THE prodigal son is forgiven; the father has kissed him; the father’s arms are around his neck. But listen! He speaks. What does he say? “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” How true! This is true repentance, for repentance is owning that I am as bad as God knows me to be.
What is the next thing that happens? The father speaks, and says, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes, on his feet.” In other words, he is CLOTHED; and, God willing, that is to be our subject tonight “CLOTHED.”
Shall we see, first, WHAT THE PRODIGAL WAS CLOTHED WITH; secondly, WHEN HE WAS CLOTHED; thirdly, WHY HE WAS CLOTHED?
1. What was the Prodigal Clothed With?
We have been considering the subject on former occasions, and seen it to represent the prodigal son as a picture of a sinner receiving forgiveness from God on the ground of sovereign grace, divine faithfulness and justice.
Now, if the kiss means forgiveness, what does the robe mean?
In Isa. 61:10,10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10) we read of one who says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord... for He hath clothed me with the GARMENTS OF SALVATION. He hath covered me with the ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” These words sound almost as if they came from the prodigal. You will notice that the ROBE is called a ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now, this agrees with the truth of Rom. 3:22,22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22) where it says, “The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe.”
I believe that Scripture shows us that the believer is covered with a robe of God’s righteousness. We all know that a robe is for a covering, and we also know that we need a suitable covering if we are to abide in God’s presence; so we are not surprised when we read that the father said to the servants, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him.”
We see that man knew he needed a covering even in the garden of Eden, for Adam and Eve sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons. These fig-leaf aprons were the first robes worn by man, and they were of no more use in God’s presence than the far country clothes of the prodigal were for the father’s house. They, no doubt, thought they were all right, but they made a mistake; and it is quite possible that you are making the same mistake, because those aprons are a picture of the things so many people are using to try and make themselves fit for God. If you think your good deeds and right desires are able to hide your past sins you are making that mistake.
It was after Adam and Eve were disobedient they made a covering; and perhaps it was after you had found out (through God speaking to you, it may be, at these meetings) that you were a sinner, you started sewing fig-leaves together. It comes so natural to say, “I’ll do all the good I can; I’ll attend more meetings; I won’t get angry or be unkind.” So one by one these fig-leaves are put together; but they won’t do for a robe. Instead of being the best robe, they turn cut to be the worst robe; for God says that all our righteousness are as filthy rags. The clothes of the far country are as much good.
Well, what is the best robe, then?
It is not our righteousness; it is GOD’S righteousness.
A child was once asked why it was the best robe, and she answered, “Because it cost so much.”
She was right, wasn’t she? Yes, it cost all the agonies of Calvary and the precious blood of Christ. Read Rom. 3:24,24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24) and you will see that it says, “The righteousness of God, which ... is upon all them that believe “is” through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” God hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might he made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).) In 1 Cor. 1, vs. 30, it says that Christ is made unto us “righteousness.” Yes, Christ Himself is God’s righteousness, and because of His death and resurrection, the believer is put into Christ.
Are you in this best robe? If not, put it on now. If a believer your place is in Christ.
Once a man, after great exercise of soul, cried to God for mercy. He then tried to live a different life; but oh! how he failed! At last he was almost in despair, and God led him to Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22). He saw his mistake when he read about the righteousness of God being upon all them that believe, and he said, “This is what I want; this is what God offers me; and this is what I will have.” He there and then found out that Christ was his righteousness bore God. This gave him perfect peace. And, thank God, it can give you the same.
The best robe, then, is a robe of righteousness, and that robe is Christ.
The father in the parable then said, “And put a ring on his hand.” It was the custom in those days for men to wear rings, and we often find that rings were given. Pharaoh gave a ring to Joseph. The giving of a ring showed that the one who received it was acknowledged as in a place of special favor. The wearing of a ring might show that the wearer held a place of dignity, and in this case might show that the father acknowledged him as his son. Now, with these thoughts in our minds, we cannot doubt the Father showed it to be according to the good pleasure of his will to have the prodigal in his presence as a son, and his pleasure would be great when he saw the ring on his hand. The son would see the riches of the father’s grace in bestowing this token of favor and dignity, and everyone else who saw the ring would see the kindness that was bestowed on the prodigal.
There are some verses in Eph. 1 and 2 which speak of these three thoughts in reference to believers who are saved by grace. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (vs. 5.) In verses 7 and 8 it says, “The riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” In ch. 2:7, it speaks of God showing “the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
If there is a soul here who has got that ring on, don’t forget that, first, God has great pleasure in seeing you wear it. Second, YOU ought to have great pleasure in the enjoyment of such a place of favor and dignity. Third, if you let others see this ring it will be manifest to them what grace and kindness has been shown to you by the God you once rejected and displeased.
Shoes also were given to the prodigal. However shamefully he had walked in the past, God now made provision for his walking differently in the future. Let us not forget that not only God, but also the world, expects to see a person walk in newness of life after they have been forgiven. I am sure that we have very much to be thankful for that God the Father has provided a pair of shoes for the forgiven one to wear. May He show us all the importance of having the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Eph. 6:1515And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15).)
The Robe of righteousness, the Ring of favor and dignity, the Shoes for the new walk, all prided and brought from the house, are what constitute the clothing of the prodigal; and love bestows them on the one who says, “I am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
“It is the Father’s joy to bless;
His love has found for me a dress;
A robe of spotless righteousness;
O Lamb of God, in Thee.
“Yea, in the fullness of His grace,
God put me in the children’s place;
Where I may gaze upon His face,
O Lamb of God, in Thee.”
2. When was the Prodigal Clothed?
This question is important. He was not clothed before he was kissed; and he was not clothed after he entered the house; but he was clothed between the kiss and his being received into the father’s house.
We want to remember the steps that have led to this point. He left his father’s house, and spent all; was perishing with hunger; came to himself; arose, and came to his father; and, before he could say a word, his father fell on his neck and kissed him. Then he confessed his sin, and the father had him clothed so that he would be suitable to enter the house. Have you been like the prodigal? You have been spending what God has given you; but has it led yet to the confession, “I perish”? You say, “I have got further than that; I have come to God as I am. I expected to have to pray much, and try hard to be different; but I’ve found out through God’s Word that forgiveness is mine through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thank God for that. I trust it is true of a great many here tonight. Just believe God’s word, and you’ll feel God’s arms about your neck; you’ll feel the warmth of His great heart of love; you’ll have that kiss pressed on you, and a thrill of joy will be yours that you never had before. But you must come as you are; no preparation need be made. If you think you must be clothed before being forgiven you are wrong.
A great many do make that mistake. I’ll tell you of one, a lady who spent her money on tracts, which she diligently distributed. One day she was much annoyed by the message given by a preacher of the gospel; and what annoyed her was this: he said that if any are to be saved they must be all saved in the same way, the self-righteous, religious person must be saved in the same way as the sinful woman who walks the street.
She was so upset that she made it her business to speak to the preacher. During the conversation he assured her that God’s word gave but one way to be saved. She was very angry, and said, “Sir, do you know how much money I spend yearly in giving away tracts; and how much trouble and time I devote to good works? If what you say is true, I’ll not spend any more of my time in this way, nor waste my money in buying any more tracts; I have a lot more now upstairs, but I’ll not give away another tract.”
The preacher assured her that if she was to be saved she must come as a hell-deserving sinner, and receive God’s pardon in the same way as anyone else. He then persuaded her to give the tracts to him, which she did.
Then he said, “Now, your ladder is quite broken down; how can you get to heaven now? If ever you did you would be in a strange fix, for you would not know the song. You would hear others singing, ‘I’ve been redeemed and washed in the blood of the Lamb’; but you could not sing that. You would have to sing all alone, ‘I came up here by giving away tracts.’”
This bit of plain speaking did the lady a lot of good, and she saw her true position. Although the position and process were most painful to her, she did at last take God’s way, and came as a poor sinner, and accepted God’s gift of grace, and rejoiced in the Saviour of sinners.
It is a great mistake to think that clothing comes before forgiveness. God’s way is the kiss first, then the clothes; and it is the father who gives the kiss and also provides the clothes. The reason is because he wants the son in the house. The father’s house is where we feed on the fatted calf. We could never enjoy the feast if we were not forgiven, neither could we if we were not clothed. It is when we know how suited we are to the Father in Christ that we can enjoy the love that has made all ours.
We can quite imagine how uncomfortable the prodigal would have been in the house with the clothes of the far country on him; but when he had the best robe, the ring, and the shoes on he would be able comfortably to enjoy the father’s love in communion with him; he could feast on what the father was feasting on.
Now, that is what we Christians ought to be doing. We have every right to wear the clothes provided by the Father, and then enjoy communion with Him. When the Father tells us He delights in the Son who died for us, and by so doing glorified God, we also can say that we delight in the same blessed Person.
“Thou the prodigal hast pardoned;
Kissed us with a Father’s love;
Killed the fatted calf, and called us
E’er to dwell with Thee above.”
3. Why was the Prodigal Clothed?
I want now to give three reasons why the prodigal was clothed.
1. Because he could not clothe himself. We are not told whether he tried to, but we know a very great many have. Oh, so many weave the spider’s web and try to cover themselves with their works; but listen to the word of God by the prophet Isaiah. In ch. 59:6, we read, “Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works.” No, they cannot cover themselves; they try, but never produce a garment. God labels the best attempt “Filthy Rags.”
It was after Charlotte Edwards found out her helplessness, after repeated trying to produce a garment in this way, that God opened her eyes, and she came as a guilty sinner, and was forgiven and clothed, that she wrote:
“Just as I am, Thou wilt receive;
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe;
O Lamb of God, I come.”
2. The second reason why he was clothed is because God required it. God cannot have sinners in His presence unless they are quite suitable to Him. The first man and all his race are not suited and never can be. The flaming sword keeps man out of Eden, but the Second Man, the Lord from heaven, is suited. The Father said of Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” So if we are to be suited to God the Father we must be made like Christ. The Father does this, as we have seen, by putting us in Christ, in the Best Robe. Nothing short of this will suit Him.
And now you, who have always considered that you were all right, just test your position by these truths, and find out if you are quite suited for the presence of God, because some have found out that they are clothed with the “filthy rags” of their own righteousness.
A chapel-keeper, who was very religious, once found that she had nothing but her own works to fit her for God’s presence. She was shown this by the word preached by a servant of the Lord, who came and held some Gospel Meetings. He preached first from “Fig-Leaf Aprons”; then from “Filthy Rags.” She found out through God’s Word that what God requires she had not got. God used it to her soul’s salvation, and she never regretted that she had been stripped of her own “filthy rags,” and clothed with Christ.
Dear friends, the Father must have you in Christ, clothed with the clothes that He provides.
3. The third reason why the prodigal is clothed is because the Father will have us to be at rest, comfortable, and happy. At the commencement of our meeting we referred to Isa. 61:10,10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10) and I think it is a good verse to finish the meeting with. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
I find a lot of people who want to feel happy and at rest. If you are one, get into the Father’s arms first, and then let Him show you what beautiful clothes He has provided for you to wear, and by all means wear them. The Father wants you to be comfortable, so He clothes you before you get into the house.
Fellow-believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us rejoice together. Amen.
C. A. S.