Two Lost Sons

This sermon, preached on Sunday, March 13, 2016, develops the parable in Luke 15 not merely as the familiar story of 'the prodigal son' but as the story of two sons who are both lost in different ways. The pastor recalls that all three parables in Luke 15 share three elements: lostness, being found, and a celebration. He also emphasizes that what Jesus teaches through this parable cannot be found in any religion, because all religions teach that people must prove their goodness to reach God, whereas Scripture teaches that no one can come to God through a good life, since all have sinned.

The first part focuses on the younger son — representing openly sinful people like the tax collectors who came to hear Jesus. The younger son demands his share of the inheritance while the father is still alive, a deeply disrespectful act in both Jewish and Vietnamese culture. Rather than punishing the son, the father quietly sells his land — his bios, his livelihood — to divide the estate. The son leaves for a distant country with illusions of freedom and happiness, but when his money runs out and a famine strikes, he is reduced to feeding pigs and longing for their food. In that desperate state, he comes to his senses, repents sincerely, and returns home. The father sees him from far off, runs to embrace him, restores his full sonship through fine clothing, a ring, sandals, and throws a great celebration.

The second part shifts to the elder son — representing the Pharisees and scribes who appeared righteous but harbored pride and resentment. Hearing the celebration for his brother's return, the elder son refuses to enter the house. His words to the father reveal a 'Freudian slip': he complains that despite years of service he was never given even a goat to celebrate with friends — showing he served not out of love but obligation, and secretly longed for the same freedom as his younger brother. The pastor cites Matthew 5:20–22 to show that Jesus taught that outward righteousness is insufficient — the one who is angry at a brother is as guilty as a murderer.

The pastor applies the lesson to the congregation by pointing out that many believers in the church may be playing the role of the elder son — serving God for years, keeping the commandments, yet becoming angry when God blesses someone newly converted from a sinful life, accusing God of being unfair. The father's reply to the elder son — 'Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours' — is a reminder that believers already possess everything in God, but forget this when they envy others.

The sermon concludes by identifying the true Elder Brother as Jesus Christ Himself. He was not compelled to leave heaven but voluntarily came into the world, bore shame, and shed His blood to seek and save both the wayward younger son and the bitter elder son, both tax collectors and Pharisees. Quoting John 10:17–18, the pastor emphasizes that Jesus voluntarily laid down His life and had authority to take it up again — this is the foundation of the Gospel of salvation.