The prodigal son may have enjoyed the pleasures of sin, but it was only “for a season.” Sin, as he discovered, has a kickback. The straits into which the prodigal son was brought in the far country is a typical example of the degradation which a man can reach who has cast to the winds the restraints of Christian teaching. His only hope is to come to himself and ask forgiveness of the One against whom he has rebelled.
QUESTIONS
- Since there was plenty at his father’s house, what motive prompted the young man to leave?
- Arriving at his destination in a “far country” was not an instantaneous happening. The prodigal son went step by step, farther and farther away from his father’s house. Each step was an act of will, another decision or action which took him even farther from the benefits and blessings of home. Parallel this to the steps taken by one who is moving away from the blessings and benefits of Christianity.
- We read that the young man had “spent all.” What is meant by that expression? Draw a spiritual parallel, explaining why sin is expensive.
- When the young man was in want, what was provided for him by his friends? What was his initial attempt to help himself?
- What does the phrase, “he came to himself” mean?
- What did the young man resolve to do, and how can we liken this to the actions of a sinner who wants out of the life of sin?
- How was the son received by the father? How does the heavenly Father receive the repentant sinner?
- The first request the son had made was “Father, give me . . .” inferring that he felt he had some rights to his father’s possessions. What request was the young man proposing to ask of his father when he left the “far country” and what change of attitude did this show?
- Who would you say is the most outstanding character in the lesson and why?
THEME THOUGHTS
Jesus, the greatest of all teachers, often chose to instruct His followers by means of parables—making a comparison between earthly things with which people are familiar, and spiritual things with which they are not so familiar. The Scriptures teach that there is a striking analogy between the natural and the spiritual. Therefore, Christ’s parables were not riddles; they were intended to reveal truth to those who love Him. He told His disciples that it was given unto them to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. But to those who loved darkness rather than light, the meanings of the parables were hidden. Matthew 13:10-15The parables recorded in the Gospel of Luke are remarkable for their simplicity. Jesus sought to put the truth in a form that would bring it within the grasp of man’s finite mind. And we read that “the common people heard him gladly.”In this quarter we will focus on eleven of the parables given by Jesus as recorded by Luke, a writer who emphasized Christ’s sympathetic attitude toward the poor, the lowly, and the outcast. The objective for each lesson indicates the point the parable makes relative to our lives today. The Christmas lesson features the account of Christ’s birth as given by Luke. The final lesson of this quarter will be an overview or summary of the material covered during the preceding weeks. May God bless you as we study these lessons together.