So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
5 sermons cite this verse
… Make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Your brother has come, he replied. …
… Make me like one of your hired servants. And so he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and he kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For the son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and found. And so they begin to celebrate. In every story, in every parable of this chapter, Jesus is emphasizing that there is joy in heaven when the lost comes home, that he is open arms running towards you when you come home. …
… Is he going to punish him? Is he going to point the finger at him and say, you're no longer this and disown him? And then Jesus tells us the most shocking part of the story. Luke 15, verse 20, tells us this. But while the son was still a long way off, he was just starting to come home. His His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. And the father ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him. It is almost impossible to describe how this first century Jewish audience would have heard Jesus when he says that the father ran toward the son, that their mouths would have dropped wide open, because in this culture, dignified men didn't run. It would have been too embarrassing. I mean, you can imagine the vision, a first century Jewish patriarch with the robe, walking slowly with dignity. I am a first century Jewish patriarch with a robe who walks with confidence and slow. …
… Just want to remind you, home is never out of reach. Let's look at the father. We'll pick up in verse 20. So he got up and went to his father, but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. I wanna remind you about something. The father had no idea what the younger son was gonna ask for or say when he came back, but when he saw him, he loved him and he ran to him. When we are at being like the father, we don't wait for the apology. We don't wait. When we see them coming to him, what if the younger son was coming to ask for more money? What if the younger son was mad and he was saying, I ran out of money because you didn't give me enough? The father ran to him first. the father ran to him first. So given the chance, we can run before we know. We can run before we know what's happening. When we see them coming over the ridge, we can run. A few months ago, I was driving in Nashville. I live in Nashville and I was getting off the interstate at this exit where there's this like big grassy patch here. And then kind of this overgrown forest is a very strong word for you guys. For us, it's kind of a forest. It's just a lot of trees. It's just like …
… HE'S LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD A LONG WAY. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN HE WAS YET A GREAT WAY OFF, HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND HAD COMPASSION ON HIM AND RAN TO MEET HIM. HIS FATHER SAW HIM. THAT MEANS HIS FATHER WAS LOOKING FOR HIM. HAD COMPASSION. THAT MEANS HIS FATHER LOVED HIM. HA, HA. AND IT SAYS THAT HE RAN TO MEET HIM. DO YOU KNOW IN THE BIBLE YOU NEVER SEE GOD IN A HURRY? GOD IN THE BIBLE, NEVER AHEAD OF TIME, NEVER LATE, HE MOVES WITH DELIBERATE MAJESTY. BUT THIS IS ONE TIME YOU SEE GOD IN A HURRY. I want you to see the old man as he gathers up his robe. And it's the old man running down the road to meet this son. And the Bible says, and when he saw him, he fell on his neck and kissed him and said to his servants, PUT A RING ON HIS HAND, PUT SHOES ON HIS FEET, PUT A ROBE ON HIS BACK, AND KILL THE FATTED CALF. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PARTY. THIS, MY SON WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN. HE WAS LOST, HE'S FOUND! …