Home, Part 1
The parable of the prodigal son is a compelling story of heartbreak and redemption. In addition to the main story line, we also observe the nuances of the relationships between a father and his two sons. The climax of the story is when the prodigal returns home and we see the father rejoice over his return and the restoration of that broken relationship. In the father we see a heart full of grace, compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
Earlier this year I conducted a survey asking people to share the first words that came to mind when I said the word “home.” I surveyed 25 people, both men and women, ranging from age 10 to 86. It was interesting to see similarities and patterns begin to form as the answers were tabulated. I anticipated answers like family, love, and a safe place, but was surprised at the number of people who mentioned candles, candlelight, and a fire in the fireplace. Other answers included welcoming, peaceful, good food, and “a place where I can be myself.” My favorite answer was, “a place where it is imperfect but perfectly suited to me and my kids.”
After compiling and analyzing the answers, seven main categories emerged. It was a challenge to figure out where to put some of the answers because there was overlap with some of the categories. Listed below are the categories with some examples of the answers in parentheses.
Comfort (cozy, warm, comfortable)
Family (known, familiarity, conversation, relationship, pets)
Love (loving, loved and to love)
Safety/Security (my safe place, hide from the world, haven, refuge, sanctuary, protected, escape)
Peace (relaxing, rest, contentment)
Light (candles, candlelight, fireplace with a blazing fire)
Joy (laughter, happy)
In an upcoming blog titled Home – Part 2, I will tie all of this together as I conclude my series on the first beatitude “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The Prodigal Son
The parable of the prodigal son provides an excellent example of what it means to be poor in spirit and experience the kingdom of heaven. Most of us are quite familiar with the story. A man had two sons. The younger one asked for his inheritance early and went out into the world to live wild and free. He lost everything…his money, honor, self-respect, and reputation. His life became empty and filled with humiliation as he found himself in a field of pigs, longing to eat their food because no one noticed or cared that he was desperate and starving. In Luke 15:17 it says that he “came to his senses” and decided to return home. He knew the sinfulness of what he had done and returned with a heart of true repentance. His father had compassion for him, gave him a new set of clothes and a ring, and threw a huge party for him. The older son, a man who had been obedient and faithful to his father his whole life, was incensed. He was filled with bitterness, jealousy, pride and resentment. He judged his brother harshly and argued with his father that it wasn’t fair to reward him for his reprehensible behavior.
Every time I have read this story, I have focused on the contrast of the two sons. One was guilty of overt sin (greed and loose living) and the other was guilty of covert sin (anger, jealousy, pride, bitterness.) The details of this story are so vivid, and the action plays out like a film in your mind. It is easy to identify with one, or perhaps both of the sons, depending on your own personal story.
This time I focused a little bit more on the father. How did he treat his two sons?
He gave them freedom to choose (to leave – v12-13, to enter in – v28)
He sought relationship – whether their sinful behavior was obvious or hidden, he wanted a relationship with both of them.
He met them where they were - he was looking for his prodigal, and ran to meet him on the road (v20). He came out of the party to entreat the older son to come in (v28).
He loved both equally (v22-23, 31)
He wanted both sons to enter into his joy (v22-23, 31)
1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
What an incredible companion verse to this parable. Not only are we to recognize and repent of the sin in our hearts, be we need to model our behavior after the Father. Throughout the story we see the father’s incredible character, and it is symbolic of our heavenly Father. He has a heart full of grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and a desire for restoration and reconciliation.
The prodigal son returned home poor in spirit and:
Received forgiveness
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32Received compassion
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
He was welcomed home, fully loved and fully forgiven — Blessed.
Kingdom of Heaven
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)
The text is in the present tense…“theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” not “theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.” What did Jesus mean by “the kingdom of heaven?” In his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote regarding the kingdom of heaven, “It means, in its essence, Christ’s rule or the sphere and realm in which He is reigning…Wherever He was present and exercising authority, the kingdom of heaven was there.” (p. 30)
Scripture makes it clear that Jesus Christ is eternal.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Rev. 4:8b)
PAST
When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, the kingdom of heaven was near. In Matthew 4:17 it says, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In Matthew 9:5-6 He demonstrated His authority on earth by saying, “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins – then He said to the paralytic – ‘Rise, take up your bed, and go home.’” Throughout His ministry, He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and demonstrated His authority through miracles.
PRESENT
The poor in spirit recognize that they are completely incapable of saving themselves. When they accept Christ as their Savior, they grant Him the authority to rule and reign in their lives. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Col. 1:13) While we continue to live on earth, “..our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 3:20) We who are poor in spirit dwell in the kingdom of Heaven, and the King of that kingdom dwells in us!
FUTURE
One day soon there will be a new heaven and a new earth. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.” (Rev. 21:3) “Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” (Daniel 7:27)
Jesus – Emmanuel – God with us…past, present, and future.
The poor in spirit are blessed because His sacrifice covers our sin -- past, present, and future.
The poor in spirit are blessed because He walked among us, dwells within us, and will reign over us from now through eternity.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)