May 1, 2025
The Perils of Pardon #
Introduction
- We can see three things in this passage: 1. The Wayward Son 2. The Wonderful Spirit (of God). 3. The Wounded Son.
I want to preach on the Perils of Pardon ****When God forgives someone you haven’t. That is a problem! There are signs and symptoms that are evident. Let look at them this afternoon.
Luke 15:25-32
I. Anger (28) #
A. The Brother didn’t lose money #
B. The Father had forgiven the brother! #
1. It is undeniable the wayward brother was wrong! #
C. The Brother cause of anger (v 27) #
1. He was angry because his brother returned #
2. He was angry because his father received him. #
3. He was angry because there was rejoicing! #
Eph. 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph. 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
4. We justify our anger wrongly! #
- Gen 4:3-7
II. Arrogance (29) #
“Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment:” v29
A. Representation of himself #
1. Thought he was something for his service! #
1Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
2. Bible says a lot about pride. #
Prov. 16:18 ¶ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
B. Representation of his brother #
1. Comparison #
2Cor. 10:12 ¶ For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
III. Accusations (29-30) #
A. Unfair treatment (29) #
V29 “thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends”
1. The height of arrogance burst into an accusation! #
2. Be careful what you think about! #
Prov. 23:6 ¶ Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
3. WE have no place to judge who God blesses! #
B. Unjust forgiveness #
1. Upset at his father’s forgiveness #
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
IV. Attitude of the Father! #
A. Patience (28) #
V28 - “came his father out, and intreated him”
1. Came out – God is willing to come and deal with us! #
2. Intreated = deal with #
B. Reassurance (31) #
1. “ever with me” #
2. “all that I have is thine.” #
C. Right (32) #
Eph. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.