"The Parable of Two Lost Sons"
Luke 15:11-32
Pastor John Bright
Luke 15 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.”
Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to transformed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You must choose.
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There is an old saying – “You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family.”
For some in my family, I was the disappointment… I was the prodigal. In my teens and 20s, I wanted to be an actor: on stage, television and movies. I lived in California twice and the biggest thing I ever did was an appearance on “The New Dating Game.”
Then I got clean and sober in 1985. It was then I could hear the call of God on my life (again) and I came home. That journey led me to this church in 2019. It’s still hard for some of my family to forget what I used to do way back then – “Guess that acting thing didn’t work out.”
Set-up for the parable
Last week we started Luke 15 with parables about 1 lost sheep and 1 lost coin. Remember, it all starts with a complaint – “2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus was giving honor to folks who were cast out and were no longer welcomed. It has overtones of a family relationship – like brothers and sisters. The Pharisees were upset because Jesus seems to accept sinners as his siblings. That’s incredible if you think about it! They actually got it right! In response, Jesus tells them what has become the best known of all the parables to explain the radical limits of His relationship with you and me.
While I’m covering these parables in Luke, I rely on the work of Dr. Harry Wendt. (The Parables of Jesus, 1997)
The parable
AKA – Parable of the Prodigal Son
AKA – Parable of the Loving Father
AKA – Parable of the Older Brother Who Is A Pain In The… Neck
Actually, in many ways that are unique to storytelling in the Middle East the older son is the key figure. From their point of view, there is far too much time spent on the younger son who has a lower status in the family and in the village. Don’t forget the village – they are the fourth character in the story.
The Younger Son
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.”
The younger son asks for his inheritance while his father still lives. Back then, the younger son would be entitled to 1/3 while the older son gets 2/3 of the estate. This was not unheard of back then. A father would divide the property before his death, but retain control. This was the “right of possession” rather than the “right of disposition.” (pg.49) This is an important distinction – why? There were no banks or 401Ks – everything the family owned was tied up in land and animals and goods. Now the younger son is demanding he wants the cash (coins). If he wants it quick, 1/3 of the assets will have to be sold quickly - most likely for a lower price. For the Middle Eastern listener, they hear the younger son is throwing away his true inheritance – family and village – for a bag of coins.
Lynn and I were so happy when Thomas and Jena got involved in a church in Richmond when they moved up there. I don’t know how folks face life without a church family – actually, I do. I went to CA the first time when I was 18. When I moved back, I lived in an apartment in my hometown. Went to Radford University and then back to CA. All that time – I NEVER attended church. When I got clean and sober, I found Crescent Heights UMC in West Hollywood. That’s where the NA meetings were held. I started attending. It was like coming home!
Back to the parable – the whole village and all their extended family know exactly what is going on. Everyone would expect the father to disown his younger son and forbid his return. They might even be telling him to beat that son if he ever sees him again!
The story continues with an economic downturn and the son who left has no money so he gets a job. Actually, he finds someone who is wealthy, like his dad, who gives him the WORST job for a Jew – feeding pigs. Back then – tending the pigs was a public job because they would go around a village or town acting like a big garbage disposal. Everyone who knew what he used to be – they guy spending all his money – would see him as the garbage man. He has become an outcast – not much better than a slave.
Today, there is great concern over “loaded words.” The word slave is one of those loaded words. We need to retain that word in the church because it perfectly describes the end result if you continue to hold onto sin. Sin can and will enslave us – even nice church folks – even we who are the sisters and brothers of Christ.
Life has left the younger son with only one choice – return home. That’s good, right? NO, THAT’S BAD! He will have to face his father and hope that the offer to be a servant will be accepted. He will have to face his older brother. Anybody think the older brother was tough on him growing up? Probably. No matter, it will be worse if he has to be a servant to his brother. He also has to face the village and his extended family – it would be assumed that none of these folks could even stand the sight of him. Now begins the long journey home. My first trip to CA – I had plenty of money so I flew there, but when I came home, I only had money for a bus ticket that took four days. The younger son was probably practicing his “let me be a servant” speech all the way home.
The Father
“20…“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
What has the father been doing all this time? We find out in v. 20 – “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him.” All this time the father has been scanning the horizon. He has been eagerly awaiting the return of his son whom he loves.
Also in v. 20 read – “he ran to his son.” The father ran. (Wait a minute) I don’t see one smile on any face in this place. In that day, in the Middle East, children run and teens run, but older men never run. They walk slowly with dignity. (pg. 53) Here’s another question that would not arise in our minds in this day – why is he running? Of course – everyone here has heard is described as an outpouring of love for the son. For the Middle Eastern listener there is another consideration – the father needs to reach the son before he enters the village. In the eyes of the villagers and extended family members, the younger son has brought shame on all of them so they have the right to beat him and throw stones to drive him away. On the other hand, they might think the father is running to scold the son or even to beat him. (lots of violence here we never considered)
His first action answers the questions and objections – the father hugs his lost son and kisses him. The father won’t even let him finish his well-rehearsed speech. The father then reverses and restores what has been lost:
• Best robe – that would be the father’s best – this sends the message “All I still have is yours”
• Ring – symbol of authority over the affairs of the father
• Shoes – servants and slaves are barefoot, but sons wear shoes
Now, all the villagers and extended family MUST treat the younger son as they did before. On top of all this – there’s going to be a big party. They will all be invited to the father’s home where the younger son will be the guest of honor. At such a gathering in that day, another family member would be the host – the older brother, but where is he?
The Older Son
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
What was the older son doing in the field – he was the supervisor of the workers. Having made it to the house, all eyes would have been on him. His assessment of the younger son (not his brother) would have been heard and there would be many who agree with it. The parable ends abruptly after the father’s response of inclusion. I have always wondered – does the older brother go in or stay out?
For the Middle Eastern listener there is another question that I would never consider – what did the older son do to the father in his rage? Would the son strike the father? Might seem odd to us, but these are folks who will later yell at the teller of this parable – “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (pg. 56)
The closing
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Here, the father never mentions what either son has done, only what he offers to both sons (and us) – everything he has! Dr. Harry Wendt notes, “When we come to our senses and return to our Heavenly Father, what do we have to bring? The younger son had only pig-stink to bring with him. We have only sin-stink to bring with us.” (pg. 56)
God the Father, Abba Daddy, will find us and receive us – not because of what we have done, but in spite of it. He loves you NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! His big arms are open wide. He finds us. Sometimes we are outside of the village and wanting to come home. Sometimes we are outside the party and refusing to enter. It does not matter where you are – God, your Heavenly Father, will find you every time. Amen.
