兩個失落的兒子
1. 引言 (路 十五:1， 11)
• 這段經文是前兩個比喻的延續，有相同的主題如失落、尋回、與歡樂。
• 通常我們讀這段經文時，都會把重點放在小兒子身上，因為他很明顯 的是個失落的兒子。 但是這個比喻不僅僅說到小兒子，也說到大兒 子。
• 如果主耶穌在第二十四節就結束了這個比喻，我們也不會覺得這裡缺 了什麼。 有時我們讀這段經文，也就只讀到第二十四節。
• 但主以大兒子的故事來結束這三個比喻，為要給我們看見，"失落"不 應該用地理距離來計算，而得用在關係上，有多親密來衡量。
2. 小兒子 (路 十五:12-20)
• 墮落:
o 開始於只要父親的家業，而不要父親。 (12 節)
o 不管我們有多少從神來的恩賜，一離開了神，很快就耗盡了。 (13-14 節)
o 禍不單行，恰逢那地有大饑荒，窮困起來。 淪為奴役，都無法充饑。 (14-16 節)
• 歸回:
o 神憐悯，時候到了，醒悟過來。 (17 節)
o 悔改:「我得罪了天，也得罪了你。 "(18 節)
o 行動:"我要起來，到我父親那裡去。 "(18，20 節)
3. 寬恕的父親 (路 十五:20-24)
• 父親的寬恕:
o 離家還遠，是父親先看見了他。 (20 節)
o 父親動了慈心，向他跑去。 (20 節)
o 擁抱著他，連連親他。 (20 節)
o 兒子開始向父親認錯，父親卻打斷了他的臺詞。 (21 節)
• 父親的歡喜:
o "快把那上好的袍子拿出來給他穿" (22 節)
o "把戒指戴在他指頭上，把鞋穿在他腳上" (22 節)
o "把那肥牛犢牽來宰了" (23 節)
o "我們來吃喝慶祝" (23 節)
o "因為我這個兒子是死而復活，失而又得的" (24 節)
4. 大兒子 (路 十五:25-30)
• 生氣:
o 當補人告訴大兒子說他弟弟回來了，父親也為此慶 祝，把肥牛犢宰了，他就生氣，不肯進去參與。
o 當父親出來勸他時，他就對父親表示他的不滿。
o 他的好行為還沒得到該得的報酬，所以父親不公平， 竟為"那不配得的兒子"擺設筵席。
5. 結語(路 十五:31-32)
• 小兒子是因他的不義而與父親遠離，大兒子卻因他的自義而與父親遠離。
• 為神忙碌或表面的敬虔，並不等於認識神，與神有親密的關係，時時轉向祂，謙卑的與祂同行。
• 可以這麼說:大兒子雖沒有離開過家，但他離開父親卻比小兒子還更遠。
• 這比喻結束於父親呼喚大兒子，要他也來同享父親的快樂。

Two Lost Sons
1. Introduction (Luke 15:1, 11)
• This passage is a continuation of the two parables we studied last week as we find the common themes of lost, found and rejoicing.
• Frequently when we read this passage, we have focused our attention on the younger son as it is quite clear that he is a lost son. But this parable is not just about the younger son, but also of the older son.
• If the Lord Jesus had ended this parable at verse 24, we would not consider this parable incomplete. Frequently many of us end our reading of this passage right at verse 24.
• But the Lord added the story of the older son as a conclusion, to emphasize that lostness must not be measured by physical distance but must be measured by the degree of alienation in terms of relationship.
2. The Younger Son (Luke 15:12-20)
• His Fall:
o Starts with wanting what is of the father rather than the father himself (vs 12)
o Regardless of how much gifts we have inherited, apart from God, they will soon be exhausted (vs 13-14)
o To make matter worst, there comes a famine to cause him to be in need and even abject slavery does not pay enough to have him fed (vs 14-16)
• His Return:
o By God’s mercy and at the appointed time, there comes a spiritual awakening (vs 17)
o Repentance: a realization that he has sinned against heaven and against his father (vs 18)
o Action: “I will set out and go back to my father” (vs 18, 20)
3. The Forgiving Father (Luke 15:20-24)
• The Forgiving Father:
o While he was still a long way off, his father saw him (vs 20)
o Filled with compassion, he ran to his son (vs 20)
o He threw his arms around him and kissed him (vs 20)
o The son started to confess to the father, but was promptly interrupted (vs 21)
• The Celebrating Father:
o “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.” (vs 22)
o “Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet” (vs 22)
o “Bring the fattened calf and kill it.” (vs 23)
o “Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (vs 23)
o “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (vs 24)
4. The Older Son (Luke 15:25-30)
• His Anger:
o When the servant told the older son that his younger brother has returned, and the father has celebrated by killing the fattened calf, he became angry and refused to join in
o When the father went outside to plead with him, he expressed his disapproval
o Hisobediencehasyettorewardedwithanything,soitisnotfair to welcome the undeserving “son of yours” with a feast
5. Concluding Remarks (Luke 15:30-32)
• The younger son was separated from the father because of his unrighteousness, but the older son was separated because of his self- righteousness.
• “Activity for God by itself or proximity to him is not the same as knowing him through a relationship grounded in a conscious, humble turning to him.”
• We could say the older son was further away than the younger son and he did not even leave the house!
• The story ends with a call to the older brother to also come in and participate in the father’s joy

The Church Assembly In Toronto - 1780 Birchmount Road