And nobody gave him anything – Preaching
Preaching Outline on Luke 15:16 – And he wanted to fill his stomach with the carobs that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Introduction to Luke 15:16
Luke 15 presents us with the parable of the prodigal son, a story rich in teachings about repentance, forgiveness and unconditional love. Verse 16 shows us the prodigal son in a time of extreme need: “He wanted to have enough of the carobs that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.” After squandering his inheritance, he finds himself in a distant country, impoverished and hungry.
The situation is so desperate that he craves the food of the pigs, an unclean food for the Jews. This verse portrays the loneliness, abandonment and misery that sin can bring.
Next, we’ll work with some terms from the verse we’ve been reading, with the aim of drawing from it the teaching that the Holy Spirit has prepared for us this evening.
I wish
The prodigal son wanted to satisfy his physical hunger, but his soul was even hungrier. He longed for something to fill the emptiness in his heart, an emptiness caused by being away from his father. In today’s world, many find themselves in similar situations. We long for success, recognition, material goods, but we often forget what really matters: God’s love and communion with Him. We seek to satisfy our needs in passing things, but true satisfaction can only be found in God. Like the prodigal son, we need to recognize our spiritual hunger and seek the food that only God can offer.
Get fed up
The word “satiate” implies a search for complete satiety. The prodigal son sought to satisfy his hunger with something that wasn’t meant for him, the pigs’ carobs. In the same way, we often seek satisfaction in things that can’t fulfill us. We seek happiness in superficial relationships, in momentary pleasures, in empty conquests. However, these things are like carobs, they don’t satisfy our real hunger. True satiety can only be found in God, who offers us a banquet of love, grace and peace. He is the inexhaustible source who can supply all our needs.
Carobs
Carobs represent what is inferior, unfit for human consumption. The prodigal son, in his misery, subjects himself to desiring something that not even the animals would willingly eat. This image shows us the degradation that sin causes. It distances us from God and leads us to seek satisfaction in unworthy things, which humiliate us and distance us even further from the Father.
We live in a society that often offers us “carobs”: empty ideologies, toxic relationships, ephemeral pleasures that promise happiness but only bring disappointment. We need to discern what really nourishes and builds us up, looking for what is good, pure and true.
The pigs
In Jewish culture, pigs were considered unclean animals. The fact that the prodigal son was looking after them and craving their food shows how far he had strayed from his values and his identity.
In today’s world, we often find ourselves in metaphorical “pigsties”, surrounded by negative influences that contaminate us and take us away from God. Bad company, addictions, the unbridled pursuit of power and money – all of these things take us away from what pleases God. We need to be vigilant so that we don’t get carried away by these influences and seek to live in communion with God and with those who share the same faith, in communion with the Lord’s Church.
Nobody gave him anything
The prodigal son is totally helpless. No one takes pity on his situation and he finds himself alone in his misery. This loneliness is also a reality for many today. We live in an individualistic world, where people are increasingly focused on themselves and are indifferent to the suffering of others. However, in the midst of this reality, God remains the merciful Father who welcomes the returning child. He never abandons us, even when everyone turns their back on us. His hand is always outstretched to lift us up and restore us.
It’s important to remember that God always welcomes us as we are, always with the desire to transform our lives and lead us on a new path of communion with him, enjoying the benefits of being in the Father’s house.
Conclusion of Luke 15:16
The story of the prodigal son teaches us that no matter how far we have strayed from God, he is always ready to welcome us back and change our fortunes by reaching out to our sincere hearts. Just as the father welcomed his repentant son, God is waiting for us with open arms. No matter what we have done, He forgives us and restores us.
May we learn from the mistakes of the prodigal son and seek true satisfaction in God, the inexhaustible source of love, grace and peace. May we feed on His Word, seek His presence and live in communion with Him. Remember: even when everyone turns their back on you, God will be there to give you everything you need.
Preaching Outline on Luke 15:16 – And he wanted to fill his stomach with the carobs that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
More Preaching Outlines
- They persevered with one accord – Acts 2:46
- The prodigal – Luke 15:11-32
- The prodigal son – Luke 15:20
- The brother of the prodigal son – Luke 15:25
