Since this is the second entry pertaining to the parable of the two lost sons (Luke 15:11-32), I will not recap the story. I will simply pick up with where we last left off.
The younger son’s decision to go his own way was devastating. As his life deteriorated, he eventually found himself “longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything” (v. 16). At this point, the younger son hits rock bottom. Jewish men did not eat pigs, much less feed them, and much lesser still envy them! Yet, this is where the younger son finds himself. He’s reached the epitome of hell on earth. His reckless quest for freedom landed him in a ruthless quagmire of slavery. Life could not get any worse.
Fortunately, hitting rock bottom caused him to remember what life was like at his father’s house. He “came to himself” (v.17). He woke up from his rebellious stupor and remembered that his father treated his servants much better than he is treated in the far country. What we find is that thoughts of his father’s kindness compelled him to repent. He resolves, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants” (vv. 18-19).
The truth of God’s kindness is meant to lead us into repentance. Unfortunately, however, people tend to mistake God’s kindness with indifference. People assume that because God is kind, he will tolerate our rebellious search for “freedom” regardless of how far that search leads us away from Him. Yet, this is exactly what Paul warns against in Romans 2:4-5, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteousness will revealed.”
Perhaps the most devastating, yet common, errors of our culture is widespread presumption upon God’s kindness. Presuming upon the kindness of God prevents repentance because it assumes God disregards disobedience. Such an assumption leads us to think that repentance is unnecessary in order to enjoy God’s grace and favor. This may be the most devastatingly common errors of our culture. Had the younger son remained in the far country, he would have certainly perished. In order to experience his father’s grace and favor, he had to return home (i.e. repent). Confusing God’s kindness with indifference renders repentance unnecessary and redemption unavailable.
Jesus is very intentional to describe the son’s repentance. He “arose” and “came to his father” (v. 20). Repentance requires changing directions. Not only that, such a change in direction must also be accompanied by an appropriate confession. Both are present here. The younger son returned home having realized that he had sinned against heaven and before his father (v. 18).
An idea I have come across in recent years is the erroneous thought that something is only sinful if it affects other people in a negative way. I have heard people say that God doesn’t mind how they choose to live as long as their behavior doesn’t harm anyone. Such a statement limits sin to the horizontal sphere of human relationships. But that is not what Scripture teaches about sin, and it is not what the younger son realized in this moment. He realized that his sin was first and foremost “against heaven.” In other words, sin is always–without exception–relevant to the vertical sphere of the divine-human relationship.
This is exactly what David realized in Psalm 51. After committing murder and adultery, both of which affected other people in a negative way, David confesses to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned” (v. 4). He confessed that sin is first and foremost an offense to God. My sin may not always affront others, but it always affronts God. Whether a person sits alone behind his computer exploring lust-inducing images that decimate the imago dei without anyone else ever finding out or goes on a shooting rampage in a public square, he or she has offended God and needs to repent. Thus, repentance always requires a change in direction and an appropriate confession that acknowledged all sin is primarily against God.
Moreover, repentance is led by God’s kindness. This is what prompted the son’s change in direction and confession. He remembered his father’s kindness. He had a point of reference. We too have a point of reference–the gospel. The gospel reveals God’s repentance-inducing kindness.
I am tempted to write more because more is needed to be written. But, I am weary on time and you may be weary on reading. So, I’ll leave it here and discuss the father’s ridiculous reception of the repentant son in the next entry.
walking,
Andrew
