csuguy
Well-known member
I was reading through a book recommended by a pastor - The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller - and, while I don't agree with everything it says, it does have some good analysis of the so-called parable of the Prodigal Son. In particularly, it points out that while this passage is often refereed to as the parable of the Prodigal Son, the passage actually starts off talking about two sons. Indeed, this parable is directed towards the pharisees and scribes at the beginning of the chapter who condemned him for receiving and eating with sinners (a sign of acceptance).
The younger son in this passage represents the sinners that the pharisees and scribes are referring to. The Father does not stop this selfish son from leaving, but even gives him what he asks for: his portion of his inheritance right then and there. This son then goes off and lives a selfish life, blowing through his inheritance until he hits rock bottom. Then he recalls his father and so decides to return to him as a hired servant. But upon seeing him return, the father is so overjoyed that he gives him the best of everything and throws a celebration.
This is where a lot of analysis stops when presented in your average service. The above demonstrates God's immense love and forgiveness for us, his lost children. But there is another son that he goes on to talk about.
This elder brother represents the pharisees and the scribes - those who live mostly moral lives, who know God's Word, follow his commands, and who are quite self-righteous. They have done everything right, so they say, and so view the younger brother - those sinners - with disdain and jealousy. "I have always done what is right, yet I have never been celebrated like this?!"
The irony is that this elder brother is being as selfish as the younger brother, and as a result has caused a separation between himself and the father. The elder brother protests and refuses to join the celebration, causing the father to have to come and appeal to him to join them.
Unlike the story of the younger son, the question of whether or not the elder son mends his ways and joins the celebration is left open. For they - the pharisees and scribes who are condemning his actions - are the intended audience. He is asking them - what will you do? Can you put look beyond yourself, beyond your own ego, and celebrate the return of one who did not do what was right, one who squandered his blessings and lived for mere sensual pleasures? The elder brother may love the father, but he fails in his love for the younger brother.
The story of the elder brother is very applicable to congregations today. There are many who have a better-than-thou attitude that causes them to refuse to acknowledge and celebrate the repentance of 'mere sinners.' They separate themselves from their 'younger brothers' - and as a result they separate themselves from God.
1 Cor 13:1-3 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [a]to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Luke 15:1-2;11-35 Now all the tax collectors and the [a]sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” ...
[Jesus] said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his [d]wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and [e]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the [f]pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to [g]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [h]in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [j]embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
[Jesus] said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his [d]wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and [e]hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the [f]pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to [g]his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and [h]in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and [j]embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The younger son in this passage represents the sinners that the pharisees and scribes are referring to. The Father does not stop this selfish son from leaving, but even gives him what he asks for: his portion of his inheritance right then and there. This son then goes off and lives a selfish life, blowing through his inheritance until he hits rock bottom. Then he recalls his father and so decides to return to him as a hired servant. But upon seeing him return, the father is so overjoyed that he gives him the best of everything and throws a celebration.
This is where a lot of analysis stops when presented in your average service. The above demonstrates God's immense love and forgiveness for us, his lost children. But there is another son that he goes on to talk about.
Luke 15:25-32 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never [k]neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your [l]wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you [m]have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
This elder brother represents the pharisees and the scribes - those who live mostly moral lives, who know God's Word, follow his commands, and who are quite self-righteous. They have done everything right, so they say, and so view the younger brother - those sinners - with disdain and jealousy. "I have always done what is right, yet I have never been celebrated like this?!"
The irony is that this elder brother is being as selfish as the younger brother, and as a result has caused a separation between himself and the father. The elder brother protests and refuses to join the celebration, causing the father to have to come and appeal to him to join them.
Unlike the story of the younger son, the question of whether or not the elder son mends his ways and joins the celebration is left open. For they - the pharisees and scribes who are condemning his actions - are the intended audience. He is asking them - what will you do? Can you put look beyond yourself, beyond your own ego, and celebrate the return of one who did not do what was right, one who squandered his blessings and lived for mere sensual pleasures? The elder brother may love the father, but he fails in his love for the younger brother.
The story of the elder brother is very applicable to congregations today. There are many who have a better-than-thou attitude that causes them to refuse to acknowledge and celebrate the repentance of 'mere sinners.' They separate themselves from their 'younger brothers' - and as a result they separate themselves from God.
1 Cor 13:1-3 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [a]to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
