A. Circumstances which led this young man to be in the “pig pen”.
1. The attitude of the older brother?
“This son of yours (not, “my brother”)” (15:30).
2. A desire to “find himself”?
“give me the portion of goods that falls to me” (15:12).
“gathered all together and journeyed to a far country”(15:13).
3. A desire to be accepted in his new country?
“wasted (sowed) his possessions in riotous (unsafe) living” (15:13).
4. An unexpected “natural” disaster.
“there arose a severe famine in the land and he began to be in want (of food)” (15:14).
5. There was no source of help.
“no one gave him anything” (15:16).
“he went and joined himself (became the unpaid servant of) a citizen of that country” (15:15).
6. “He sent him into his fields (hog farm) to feed swine” (15:15)
B. The results of being in the pig pen.
1. “He came to himself” (15:17).
a. “I have sinned” (15:18).
b. “I will arise and go to my father”
C. His reception upon his return.
“His father saw him and had compassion” (15:20).