The Lost Sons Ang Mga Nawalang Anak [Luke 15]

Calvin, 342-351.
Prodigal: a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way Tagalog:
mapagtapon
Context: Lost coin, lost sheep both focus on the actions of the owner in bringing
the lost back. This one focuses on the actions of the lost items: What attitudes and
parts to play do they have in this story?
The Family of God:
In many ways it is much easier for the sons who go away to come back than it is for
those who stay behind to come back. Why? Because those who stay behind feel they
have done nothing wrong. Look at Jesus ministry: Where was his greatest harvest?
Among the sinners. Why? Because they know their rebellion is in trying to go their
own way. Why not the Pharisees? Because they think they are already going Gods
way and dont need to change.

We are the ones who are righteous

We are the ones who are doing what is right

We are the ones who have stopped sinning

We are the obedient ones

But what is our expectation? We expect God to reward us for doing good stuff. We
say, Why havent you given us the fatted calf? We are also working to get Gods
stuff! I will make myself worthy enough to receive my inheritance. You wont be
disappointed in me.
Which is why he is so angry at his father: Hey, its not right for you to do all this
good stuff for him because he doesnt deserve it! (I do!) I am more deserving that
him, her, them, anyone
LOST SONS
They both wanted what the father had but each had a unique way of getting that.
They didnt want the father, they wanted to control what the Father had, and they
wanted to find identity, meaning, purpose, community, and significance in the
fathers stuff, not in their relationship to the father.
BUNSO: [Nawala dahil: Masyadong Masama]
Binastos niya ang kanyang ama.

Looking for identity. Who am I? D ako basta anak ng tatay ko kundi may sarili akong
identity! Pero sino ba ako?

Identity
o Sino ba talaga ako?

Meaning
o What is my Significance, Importance?

Purpose
o What was I made for? Bakit ba ako ay naririto sa mundo?

Community
o Saan ba ako connected?

Kapuso, Kapamilya, BCP, MMBC, Wallbreakers

Significance
o Ano kaya ang halaga ko sa sanlibutan?

Why did he remember? What did he notice? Father & son? Kindness? Love? Things
that reminded him of his time w/ his dad.
Tried his own solution muna - considered eating pig food/willingly ate pig food! ->
just because someone is disgusting doesn't mean we should reject him. What is 'pig
food' for us today?

False religion

Consumerism

Why help them? They will just throw it away anyways!

A Severe Famine came: What is the famine in our lives?
What is the point? They are still brothers regardless of what they do. They still have
a relationship that was not severed when the youngest son left home.
Who is responsible for healing the relationship? The father or the brother?
There are only 2 sons - no hierarchy
Why was he accepted back? Was it because he repented? No, the kiss came before
the repentance. He was accepted back because the Father accepted him back. While
he was still a long way off ? the father accepted him even before he got back home.

PANGANAY: [Nawala dahil: Masyadong Mabuti]

'All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed one of your
commands.
What should be the attitude of the older son? How should he accept his brother?
Why was he accepted back? Was it because everything already belonged to him? No,
the father went out to see him and welcome him back.
What is good news? Where is the hope?
When God rebukes us he gives us a second chance. The rebuke is more of a chiding.
Jesus is the true son
We don't know the end of the story: how would you end it? How will we end it in
our own lives?
So who should we be like? Who is the model for us in this story?
So basically, Jesus is telling us that we can identify with both the younger and older
brothers but ultimately our goal should be to imitate the Father in the story:
Who is a long way off in our lives? Who do we need to see?
What is important? Ano ba ang mahalaga?
That they had the Fathers stuff
OR
That they were with the Father?
How does Jesus exemplify a true Kuya?
We want blessings. We want answers to prayers. We want good health. We want
continued employment. We want peace and order. We want prosperity. We want to
get out of poverty. We want to be successful. Atbp.
How did the older son approach all of this? With Bitterness and Anger. I have my
rights! Kanina pa ako rito!
How did Jesus approach all of this?
On the night he was betrayed he took bread
After supper he took the cup
He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but took the form of
a servant


Kuya is concerned with stuff the father is concerned with relationships.
Isnt it unfair for the father to give Kuyas stuff to the son who wasted his own? But
isnt it also unfair for Kuya to grab onto his stuff at the expense of his brothers life?
Blomberg, Interpreting the Parables
1. Even as the prodigal always had the option of repenting and returning home,
so also all sinners, however wicked, may confess their sins and turn to God in
contrition.
2. Even as the father went to elaborate lengths to offer reconciliation to the
prodigal, so also God offers all people, however undeserving, lavish
forgiveness of sins if they are wiling to accept it.
3. Even as the older brother should not have begrudged his brothers
reinstatement but rather rejoiced in it, so those who claim to be Gods people
should be glad and not mad that he extends his grace even to the most
undeserving.

father is the key. what does the father do/how can we imitate him?
Part I: Sobrang Masama
Need: To Repent of their Sin

walang galang bata

o tulad ko nakatayo dito sa harapan ninyo nang ganito

How does Father treat those who go their own way?

1. 'while he was still a long way off' -- ie. while he was still in the far off country
-- his father saw him!
a. are we expecting people to come back?
2. 'ran, hugged, kissed' -- all before hearing the story of repentance
3. 'My son ... was lost but has been found.'
Reponse Song: Still
Part II: Sobrang Mabuti
Need: To Repent of why they don't sin/why they repented/their Goodness (reasons why
they do it)

''All these years I've worked like a slave for you.''

''I've never disobeyed one of your commands.''

How does Father treat those who are self-righteous?

1. ''His father came out and begged him to come in.''
2. ''My child, you're always with me.''
3. ''This brother of yours ... was lost but has been found.''
a. Does this mean going to find his brother is more important than
working in the fields?

What should be my response to those who either are sinners or are righteous?

''Buti na lang meron tayong mabait na diyos para tanggapin ang mga
nangangailangan.''

is it really possible to