Mindset                                     Luke 15:11-24


We’ve looked at this story before.   We’ve examined who each character represents, how the story mirrors man’s rebellion against God, and how we’re received by heaven when we repent our sinful ways.

In my Bible this story is called “The Lost Son.” Indeed, the young man is lost and representing all who are lost because they turn away from God. Other Bibles call this the “Prodigal Son.” Prodigal has two definitions; one who spends foolishly, and one who has returned after an absence. Both describe the young man. Neither fully describes what he goes through and his redemption. Today I want to revisit this story and look at what is going on in the heads of the participants. What their mindset is.,

 Verse 12, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” As the younger son, he was entitled to receive one third of his father’s worth upon the man’s death. What is this young man’s mindset? I don’t want to wait. I want it now. I don’t want to work for you anymore. I want a reward without effort. How about this; Father, you’re not dying fast enough for me, give me your money now! This young man’s mindset was absolute self-centered greed and ambition.

Now thinking about these verses, does the young man know the mindset of his father? Verse 12, “So he divided his property between them.” We’re parents, what would our mindset be if one of our children said, “You’re living too long, give me your money now.” I know what mine would be. But this father; this father’s mindset was love, compassion, generosity, and grace. He gave his son a third of all he had.

Verse 13, “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had…the boy took the gold and silver he was given. He sold the property his father had given him, essentially selling part of his father’s property out from under him. He took the jewels and precious stones he was given, converted it all into cash and went to a distant land to spend it.

Let’s stop here for a minute. Since all of Jesus’ parables are about us and God, what does this one tell us so far? The boy represents mankind. The father represents God. So far we’re told mankind thinks God works too slow. We want what we want when we want it. We see the rewards and bounty of heaven as being too far away to satisfy us. Yet, even as we complain against God, his mindset is still compassion, love, and grace. And despite our selfish demands, God still smiles on us and blesses our lives. The unfortunate truth is                 most often, we fail to see God’s blessings for what they are.


As we know, the boy spent his money, suffered in a famine, and had to take a job feeding pigs to survive; verse 16, “He longed t fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating.”

This boy had seen life with his father as confining. As a life denied of choice and reward. A life hedged in by obligation and a lack of freedom. And when he did choose, he suffered famine and great loss. God doesn’t give your life obligations to deny you enjoyment. Obligations build character. Character that loves God. Character that shows concern for your fellow man.

Verse 16, “…but no one gave him anything.” When the fun was over, his friends abandoned him. They had no love for him, they simply went looking for the next good thing, they had weak characters. God wants his followers to have strong characters that Allow them to work in the world.

Verse 17, “How many of my father’s servants have food to spare?” If this man had stayed in his father’s home, he would have been spared the famine. There are times God denies you, times God keeps you from moving forward, because he can see the trouble and hardships that you cannot see coming. His denials are his way of sparing you.

Verse 19, “I will…go back to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned…’” The boy is starting to get the right mindset. The boy realizes he needs the help of his father to lift him out of this situation. He realizes he needs his father to restore him to health and life. We need the help of God to lift us out of sin. We need God’s grace to restore our lives and redeem our spirits.

So, this young man is taking his first steps, but does he understand his father’s mindset yet? Not really, verse 19, “I am no longer worthy of being called your son…” I know several people who say, “God is punishing you for something,” or “God is punishing me for something I did.” They misunderstand God as this boy misunderstands his father.

Verse 20, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; and he ran to his son…” He ran to his son; this is most important to the point Jesus is making. In this time, men, especially wealthy and influential men, do not run. Children run, servants run, well to do men don’t run. The meaning of this man running is not lost on the crowd Jesus is talking to. This father running gives us great insight to the mindset of God the Father. The heart of this father, and the heart of God, is filled with compassion, filled with love, filled with forgiveness, filled with grace for the return of one who was lost. This father’s heart was so full at seeing his son that he lifted the hem of his robe and ran to the boy.


Verse 20, “…he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” This young man still had the smell and dirt of pigs on him and his father hugged and kissed him. Again, the action of this father demonstrates the mindset of God.

 I’ve heard people preach that you have to turn your life around, you have to cease your sin, you have to completely change before you can approach God for forgiveness. Scripture just doesn’t support this belief; Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It doesn’t say those who stop their addiction will be saved. It doesn’t say those who live a perfect life will be saved. This father shows us God will come to us, will embrace us, God will give us his grace even when our sin is still a part of our lives. Turning to Jesus and sincerely asking him to be a part of your life is enough.

Verse 22, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” Turn to God and this is what he will do for you instantly.

 Exodus 3:5, “God said (to Moses), ‘Take off your sandals for …this is holy ground.” Accept God and you now have sandals on your feet, you are able to stand on holy ground, You can stand before the throne of Almighty God with confidence and without fear.

Bring the best robe and put it on him. Accept God and you will be wrapped in righteousness and glory.

Put a ring on his finger. Accept God and you will be marked as one of his family, It’s a mark all of heaven and hell can see.

Verse 24, “So they began to celebrate.” Accept Christ and all heaven celebrates your return home.

This parable of the “Lost Son” is one of my favorites, every time I look to it I see something new. Today we see the mindset of man; how we think God moves to slow, how we don’t always see his blessings for what they are. But we also see the mindset of God, how he is generous and full of grace, how his denials are his way of protecting us from what we can’t see. Sincerely accept Christ and God doesn’t see your sin. Accept Jesus and you will instantly be clothed in righteousness and glory, you will be a permanent member of God’s holy family and all of heaven and hell will see it. You will be able to confidently stand before God.  And you will be celebrated by angels and saints.



Amen