Opus 2013-128: Key Scriptures: The Unprodigal Father, the key to the parable

The parable about the Prodigal Son is really about the Unprodigal Father. 

As I said in a previous post, parables usually have one central teaching.  The key point of this story is not the sons but the father.  The father represents God.  The point is that God is anxious to forgive and restore. 

God relates to us where we are.  He responds to us as we are. 

Some of us are like the younger son.  We are prodigals.  We are wasteful.  We live for ourselves and turn our backs on God.  What is often overlooked by people who focus on the younger son is that he was lost and would have stayed lost if he had not repented.  Twice we see this expressed.

(Luke 15:24 KJV)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

We see it again in verse 32.  He was lost.  He was dead.  He was not just out of fellowship, he was on his way to hell and no amount of love from the father would restore him until he got on his feet and returned broken and repentant. 

Some of us are like the older son.  This is the one who is in fellowship but has lessons to learn.  He is the one who is acknowledged as heir. 

(Luke 15:31 KJV)  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

He was not lost.  Yes, he did a lot of work.  That is to his credit, not a reason to condemn him for not automatically forgiving his younger brother.

I would rather be the older son with lessons to learn than the younger risking hell.

Thankfully God deals with us where we are.  He is patient.  He is forgiving.  He is holy.

May you meet Him from where you are and move constantly toward where He wants you to be.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-127: Key Scriptures: The Unprodigal Son, the second part of the parable

I continue with the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15. 

Parables are designed to teach one lesson.  That doesn’t keep us from dissecting them to the point of diminishing return.  Having said that, let me continue to cut.

The father had another son, older, who had a different take on life.  He also knew his older son.  When the father threw the celebration for the returned prodigal he did not send word to the older son.  That boy was out working.  He was being dutiful and obedient.  The father let him return and hear the celebration before he knew anything.

(Luke 15:25 KJV)  Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

He had to know the older boy would not be overjoyed at what was happening.  He was right.  Notice the response.

(Luke 15:28 KJV)  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

He had reason to be angry.  He explains it in great detail.

(Luke 15:29-30 KJV)  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

To tell you the truth, my sentiments are with the older son.  I have no trouble with the father’s forgiveness but that doesn’t mean the older had to like it.

Traditionally the older son gets a lot of bad press.  He is called selfish and hard hearted.  Often people act like he is destined for hell because of his attitude.  Not so.  The father is as forgiving to him as he is to the wastrel.  As usual, people ignore a key verse.

(Luke 15:31 KJV)  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

This son was not rejected by the father.  Notice that his place is acknowledged.  He is just as accepted as the younger son.

Which son are you more like.  One needed to repent or he would be lost.  One needed to be more forgiving, but there is no indication of him being rejected because of it. 

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-126: Key Scriptures: The Prodigal Son, the first part of the parable.

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the prodigal son.  The father had two sons that he loved.  He treated them differently. 

He allowed the younger son to take his inheritance and go off on his own.  He knew the son.  Just the fact that he wanted his share, now, let the father know that he would waste it.  Yet he gave it to him.  And waste it he did.  Finally, starving and destitute he made his way home hoping to be let in the house.  Jesus continues the story,

(Luke 15:20 KJV)  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Why did the father seem to be watching for him to return?  Did the father know the boy would be a failure and expect him to return in defeat?  If he knew that, why did he let him go in the first place. 

As a wise father he knew that the boy had lessons to learn.  He knew, or hoped, the boy would be coming back in repentance.  He couldn’t be sure but felt the risk was necessary.  How overjoyed he must have been when he saw the boy coming.  And when he heard the words from the boys mouth he knew the gamble had been worth it.

(Luke 15:21 KJV)  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

So they had a party and welcomed him back.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-66, Monday Pulpit: I Am an Older Son

I have been thinking about the older son, the one in the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Our pastor has been dealing with the parable and Alistair Begg mentions it regularly.  I have a confession to make.  I really can’t relate to the younger son.  I have always been a goody-two-shoes.  I was the kind of guy that mothers would trust with their daughters.  And they were right.  People would call and get my parents out of bed to ask if I was home yet.  There children were with me.  If I was not home then they knew that all was well because I would not let them get into trouble.  Get the picture?

I still needed to come to face my sin.  Watching “The Passion of the Christ” reminded me of how dirty I was in the eyes of God.  Jesus went through that for me to be forgiven and I was one of the good ones.

So I take it personally when people rank on the older son.  He gets a lot of bad press based on theological systems that are not justified in the Bible.

Go back and read the interaction between the father and his sons.  Most people accept that the father represents God.  Most people can see the younger son as one who rebelled and came back to the father asking for forgiveness.  We see repentance and forgiveness.  So far, so good.  The problem comes when they get to the older son and spend their time calling him a Pharisee and a legalist.  It is always implied that he is a hypocrite who thinks he is saved by works and is really outside the kingdom.

Three things stand out to me.  If you don’t have a Bible handy, shame on you, but let me give you the key verse.

(Luke 15:31 KJV)  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

First, he is addressed as “Son.”  Notice he is not called a “white washed wall” or a “serpent” or any of the other word pictures available.  He is a son.

Second, the father says that the older son is always with the father.  This does not sound like rejection or condemnation.  It sounds like a reminder.

Third, the father says that everything he has belongs to the older son.  Does Jesus ever say this about the Pharisees?  I don’t think so.

So we have a “son” who is “always with the father” who “owns everything the father has.”  I can live with that.

The lesson for us older sons is to get our attitudes in check and be willing to accept people back into the family when they repent.  It is to hope that they repent.  It is also to lighten up and enjoy all of the benefits of the kingdom.

If you are a younger son, welcome back.  Those of us who never left are glad to have you.  Now give me a plate and dish up some of that fatted calf that really belongs to me but the Father has decided to share with you.

homo unius libri