The Prodigal Sons

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Tim Keller

Religion & Spirituality, Religion, Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Christianity, Spirituality

4.8 • 15K Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For centuries this famous passage has been called the parable of the prodigal son. But it’s a great mistake to think it’s a story about one son. It’s a story of two sons, of a younger and an older brother. If you don’t compare and contrast the two, you’re going to miss the radical message. Jesus is saying every thought the human race has ever had about how to connect to God—whether East or West, ancient or post-modern, religious or secular—has been wrong. Jesus shatters all existing human categories. Let’s look at the story, and then see three things Jesus is telling us: 1) Jesus redefines God, 2) Jesus redefines sin, and 3) Jesus redefines salvation. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 11, 2005. Series: The Vision of Redeemer. Scripture: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Gospel in Life.
0:05.1	This month, we've selected a special set of sermons and talks from across the years that Tim Keller preached at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
0:12.9	This month's messages highlight themes like rest, idolatry, and integrating our faith with our work, each one rooted in the truth that the gospel truly changes everything.
0:30.6	Tonight's scripture can be found in Luke, chapter 15, verses 1 through 2, and then 11 through 32.
0:39.5	Now, the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him.
0:44.7	But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, this man welcomes sinners and eats with them.
0:51.2	Jesus continued, there was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father,
0:57.7	Father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them. Not long after that,
1:04.2	the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country, and there squandered his
1:09.9	wealth and wild living.
1:12.0	After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in the whole country, and he began to be in need.
1:18.2	So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
1:25.1	He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating,
1:29.3	but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, how many of my father's
1:35.5	hired men have food to spare? And here I am starving to death. I will set out and go back to my
1:41.9	father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
1:46.8	I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
1:49.9	Make me like one of your hired men.
1:52.3	So he got up and went to his father.
1:55.1	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,
2:02.9	through his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against
2:08.4	heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to
	...

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