedient son
- 16:35he was.
- 16:36To spit on him.
- 16:37To throw rotten food at him.
- 16:39And if the son would
- 16:40persevere outside the gate.
- 16:42If he would stay
- 16:43in that spot
- 16:44receiving all of this scorn.
- 16:47All of this ridicule
- 16:48that was due him
- 16:50for his disobedience.
- 16:51The father may
- 16:52take him back in.
- 16:53The father might
- 16:55deal with him
- 16:56as a hired servant.
- 16:59And this is the hope
- 17:00of the son, right?
- 17:01He's just saying,
- 17:03my father will at least
- 17:04let me live on the land
- 17:06and work for him.
- 17:07I'll at least
- 17:08have food
- 17:09for my belly.
- 17:10And this is what
- 17:11he goes back to.
- 17:13This is what he's
- 17:14headed back for.
- 17:16Remember
- 17:16that he had a plan, right?
- 17:18He had thought up
- 17:19this plan.
- 17:19He was going to
- 17:20say this thing.
- 17:22He had come to himself
- 17:22and I'm going to say,
- 17:23verse 18,
- 17:24Father, I have sinned
- 17:25against heaven
- 17:25and before you.
- 17:27I'm no longer worthy
- 17:28to be called your son.
- 17:29Treat me as one
- 17:30of your hired servants.
- 17:32And beyond Jesus
- 17:33telling the story,
- 17:34I just imagine him
- 17:35rehearsing that
- 17:35over and over again
- 17:36in his head, right?
- 17:39Waiting.
- 17:39I'm going to sit
- 17:40outside the gate.
- 17:40I'm going to sit
- 17:41outside the gate.
- 17:41I'm going to sit
- 17:41outside the gate.
- 17:42And when I get an
- 17:43audience before my father,
- 17:44I'm going to say
- 17:45this thing.
- 17:46And we see in our text
- 17:47today that he launches
- 17:48into it, right?
- 17:49He's got it ready
- 17:50to go.
- 17:52But look at what
- 17:54happens instead.
- 17:56And he arose
- 17:57and he came
- 17:58to his father.
- 18:00But while he was
- 18:02still a long
- 18:03way off.
- 18:06Now in this day,
- 18:08landowners
- 18:09would have had
- 18:10homes in the city.
- 18:13For me as a person
- 18:14who currently lives
- 18:15in the city of Gainesville
- 18:16and really loves
- 18:17being out,
- 18:18I think, why?
- 18:19I'd rather have a house
- 18:20out on the land
- 18:21someplace.
- 18:22But it wasn't safe
- 18:23to have a house
- 18:23out on the land.
- 18:24So they all had homes
- 18:25in the town.
- 18:27So the young man
- 18:28is approaching the town
- 18:29and while he's still
- 18:30a long way off,
- 18:31his father sees him
- 18:33expectantly watching
- 18:36for him.
- 18:37This isn't a walk
- 18:38by a window
- 18:39when he happens
- 18:40to see a dirty
- 18:41young man
- 18:41coming into town.
- 18:43He is outside.
- 18:45He is expectant.
- 18:46And he is watching
- 18:47for his son's return.
- 18:50And the text says
- 18:51he felt compassion.
- 18:55He felt compassion.
- 18:57The Greek word
- 18:59used in the original text
- 19:00is a lot stronger
- 19:02than the thought
- 19:03that comes to my mind
- 19:04when I read the word
- 19:05compassion.
- 19:06I think of kind of
- 19:07a momentary feeling
- 19:09of affection.
- 19:12But the Greek word
- 19:13speaks of a guttural,
- 19:16a visceral love
- 19:19for this young man.
- 19:20This is a father
- 19:22who would have done
- 19:24anything for his son.
- 19:28Fathers in the room,
- 19:29I know there's not
- 19:29a lot of us,
- 19:31but I think we can
- 19:32in some measure
- 19:33understand this,
- 19:35that we would do
- 19:35anything for our sons.
- 19:39When Cade,
- 19:39who is my oldest,
- 19:40who is now seven,
- 19:41was five,
- 19:43I took him
- 19:44and his younger brother,
- 19:45Judah,
- 19:45to a playground.
- 19:46And there was
- 19:48a family reunion
- 19:49that looked like
- 19:50happening nearby
- 19:51and this group
- 19:52of probably cousins,
- 19:53they just seemed
- 19:54like a family unit
- 19:55playing a game together.
- 19:57They were playing tag
- 19:58and Cade wanted
- 19:59to get in
- 19:59on this game.
- 20:00So he just invited
- 20:01himself into it
- 20:02and was just bouncing around
- 20:03and playing
- 20:04in this game with them.
- 20:05There was the oldest
- 20:06of this crew
- 20:07who was probably
- 20:08eight or nine
- 20:09who kept saying to him,
- 20:12no,
- 20:12you can't play with us.
- 20:14But Cade didn't hear that.
- 20:15He just kept playing anyway.
- 20:16Like, hey, guys, guys.
- 20:17And he's running around,
- 20:18running around.
- 20:19And finally,
- 20:20this older boy
- 20:20got his attention
- 20:21from on top
- 20:22of the play set
- 20:22and Cade's standing down
- 20:24and I'm sitting over
- 20:25on the little wall
- 20:26as parents do,
- 20:27observing.
- 20:28And the young boy
- 20:29got his attention
- 20:30and said,
- 20:31hey, kid,
- 20:32you can't play with us.
- 20:35And Cade looked over
- 20:36at me.
- 20:36I'm going to cry
- 20:37thinking about it.
- 20:38Cade looked over at me
- 20:38and his little arms
- 20:39fell like this
- 20:40and his big tears
- 20:41welled up in his eyes
- 20:42and I just went like this.
- 20:43And he came running
- 20:46across the playground
- 20:46and just fell into my arms.
- 20:48And I wanted,
- 20:49I wanted to go pinch
- 20:51that kid's head off.
- 20:53Right?
- 20:54Which would have been
- 20:55highly inappropriate
- 20:55for me to do.
- 20:59But gosh,
- 20:59you just want to do
- 21:00anything for your kids.
- 21:02And that's,
- 21:03that's small.
- 21:04Right?
- 21:04In comparison.
- 21:05Right?
- 21:05So,
- 21:06so small
- 21:07of an example.
- 21:08And then just
- 21:09for your sake,
- 21:10um,
- 21:11maybe for mine
- 21:12to tell you that
- 21:13not too many moments later
- 21:14the kid was running
- 21:15full on
- 21:16and was looking
- 21:16over his shoulder
- 21:17and just slammed
- 21:18into a pole.
- 21:21And,
- 21:21and to,
- 21:25to my,
- 21:26to my shame,
- 21:27I went,
- 21:28yes!
- 21:28So,
- 21:31right,
- 21:32um,
- 21:34Psalm 103,
- 21:3613 says this,
- 21:37as a father
- 21:39shows compassion
- 21:40to his children,
- 21:42so the Lord
- 21:43shows compassion
- 21:44to those
- 21:45who fear him.
- 21:47Right?
- 21:47So the father has,
- 21:48he sees the son
- 21:49from a long way off
- 21:51and has this guttural
- 21:52love
- 21:53for him.
- 21:54And what does it do?
- 21:55Like,
- 21:55what does it compel him
- 21:56to do?
- 21:58He runs
- 21:59to his son.
- 22:02Now,
- 22:02I think,
- 22:02I think for us,
- 22:0521st century readers
- 22:06of this,
- 22:06we just,
- 22:07we see a movie
- 22:08play out in our mind,
- 22:09the music queues up
- 22:10as he sprints
- 22:11to his son.
- 22:12To Jesus' listeners,
- 22:13they would have been
- 22:15horrified
- 22:16by such an action.
- 22:18Now,
- 22:19remember,
- 22:20this father
- 22:20should have scorned him
- 22:21to begin with.
- 22:21This father should have,
- 22:22should have had nothing
- 22:23to do with him.
- 22:25Right?
- 22:25Even seeing him
- 22:26a long way off,
- 22:26gone back inside
- 22:28the house.
- 22:29But instead,
- 22:30he runs.
- 22:32Okay?
- 22:32So not only does it
- 22:33go out to him,
- 22:34but he goes out to him
- 22:35with haste.
- 22:37And the thing for you
- 22:38to know is that
- 22:38men of wealth
- 22:39in this day
- 22:40did not run.
- 22:43They didn't run.
- 22:44They never ran.
- 22:47Boys and servants
- 22:49ran.
- 22:51Right?
- 22:51So if you needed something,
- 22:52you sent somebody
- 22:53to run for you.
- 22:55You didn't run.
- 22:56It was shameful
- 22:57to run
- 22:58for men
- 22:59in this day.
- 23:01Not only
- 23:02the very act
- 23:04of running,
- 23:05but he would have
- 23:05taken his long robe,
- 23:07his well-dressed robe,
- 23:09and he would have had
- 23:09to hike it up
- 23:10to his knees
- 23:11to run.
- 23:13Right?
- 23:13And he showed
- 23:14the bottom
- 23:14of his legs.
- 23:16This was a thing
- 23:16that slaves
- 23:18had exposed,
- 23:19not men
- 23:19of wealth
- 23:21and of honor.
- 23:22So he
- 23:23humbles himself
- 23:25out of this
- 23:27visceral love
- 23:28for his son.
- 23:28He humbles himself
- 23:29and he runs
- 23:31out
- 23:31to him.
- 23:34God
- 23:34humbled himself.
- 23:37He became
- 23:38a man
- 23:38and he suffered
- 23:39and he died
- 23:40in our stead.
- 23:43Hebrews 12,
- 23:442 states
- 23:44that Jesus
- 23:45endured
- 23:45the cross
- 23:47despising
- 23:48the shame.
- 23:50Paul writes
- 23:51in Philippians 2,
- 23:526-8
- 23:52of Jesus
- 23:55who though
- 23:56he was in the form
- 23:56of God
- 23:57did not count
- 23:58equality with God
- 23:59a thing to be grasped
- 24:00but emptied himself
- 24:02by taking the form
- 24:03of a servant
- 24:03being born
- 24:04in the likeness
- 24:05of men
- 24:05and being found
- 24:06in human form
- 24:07he humbled himself
- 24:08by becoming obedient
- 24:10to the point of death
- 24:11even death
- 24:13on a cross.
- 24:15So this young
- 24:16smelly
- 24:19rebellious
- 24:21kid
- 24:21is coming home
- 24:22and the father
- 24:24shames himself
- 24:26shames himself
- 24:28to go out
- 24:29and to meet him
- 24:30before he makes
- 24:31his way
- 24:32into the town.
- 24:34We'll see why
- 24:35in a moment.
- 24:36But he makes himself
- 24:37a fool.
- 24:38You have to imagine.
- 24:40It's daytime
- 24:40he sees him a long way off
- 24:42but people are out
- 24:43about in the town
- 24:44they're in the marketplace
- 24:45and they see him
- 24:46run out
- 24:48to his boy.
- 24:51From our daily
- 24:51Bible reading
- 24:52for this past week
- 24:53Mr. Doug read it to us
- 24:55this morning
- 24:55Genesis 22
- 24:57we read of Abraham's
- 24:59willingness
- 24:59to sacrifice Isaac
- 25:01and that sacrifice
- 25:02of Isaac
- 25:02being replaced
- 25:03with a ram
- 25:04who is a type
- 25:06for Christ.
- 25:09And what does he do
- 25:10when he gets to him?
- 25:11he doesn't run out
- 25:13to him
- 25:13in order to bring
- 25:14to him
- 25:15the condemnation
- 25:15that's due to him
- 25:17but he embraces him
- 25:18and he kisses him.
- 25:21He fell on his neck
- 25:23some translations
- 25:24will say
- 25:25he
- 25:25collapsed
- 25:27onto his son
- 25:28and wrapped his arms
- 25:29around him
- 25:31and the tense
- 25:32of kissed him
- 25:33means to
- 25:33kiss him
- 25:35repeatedly.
- 25:36this compassion
- 25:38is overflowing
- 25:40into a great
- 25:41joy
- 25:42to see
- 25:42his son
- 25:43return.
- 25:47John MacArthur
- 25:47said
- 25:48of this little
- 25:49moment
- 25:49in the story
- 25:50the prodigal
- 25:51came home
- 25:52prepared
- 25:52to kiss
- 25:53his father's
- 25:54feet
- 25:55instead
- 25:56the father
- 25:57was kissing
- 25:58the prodigal's
- 25:59pig stinking
- 26:00head.
- 26:01And the father's
- 26:04compassion
- 26:04does not
- 26:04stop there.
- 26:06Secondly
- 26:06let's look at
- 26:08the son
- 26:08interrupted
- 26:09and restored
- 26:12verses
- 26:1221
- 26:13and 22.
- 26:16So what happens?
- 26:17The son
- 26:17launches into
- 26:18his speech
- 26:19just up in
- 26:21verse 18
- 26:22and 19
- 26:22but he doesn't
- 26:24get all the way
- 26:25through it
- 26:25and I love this
- 26:26in Jesus'
- 26:27telling here
- 26:28he says
- 26:28father I'm sitting
- 26:29against heaven
- 26:29and before you
- 26:30I am no longer
- 26:31worthy to be
- 26:32called your son
- 26:33and what is it
- 26:34that he was going
- 26:34to go on to say
- 26:35treat me as one
- 26:36of your hired
- 26:37servants
- 26:38but he gets
- 26:39interrupted
- 26:40I think that's
- 26:41the right way
- 26:41to read this
- 26:43right
- 26:43the conjunction
- 26:44verse 22
- 26:45but is in the
- 26:46original text
- 26:47but the father
- 26:48he's in the middle
- 26:49of the speech
- 26:50but rather than
- 26:51him getting to
- 26:52finish the speech
- 26:53he said
- 26:54I'm not worthy
- 26:55to be called
- 26:55your son
- 26:56what does the
- 26:56father do?
- 26:58He does all
- 26:59of these things
- 26:59to show
- 27:01the son
- 27:01that he
- 27:02is restored
- 27:03to him
- 27:03as a son
- 27:05he says
- 27:06to his servants
- 27:07bring quickly
- 27:08here's the running
- 27:09that's going on
- 27:10right
- 27:10I'm presuming
- 27:12they're still
- 27:12outside the town
- 27:13they've yet to
- 27:13walk through
- 27:14the crowd
- 27:15back to the house
- 27:17and he sends
- 27:18the servants
- 27:18running
- 27:19you gotta imagine
- 27:20they ran after him
- 27:21why is our master
- 27:22running
- 27:22let's run after him
- 27:23to see what's going on
- 27:24they send him
- 27:26he sends some
- 27:26of them back
- 27:27to bring what?
- 27:28the best robe
- 27:29a ring
- 27:30and shoes
- 27:32these are significant
- 27:34things
- 27:34that this loving
- 27:36father
- 27:36brought to put on
- 27:38his youngest
- 27:39son
- 27:39first the
- 27:40best robe
- 27:42is brought
- 27:43and it's
- 27:43put on him
- 27:44the best robe
- 27:45was an extremely
- 27:47significant
- 27:47article of clothing
- 27:48every wealthy man
- 27:50would own
- 27:51an ornate robe
- 27:52made of the finest
- 27:54fabrics
- 27:54that was reserved
- 27:56for the very
- 27:57most special
- 27:58of events
- 28:00this was a robe
- 28:02that the owner
- 28:03wouldn't wear
- 28:04to a wedding
- 28:05he was invited to
- 28:06this is how special
- 28:07it was
- 28:07but would rather
- 28:08only wear it
- 28:09to the weddings
- 28:10of their own
- 28:11children
- 28:12we don't have
- 28:13anything like this
- 28:14in our culture
- 28:14I don't even think
- 28:16most people own
- 28:16like a nice tux
- 28:18anymore
- 28:18right
- 28:19this would have been
- 28:21better than that
- 28:22this was in
- 28:23high reserve
- 28:24for very
- 28:25very special
- 28:26events
- 28:27this robe
- 28:28and it was
- 28:29his robe
- 28:31giving this robe
- 28:33to the son
- 28:33is not even
- 28:34a normal honor
- 28:35that a son
- 28:36would receive
- 28:37right
- 28:37this isn't
- 28:39extra special
- 28:39it's a very
- 28:40high honor
- 28:42and what he
- 28:43is doing
- 28:43is he is saying
- 28:44this
- 28:46boy
- 28:48that rebelled
- 28:49against me
- 28:49is restored
- 28:50to the honor
- 28:51of my
- 28:52house
- 28:52right
- 28:53this is my
- 28:54best
- 28:54robe
- 28:55and I am
- 28:56putting it
- 28:56on him
- 28:58he belongs
- 28:59to me
- 29:00so as he gets
- 29:01taken back
- 29:02through that town
- 29:03everyone can see
- 29:04the son
- 29:05has been
- 29:06restored
- 29:08psalm 5
- 29:104
- 29:11also from
- 29:12our reading
- 29:13this week
- 29:14says
- 29:16for you are not
- 29:16a god who
- 29:17delights in
- 29:18wickedness
- 29:18evil
- 29:19may not
- 29:21dwell
- 29:21with you
- 29:22so
- 29:23god our
- 29:24father
- 29:24cannot
- 29:25exist with
- 29:26us
- 29:26in wickedness
- 29:27god can
- 29:28associate
- 29:28with us
- 29:29in our
- 29:30unrighteousness
- 29:32right
- 29:32in our
- 29:33evil deeds
- 29:33in our
- 29:35rebellion
- 29:35so how is it
- 29:36that we come
- 29:37into right
- 29:38relationship
- 29:38with him
- 29:39it's that
- 29:42our sin
- 29:43is imputed
- 29:45to christ
- 29:45as christ
- 29:46died on the
- 29:46cross
- 29:47he took
- 29:48our sin
- 29:49and we're
- 29:51given
- 29:51his righteousness
- 29:52his perfect
- 29:53life is
- 29:54imputed
- 29:54to us
- 29:55it's called
- 29:56the double
- 29:56imputation
- 29:57right
- 29:58it's this
- 29:58great trade
- 29:59martin luther
- 30:00called it
- 30:00the great
- 30:01exchange
- 30:01right
- 30:02our sin
- 30:03given to
- 30:03christ
- 30:04his righteousness
- 30:05given
- 30:05to us
- 30:07and we
- 30:07often speak
- 30:08in terms
- 30:08of being
- 30:09clothed
- 30:10in the
- 30:10righteousness
- 30:11of christ
- 30:12you see
- 30:14the picture
- 30:14here
- 30:15god comes
- 30:16to us
- 30:17in repentance
- 30:19of faith
- 30:19he comes
- 30:19to us
- 30:19and he
- 30:20wraps us
- 30:21in christ
- 30:22righteousness
- 30:22he says
- 30:23this is
- 30:24my
- 30:24son
- 30:25and when
- 30:27he sees
- 30:28us
- 30:28he sees
- 30:29christ
- 30:30and escorts
- 30:32us back
- 30:32to the
- 30:34house
- 30:34paul writes
- 30:35in 2
- 30:35corinthians
- 30:355
- 30:3621
- 30:36for our
- 30:37sake
- 30:37he made
- 30:38him to
- 30:38be
- 30:38sin
- 30:39who knew
- 30:39no
- 30:39sin
- 30:40so that
- 30:41in him
- 30:42we might
- 30:42become
- 30:42the righteousness
- 30:43of god
- 30:44i think this
- 30:45is the best
- 30:46verse that
- 30:47speaks of
- 30:47double
- 30:47imputation
- 30:49christ
- 30:50and
- 30:50and
- 30:51charles
- 30:51hodge
- 30:52who
- 30:52was a
- 30:5319th
- 30:53century
- 30:53theologian
- 30:54he was
- 30:55the president
- 30:56of
- 30:56princeton
- 30:56theological
- 30:57seminary
- 30:57back when
- 30:58that meant
- 30:58something
- 30:59said this
- 31:01of
- 31:012 corinthians
- 31:015
- 31:0221
- 31:02there
- 31:04is probably
- 31:05no
- 31:05passage
- 31:06in the
- 31:06scriptures
- 31:06in which
- 31:07the
- 31:07doctrine
- 31:08of
- 31:08justification
- 31:09is more
- 31:09concisely
- 31:10or clearly
- 31:11stated
- 31:11than this
- 31:12our
- 31:14sins
- 31:14were
- 31:14here's
- 31:15that word
- 31:15imputed
- 31:16to christ
- 31:16and his
- 31:17righteousness
- 31:18is imputed
- 31:19to us
- 31:19he bore
- 31:21our sins
- 31:22we are
- 31:22clothed
- 31:23in his
- 31:24righteousness
- 31:24christ
- 31:26bearing our
- 31:26sins
- 31:27did not
- 31:27make him
- 31:28morally
- 31:28a sinner
- 31:29nor does
- 31:30christ's
- 31:31righteousness
- 31:31become
- 31:32subjectively
- 31:33ours
- 31:34it is not
- 31:35the moral
- 31:35quality
- 31:36of our
- 31:36souls
- 31:37our
- 31:39sins
- 31:39were the
- 31:40judicial
- 31:40ground
- 31:41of the
- 31:41sufferings
- 31:42of christ
- 31:43so that
- 31:43they were
- 31:44a satisfaction
- 31:44of justice
- 31:45and his
- 31:46righteousness
- 31:47is the
- 31:48judicial
- 31:48ground
- 31:49of our
- 31:49acceptance
- 31:50with god
- 31:52right
- 31:52so the
- 31:53prodigal
- 31:54was still
- 31:54the prodigal
- 31:55he was
- 31:55still the
- 31:56son
- 31:56and he
- 31:56had still
- 31:57done the
- 31:57things he
- 31:57had done
- 31:58but he's
- 31:59now clothed
- 32:00in the
- 32:01father's
- 32:02robe
- 32:03right
- 32:03he is now
- 32:04no longer
- 32:05to be
- 32:06scorned
- 32:07right
- 32:07abused
- 32:08spit upon
- 32:09by the
- 32:09town folks
- 32:10right
- 32:11because he
- 32:11has been
- 32:12restored
- 32:12as a son
- 32:14but not only
- 32:15that
- 32:15not only
- 32:15is the
- 32:16best
- 32:16robe
- 32:16brought
- 32:17to him
- 32:17and put
- 32:17on him
- 32:18but also
- 32:18a ring
- 32:20now this
- 32:21ring
- 32:21would have
- 32:22been a
- 32:23signet
- 32:24ring
- 32:24which would
- 32:24have carried
- 32:25the family
- 32:25crest
- 32:26or seal
- 32:26so that it
- 32:28could be
- 32:28pressed
- 32:28into wax
- 32:29on formal
- 32:30letters
- 32:30or documents
- 32:31as verification
- 32:32of legal
- 32:33authority
- 32:34probably seen
- 32:35a movie
- 32:35in which this
- 32:36happened
- 32:36right
- 32:37they often
- 32:37wore that
- 32:38as a
- 32:39ring
- 32:40right
- 32:40so that
- 32:40they can
- 32:41make that
- 32:41stamp
- 32:42on letters
- 32:43or documents
- 32:44right
- 32:44so in
- 32:46placing a
- 32:46ring on
- 32:47the finger
- 32:47of his
- 32:47son
- 32:48the father
- 32:49is not
- 32:49only showing
- 32:50that the
- 32:51son had
- 32:51restored
- 32:52honor
- 32:53but also
- 32:54restored
- 32:55authority
- 32:56he's saying
- 32:58once again
- 32:59this young
- 33:00man
- 33:01is my
- 33:02son
- 33:02and he
- 33:03speaks
- 33:03on my
- 33:04behalf
- 33:05second
- 33:07corinthians
- 33:085
- 33:0920
- 33:10just a
- 33:10verse
- 33:10before
- 33:11where we
- 33:11just
- 33:11were
- 33:12paul
- 33:13says
- 33:13therefore
- 33:13we are
- 33:15ambassadors
- 33:16for christ
- 33:17god
- 33:18making his
- 33:18appeal
- 33:19through us
- 33:20we implore
- 33:21you on
- 33:22behalf of
- 33:22christ
- 33:23be
- 33:23reconciled
- 33:25to god
- 33:26so just
- 33:27as we've
- 33:27been clothed
- 33:27in christ's
- 33:28righteousness
- 33:29right god
- 33:30says this
- 33:30is my
- 33:31son
- 33:33ladies you
- 33:33want to
- 33:33be a
- 33:34son
- 33:34you want
- 33:34the
- 33:34inheritance
- 33:35that is
- 33:35due you
- 33:36this is
- 33:36the
- 33:36language
- 33:36of
- 33:37the
- 33:37time
- 33:37i am
- 33:39god's
- 33:39son
- 33:40and i
- 33:41speak
- 33:42on his
- 33:42behalf
- 33:43we are
- 33:43ambassadors
- 33:44for christ
- 33:44inconsistency
- 33:46with his
- 33:46revealed
- 33:46word
- 33:47as a
- 33:48side
- 33:48note
- 33:49but not
- 33:52only
- 33:52the best
- 33:53robe
- 33:53and a
- 33:54ring
- 33:55but also
- 33:57shoes
- 33:57hired
- 33:59servants
- 34:00and
- 34:00household
- 34:01slaves
- 34:02customarily
- 34:03went
- 34:04barefoot
- 34:05masters
- 34:06and their
- 34:07sons
- 34:07wore
- 34:08shoes
- 34:09right
- 34:09so it's
- 34:09another
- 34:10status
- 34:11thing
- 34:12so to
- 34:13have
- 34:13shoes
- 34:13placed
- 34:14on the
- 34:14son's
- 34:14feet
- 34:15was yet
- 34:15another
- 34:16gesture
- 34:17another
- 34:18showing
- 34:19that this
- 34:19young man
- 34:20has been
- 34:22restored
- 34:23i recall
- 34:25last week
- 34:26that we
- 34:26defined
- 34:27the word
- 34:27prodigal
- 34:28as
- 34:29licentious
- 34:30or lavish
- 34:32or as
- 34:33the
- 34:33esv
- 34:34translation
- 34:34of the
- 34:35text
- 34:35which
- 34:35i use
- 34:36on sunday
- 34:37mornings
- 34:37puts it
- 34:37in verse
- 34:3813
- 34:38reckless
- 34:39right
- 34:40reckless
- 34:41living
- 34:41licentious
- 34:43sinning
- 34:44that's what
- 34:44we mean
- 34:45when we
- 34:45talk of
- 34:45the
- 34:46young
- 34:46son
- 34:46the
- 34:47prodigal
- 34:48son
- 34:48right
- 34:49the
- 34:49story's
- 34:50most
- 34:50often
- 34:51deemed
- 34:51that
- 34:52this
- 34:52prodigal
- 34:53son
- 34:53story
- 34:54because
- 34:54of this
- 34:54excessive
- 34:55rebellion
- 34:56against
- 34:57the
- 34:58father
- 34:58but
- 34:58let's
- 34:59not
- 34:59miss
- 34:59the
- 35:00prodigal
- 35:00nature
- 35:01of the
- 35:01father's
- 35:02love
- 35:02for his
- 35:03son
- 35:03his
- 35:03love
- 35:04is
- 35:04absolutely
- 35:05reckless
- 35:07the
- 35:09first part
- 35:10of first
- 35:10john
- 35:11chapter
- 35:11three
- 35:12verse
- 35:12one
- 35:12john
- 35:14writes
- 35:14this
- 35:15see
- 35:15what
- 35:15kind
- 35:16of
- 35:16love
- 35:16the
- 35:17father
- 35:18has
- 35:18given
- 35:18to
- 35:18us
- 35:19and
- 35:19some
- 35:19translations
- 35:20will
- 35:20say
- 35:20that
- 35:21the
- 35:21father
- 35:21has
- 35:21lavished
- 35:22on
- 35:23us
- 35:23that
- 35:24we
- 35:24should
- 35:24be
- 35:25called
- 35:25children
- 35:26of
- 35:26God
- 35:27and
- 35:28so
- 35:28we
- 35:29are
- 35:29but
- 35:32Jesus
- 35:32tells
- 35:32us
- 35:32more
- 35:33about
- 35:34the
- 35:35father's
- 35:35compassion
- 35:35his
- 35:36great
- 35:36lavish
- 35:37love
- 35:38for
- 35:38his
- 35:38son
- 35:39thirdly
- 35:40the
- 35:41celebration
- 35:42of the
- 35:42father
- 35:42and his
- 35:43servants
- 35:44the
- 35:44last
- 35:45two
- 35:45verses
- 35:45verse
- 35:4523
- 35:46and
- 35:4724
- 35:47he
- 35:49says
- 35:49and
- 35:50bring
- 35:51the
- 35:51fattened
- 35:51calf
- 35:52and
- 35:52kill
- 35:52it
- 35:52and
- 35:53let
- 35:53us
- 35:53eat
- 35:54and
- 35:54celebrate
- 35:55for
- 35:55this
- 35:55my
- 35:56son
- 35:56was
- 35:56dead
- 35:56and
- 35:56is
- 35:57alive
- 35:57again
- 35:57he
- 35:57was
- 35:58lost
- 35:58and
- 35:59is
- 35:59found
- 36:00and
- 36:00they
- 36:00began
- 36:01to
- 36:02celebrate
- 36:02now
- 36:04to
- 36:04slaughter
- 36:04the
- 36:05fattened
- 36:06calf
- 36:06was a
- 36:07big
- 36:07deal
- 36:08for
- 36:08time
- 36:09I'm
- 36:09going to
- 36:09save
- 36:10you the
- 36:10details
- 36:10of
- 36:11the
- 36:11preparation
- 36:12of
- 36:12the
- 36:12fattened
- 36:13calf
- 36:14but
- 36:15this
- 36:15calf
- 36:15was
- 36:16likely
- 36:17being
- 36:17prepared
- 36:18as
- 36:18would
- 36:18have
- 36:18been
- 36:18the
- 36:19custom
- 36:19for
- 36:21the
- 36:21wedding
- 36:22of
- 36:23the
- 36:23oldest
- 36:23son
- 36:24it's
- 36:25likely
- 36:25why
- 36:26this
- 36:26calf
- 36:27is
- 36:27in
- 36:27reserve
- 36:28being
- 36:29prepared
- 36:30but
- 36:31this
- 36:31event
- 36:32happens
- 36:33this
- 36:33great
- 36:34event
- 36:34verse
- 36:3524
- 36:35my
- 36:36son
- 36:36was
- 36:37dead
- 36:37and is
- 36:38alive
- 36:38again
- 36:39he was
- 36:39lost
- 36:40and he
- 36:41is
- 36:41found
- 36:42and that
- 36:43is the
- 36:43thematically
- 36:45what's
- 36:45happening
- 36:46in chapter
- 36:4615
- 36:47right
- 36:48back in
- 36:49verse
- 36:494
- 36:50what
- 36:51man
- 36:51of
- 36:51you
- 36:51having
- 36:52a
- 36:52hundred
- 36:52sheep
- 36:52if
- 36:52he's
- 36:53lost
- 36:53one
- 36:53does
- 36:53not
- 36:53leave
- 36:54the
- 36:54ninety-nine
- 36:54in the
- 36:54open
- 36:55country
- 36:55and go
- 36:55after
- 36:56the
- 36:56one
- 36:57that
- 36:57is
- 36:58lost
- 36:58until
- 36:59he
- 36:59finds
- 36:59it
- 37:00verse
- 37:018
- 37:02or what
- 37:02woman
- 37:02having
- 37:02ten
- 37:03silver
- 37:03coins
- 37:03if
- 37:03she
- 37:03loses
- 37:04one
- 37:04coin
- 37:04does
- 37:05not
- 37:05light
- 37:05a
- 37:06lamp
- 37:06and
- 37:06sweep
- 37:06the
- 37:06house
- 37:07and
- 37:07seek
- 37:07diligently
- 37:08until
- 37:08she
- 37:09finds
- 37:10it
- 37:10right
- 37:11so
- 37:11lost
- 37:11things
- 37:12now
- 37:12found
- 37:14!
- 37:20they
- 37:20began
- 37:21to
- 37:22celebrate
- 37:23the
- 37:23father
- 37:23and
- 37:24his
- 37:24son
- 37:24and
- 37:25those
- 37:25in
- 37:25his
- 37:25household
- 37:26begin
- 37:28to
- 37:28celebrate
- 37:29again
- 37:29in the
- 37:29previous
- 37:30parables
- 37:31verse
- 37:335
- 37:34when he
- 37:34has
- 37:34found
- 37:35it
- 37:35the
- 37:37sheep
- 37:37he
- 37:37lays
- 37:37it
- 37:38on
- 37:38his
- 37:38shoulders
- 37:38rejoicing
- 37:39he
- 37:39comes
- 37:40home
- 37:40he
- 37:40calls
- 37:40together
- 37:41his
- 37:41friends
- 37:41and
- 37:41his
- 37:41neighbors
- 37:41saying
- 37:42to
- 37:42them
- 37:42rejoice
- 37:42with
- 37:43me
- 37:43for
- 37:44I
- 37:44found
- 37:44my
- 37:44sheep
- 37:45that
- 37:45was
- 37:45lost
- 37:46just
- 37:47so
- 37:47I
- 37:47tell
- 37:48you
- 37:48there
- 37:48be
- 37:48more
- 37:48joy
- 37:48in
- 37:49heaven
- 37:49over
- 37:49one
- 37:49sinner
- 37:49who
- 37:49repents
- 37:50and
- 37:50over
- 37:50ninety-nine
- 37:51righteous
- 37:51persons
- 37:52who
- 37:52need
- 37:52no
- 37:53repentance
- 37:53and
- 37:55then
- 37:55verse
- 37:55nine
- 37:56the
- 37:56woman
- 37:56who
- 37:56finds
- 37:56the
- 37:57coin
- 37:57when
- 37:57she
- 37:57finds
- 37:58it
- 37:58she
- 37:58calls
- 37:58together
- 37:58her
- 37:59friends
- 37:59and
- 37:59neighbors
- 37:59saying
- 37:59rejoice
- 38:00with
- 38:00me
- 38:00for
- 38:01I
- 38:01found
- 38:02the
- 38:02coin
- 38:02that
- 38:02I
- 38:02had
- 38:03lost
- 38:03just
- 38:03so
- 38:03I
- 38:03tell
- 38:03you
- 38:04there
- 38:04is
- 38:05joy
- 38:05before
- 38:05the
- 38:05angels
- 38:05of
- 38:06God
- 38:06over
- 38:06one
- 38:06sinner
- 38:07who
- 38:08repents
- 38:09and
- 38:11we'll
- 38:11transition
- 38:11next
- 38:12week
- 38:12into
- 38:12the
- 38:12response
- 38:13of
- 38:13the
- 38:13older
- 38:13son
- 38:14who
- 38:14if
- 38:15he
- 38:15loved
- 38:16the
- 38:16father
- 38:16the
- 38:17way
- 38:17he
- 38:17should
- 38:18have
- 38:18if
- 38:19he
- 38:19was
- 38:19obedient
- 38:19if
- 38:19he
- 38:20stuck
- 38:20around
- 38:20with
- 38:21the
- 38:21father
- 38:21for
- 38:21the
- 38:22reason
- 38:22that
- 38:22he
- 38:23should
- 38:23have
- 38:23it
- 38:23would
- 38:24have
- 38:24been
- 38:24for
- 38:25the
- 38:26father
- 38:26himself
- 38:27so
- 38:28he
- 38:28would
- 38:28have
- 38:28been
- 38:29drawn
- 38:29into
- 38:29the
- 38:29rejoicing
- 38:30of
- 38:30the
- 38:31father
- 38:31the
- 38:32father
- 38:33says
- 38:33look
- 38:34I
- 38:34have
- 38:34found
- 38:35something
- 38:35was
- 38:36my
- 38:36son
- 38:37he's
- 38:38been
- 38:38restored
- 38:39to
- 38:39me
- 38:39and
- 38:41the
- 38:41older
- 38:41brother
- 38:41would
- 38:42have
- 38:42gladly
- 38:43joined
- 38:43in
- 38:44about
- 38:44rejoicing
- 38:45the
- 38:47rejoicing
- 38:47in
- 38:48heaven
- 38:48is
- 38:49and
- 38:49will
- 38:50be
- 38:50great
- 38:51over
- 38:52the
- 38:52salvation
- 38:52of
- 38:52souls
- 38:53because
- 38:54it
- 38:55displays
- 38:55the
- 38:56goodness
- 38:57of
- 38:57God
- 38:58our
- 38:59father
- 38:59it
- 39:00is
- 39:01this
- 39:01goodness
- 39:01that
- 39:01Jesus
- 39:02speaks
- 39:02as
- 39:02he
- 39:03tells
- 39:03his
- 39:03parable
- 39:04that
- 39:04his
- 39:04hearers
- 39:04will
- 39:04see
- 39:05this
- 39:05compassion
- 39:06of
- 39:06the
- 39:06father
- 39:07the
- 39:07son
- 39:08interrupted
- 39:08and
- 39:09restored
- 39:09and
- 39:10the
- 39:10celebration
- 39:10of
- 39:11the
- 39:11father
- 39:11and
- 39:12his
- 39:13servants
- 39:13and
- 39:15we
- 39:16would
- 39:16see
- 39:16this
- 39:17and
- 39:17be
- 39:17given
- 39:17much
- 39:18reason
- 39:18to
- 39:19join
- 39:19in
- 39:19the
- 39:19rejoicing
- 39:20of
- 39:20heaven
- 39:21in
- 39:22lost
- 39:22souls
- 39:23coming
- 39:24to
- 39:24faith
- 39:24in
- 39:26Jesus
- 39:26Christ
- 39:26right
- 39:27because
- 39:27we
- 39:28love
- 39:29our
- 39:29father
- 39:30we
- 39:31rejoice
- 39:31in
- 39:31what
- 39:31he
- 39:32rejoices
- 39:33in
- 39:34I
- 39:35want
- 39:35you
- 39:35to
- 39:35turn
- 39:35with
- 39:36me
- 39:36away
- 39:36from
- 39:36Luke
- 39:37chapter
- 39:3715
- 39:37in
- 39:37your
- 39:37copy
- 39:38of
- 39:38God's
- 39:38word
- 39:38to
- 39:39revelation
- 39:39chapter
- 39:40five
- 39:41is the
- 40:01apostle
- 40:01john's
- 40:02heavenly
- 40:02vision
- 40:03I don't
- 40:03want you to get too
- 40:03caught up in
- 40:04the
- 40:05potential symbolism
- 40:06of the
- 40:07chapter
- 40:07that's not
- 40:07the
- 40:08driving
- 40:08point
- 40:08that
- 40:08we're
- 40:09looking
- 40:09at
- 40:09here
- 40:10but
- 40:11I
- 40:11just
- 40:11want
- 40:11you
- 40:11to
- 40:11consider
- 40:12the
- 40:12rejoicing
- 40:13in
- 40:14heaven
- 40:14over
- 40:15the
- 40:15accomplished
- 40:16work
- 40:17of
- 40:17Jesus
- 40:17Christ
- 40:18beloved
- 40:20you want
- 40:20to have
- 40:20joy
- 40:21here
- 40:21be
- 40:23saved
- 40:23by
- 40:23God
- 40:24because
- 40:24of
- 40:24this
- 40:24lamb
- 40:24that
- 40:25we're
- 40:25going
- 40:25to
- 40:25read
- 40:25about
- 40:26sacrificed
- 40:26on
- 40:27our
- 40:27behalf
- 40:28and
- 40:29then
- 40:29join
- 40:29in
- 40:30his
- 40:30work
- 40:30in
- 40:30the
- 40:30world
- 40:31right
- 40:31what
- 40:31he
- 40:31is
- 40:31doing
- 40:32to
- 40:32continue
- 40:32to
- 40:34save
- 40:34this
- 40:35is
- 40:35the
- 40:35work
- 40:36of
- 40:36Christians
- 40:37joining
- 40:38in
- 40:38the
- 40:38joy
- 40:38of
- 40:38God
- 40:39as
- 40:39he
- 40:39calls
- 40:39together
- 40:40his
- 40:41church
- 40:41for
- 40:41the
- 40:42praise
- 40:42of
- 40:43his
- 40:43name
- 40:43pick
- 40:45that
- 40:45up
- 40:45in
- 40:45revelation
- 40:45five
- 40:46yes
- 40:47the
- 40:47whole
- 40:47chapter
- 40:48it's
- 40:48too
- 40:48good
- 40:48not
- 40:48to
- 40:49read
- 40:49the
- 40:49whole
- 40:49thing
- 40:49and
- 40:50then
- 40:51we'll
- 40:51close
- 40:51so
- 40:52in
- 40:52verse
- 40:53one
- 40:53and
- 40:53following
- 40:53then
- 40:55I
- 40:55saw
- 40:55on
- 40:55the
- 40:55right
- 40:56hand
- 40:56of
- 40:56him
- 40:56who
- 40:56was
- 40:57seated
- 40:57on
- 40:57the
- 40:57throne
- 40:57a
- 40:58skull
- 40:59written
- 40:59within
- 41:00and
- 41:00on
- 41:01the
- 41:01back
- 41:01sealed
- 41:02with
- 41:02seven
- 41:02seals
- 41:03and
- 41:04I
- 41:04saw
- 41:04a
- 41:04mighty
- 41:05angel
- 41:05proclaiming
- 41:06with a
- 41:06loud
- 41:07voice
- 41:07who
- 41:08is
- 41:08worthy
- 41:08to
- 41:08open
- 41:09the
- 41:09scroll
- 41:09and
- 41:10break
- 41:10its
- 41:10seals
- 41:10and
- 41:12no
- 41:12one
- 41:12in
- 41:12heaven
- 41:12on
- 41:12earth
- 41:13or
- 41:13under
- 41:13the
- 41:13earth
- 41:13was
- 41:13able
- 41:14to
- 41:14open
- 41:14the
- 41:14scroll
- 41:14or
- 41:15to
- 41:15look
- 41:15into
- 41:15it
- 41:16and
- 41:16I
- 41:17began
- 41:17to
- 41:17weep
- 41:17loudly
- 41:18because
- 41:18no
- 41:18one
- 41:19was
- 41:19found
- 41:19worthy
- 41:19to
- 41:20open
- 41:20the
- 41:20scroll
- 41:20or
- 41:20to
- 41:21look
- 41:21into
- 41:21it
- 41:21and
- 41:22one
- 41:30conquered
- 41:31so
- 41:32that
- 41:32he
- 41:32can
- 41:32open
- 41:32the
- 41:32scroll
- 41:33and
- 41:34its
- 41:34seven
- 41:34seals
- 41:35and
- 41:36between
- 41:36the
- 41:36throne
- 41:37and
- 41:37the
- 41:37four
- 41:37living
- 41:37creatures
- 41:38and
- 41:38among
- 41:38the
- 41:39elders
- 41:39I
- 41:40saw
- 41:40a
- 41:40lamb
- 41:41standing
- 41:41as
- 41:42though
- 41:42it
- 41:42had
- 41:42been
- 41:42slain
- 41:43with
- 41:44seven
- 41:44horns
- 41:44and
- 41:44with
- 41:45seven
- 41:45eyes
- 41:45which
- 41:45are
- 41:45the
- 41:46seven
- 41:46spirits
- 41:46of
- 41:46God
- 41:47sent
- 41:47out
- 41:47into
- 41:47all
- 41:48the
- 41:48earth
- 41:48and
- 41:49he
- 41:49went
- 41:50and
- 41:50he
- 41:50took
- 41:50the
- 41:50scroll
- 41:51from
- 41:51the
- 41:51right
- 41:51hand
- 41:51of
- 41:51him
- 41:52who
- 41:52was
- 41:52seated
- 41:53on
- 41:53the
- 41:53throne
- 41:53and
- 41:54when
- 41:54he
- 41:54had
- 41:54taken
- 41:54the
- 41:55scroll
- 41:55the
- 41:55four
- 41:55living
- 41:56creatures
- 41:56and
- 41:56the
- 41:56twenty-four
- 41:56elders
- 41:57fell
- 41:57down
- 41:57before
- 41:58the
- 41:58lamb
- 41:58each
- 41:59holding
- 41:59a
- 41:59harp
- 42:00and
- 42:00golden
- 42:00bowls
- 42:01full
- 42:01of
- 42:01incense
- 42:01which
- 42:02are
- 42:02the
- 42:02prayers
- 42:03of
- 42:03the
- 42:03saints
- 42:04and
- 42:05they
- 42:05sang
- 42:05a
- 42:05new
- 42:06song
- 42:06saying
- 42:07worthy
- 42:08are
- 42:08you
- 42:08to
- 42:08take
- 42:08the
- 42:09scroll
- 42:09and
- 42:09open
- 42:10its
- 42:10seals
- 42:10for
- 42:10you
- 42:11were
- 42:11slain
- 42:11and
- 42:11by
- 42:12your
- 42:12blood
- 42:12you
- 42:13ransomed
- 42:13people
- 42:14for
- 42:14God
- 42:14from
- 42:15every
- 42:15tribe
- 42:15and
- 42:15language
- 42:16and
- 42:16people
- 42:17and
- 42:17nation
- 42:18and
- 42:18you
- 42:18had
- 42:19made
- 42:19them
- 42:19a
- 42:19kingdom
- 42:20and
- 42:20priests
- 42:20to
- 42:20our
- 42:21God
- 42:21and
- 42:21they
- 42:21shall
- 42:21reign
- 42:22on
- 42:22the
- 42:23earth
- 42:23then
- 42:24I
- 42:24looked
- 42:25and
- 42:25I
- 42:25heard
- 42:26around
- 42:26the
- 42:26throne
- 42:27and
- 42:27the
- 42:27living
- 42:27creatures
- 42:27and
- 42:27the
- 42:28elders
- 42:28the
- 42:28voice
- 42:28of
- 42:29many
- 42:29angels
- 42:29numbering
- 42:30myriads
- 42:31of
- 42:31myriads
- 42:32and
- 42:32thousands
- 42:32of
- 42:33thousands
- 42:33saying
- 42:34with a
- 42:34loud
- 42:34voice
- 42:35worthy
- 42:36is
- 42:36the
- 42:36lamb
- 42:36who
- 42:37was
- 42:37slain
- 42:37to
- 42:37receive
- 42:37power
- 42:38and
- 42:38wealth
- 42:39and
- 42:39wisdom
- 42:39and
- 42:39might
- 42:40and
- 42:40honor
- 42:41and
- 42:41glory
- 42:41and
- 42:42blessing
- 42:42and
- 42:43I
- 42:43heard
- 42:44every
- 42:44creature
- 42:44in
- 42:45heaven
- 42:45and
- 42:45on
- 42:46earth
- 42:46and
- 42:46under
- 42:46the
- 42:46earth
- 42:47and
- 42:47in
- 42:47the
- 42:47sea
- 42:48and
- 42:48all
- 42:48that
- 42:49is
- 42:49in
- 42:49them
- 42:49saying
- 42:50to
- 42:50him
- 42:51who
- 42:51sits
- 42:51on
- 42:51the
- 42:51throne
- 42:52the
- 42:52lamb
- 42:52be
- 42:53blessing
- 42:53and
- 42:53honor
- 42:54and
- 42:54glory
- 42:54and
- 42:54might
- 42:55forever
- 42:56and
- 42:56ever
- 42:57and
- 42:58the
- 42:58four
- 42:58living
- 42:58creatures
- 42:59said
- 42:59amen
- 43:00and
- 43:01the
- 43:01elders
- 43:02fell
- 43:02down
- 43:03and
- 43:03worshiped
- 43:04let's
- 43:05pray
- 43:05!