The Two Sons (Luke 15:11-32)
This parable is often called, “The Prodigal Son.” Prodigal does not mean “lost,” but rather “extravagant spending.” All things considered that is a poor name for this parable. Sure, the younger son is extravagant, but the story involves two sons and is told in response to the religious man’s complaint about Jesus spending time with sinners. So, the idea of a “lost” son would be better, and parallel the other two stories here. However, a better focus of the story, and its climactic moment, lies in the plight of the older son.
Consider the three characters in the story:
The younger son is foolish, extravagant, takes his father for granted, and messes his life up following his own desires and plans. He comes to his senses and repents, returns to his father seeking a modicum of restoration.
The father is loving and does not impose his way upon his sons, even though it is what is best for them. When his younger son returns, he forgives and restores him to full relationship.
In the younger son and the father, we see the condition of a lost person realizing their need and returning to God. We also see a God who, in this case may not be pursuing, but who is waiting and expectantly seeking the return of His child. He is forgiving and wants relationship but not from compulsion.
The more interesting character, and the one that best addresses the complaint that triggered these stories, is the older son.
This son stayed home. However, we see hints that his relationship with the father has also been distant. He has not had an epiphany about his relationship to the father. He is bitter that the younger, foolish son, is being forgiven. He feels the distance from the father by comparison. The father’s words to him are enlightening. He could have enjoyed a better relationship all along. Now that the other son has returned, he too is invited to fully embrace the position of son. Instead of comparing himself to his brother, he should open himself up to the love of his father.
In effect, the older son is like the man who prompted the stories Jesus is telling. He complains that Jesus spends time with sinners. However, Jesus is spending time with sinners who want a relationship with Him. Their preparedness to change, their desire for a relationship with God, is better than the religious pride of the “holy” men. The older brother has not left the father, but he also has had not revelatory moment where he takes ownership of his need for a good relationship with the father. Better distant and returning, than close but turned away.
Consider the three characters in the story:
The younger son is foolish, extravagant, takes his father for granted, and messes his life up following his own desires and plans. He comes to his senses and repents, returns to his father seeking a modicum of restoration.
The father is loving and does not impose his way upon his sons, even though it is what is best for them. When his younger son returns, he forgives and restores him to full relationship.
In the younger son and the father, we see the condition of a lost person realizing their need and returning to God. We also see a God who, in this case may not be pursuing, but who is waiting and expectantly seeking the return of His child. He is forgiving and wants relationship but not from compulsion.
The more interesting character, and the one that best addresses the complaint that triggered these stories, is the older son.
This son stayed home. However, we see hints that his relationship with the father has also been distant. He has not had an epiphany about his relationship to the father. He is bitter that the younger, foolish son, is being forgiven. He feels the distance from the father by comparison. The father’s words to him are enlightening. He could have enjoyed a better relationship all along. Now that the other son has returned, he too is invited to fully embrace the position of son. Instead of comparing himself to his brother, he should open himself up to the love of his father.
In effect, the older son is like the man who prompted the stories Jesus is telling. He complains that Jesus spends time with sinners. However, Jesus is spending time with sinners who want a relationship with Him. Their preparedness to change, their desire for a relationship with God, is better than the religious pride of the “holy” men. The older brother has not left the father, but he also has had not revelatory moment where he takes ownership of his need for a good relationship with the father. Better distant and returning, than close but turned away.
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