THE PRODIGAL SON
Luke 15:11-32
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
Jesus was responding to the criticisms of the spiritual leaders of Israel. He had been eating with sinners. He did not judge them, He loved them. The third parable He told is probably the most important of these kinds of parables as it tells us what we were and what we have become in Christ. It especially tells us what we have received in Him.
Jesus based His story on truth. To say a certain man and for the man not to exist would imply that he could not be certain. Perhaps there were similar well known stories and the people could identify with them.
It is obvious that this man is a nobleman who has property and riches. No boy would want to leave with his portion of nothing!
The splitting of the inheritance would be in line with Levitical Law. A man with six sons would divide his inheritance into seven parts. Each son would receive one part with the exception of the eldest who would get two. Even before the development of Levitical Law we see Jacob divide his inheritance into thirteen parts. Each son gets one part except for the son of his favourite wife, the one he had worked so hard to have. Joseph is given two parts, and from then on we see thirteen tribes of Israel each named after a son of Jacob except for Joseph’s which are Ephraim and Mannasseh.
The Jewish leaders hearing this statement from the boy would have been livid. This boy was guilty of gross sin. It was seen as one of the worst a Jew could commit. They even had a title for it: “Burying his parents before they were dead.” He was basically saying, “I wish you would drop dead! I can’t wait any longer I want your money now so that I can squander it.”
The Pharisees knew the ten commandments and they would never be heard to complain about their parents.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
They would have been so mad with him. This was the lowest of the low. Not only had he taken the father’s wealth, he had moved out of the land which the Lord had given. He would have been despised in their eyes: to them his sin was unforgivable. His sin was worthy of death.
He may enjoy the fruits of his father’s labour, but not for long as he was walking out of the blessing of God.
Riches can easily deceive. We want to be rich, but we have to check our motivation as to why we do. If it so that we can “eat, drink and be merry..” we are going to come unstuck. If it is so that we can help to establish His kingdom on the earth then we will do well.
And he divided unto them his living.
Imagine the father’s anguish as he took stock of all that he owned and began to share it between his two sons. Two parts for the eldest son and one part for the youngest. All of his possessions were separated.. Buildings, animals, servants, precious metals and jewellery, clothing and land. Some of it may have been sold in order to give the boy cash.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country,
The scene must have been fantastic. Here was a nobleman’s son leaving town with a third of his father’s possessions. This was not a Huckleberry Finn scenario with a boy leaving with a Nike Bag thrown over his shoulder. No, this young man had a caravan of wagons, animals and servants. He was strutting like a peacock, and thumbing his nose at his father.
And he went to a far country.
Actually a far country does not have to be very far away at all! It merely means being out from under the influence of the father.
You do not have to travel very far in any direction before you come across somebody who is away from the influence and authority of the Father.
I can remember two such incidents. I was once visiting a church pastor in Kings Cross, Central London. As I made my farewell I stepped out onto the stairs leading to the ground. There just a few feet from the pastor’s home was a man mainlining on heroin. When he saw me he quickly gathered up his belongings and hurried away apologizing. This man was geographically close to the Father; he was right by the pastor’s place. Yet he was in a far country when it came to his relationship with God.
Another time I came out a pastor’s house in Mauritius. Under the bushes right nearby was all the equipment for a person to do themselves a lot of damage with hard drugs. And then, as I turned the corner I saw four or five men stretched out on the floor totally drunk. One or two nearby were drinking whisky. It was eight o’clock in the morning. Again, they may have been close geographically. They were far away spiritually.
and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
We do not know what he did. Later, the elder brother accuses him of being with harlots. However, he may have been biased.
There are some things we can say. This boy shows us the futility of living a life of shallowness. He was only alive to be entertained. He was desperate to be the centre of attention and it was such a waste.
I believe this is why God allowed the book of Ecclesiastes to be placed in the Old Testament. Solomon recorded for us that he tried all kinds of things in order to satisfy the longings of his heart. He had a void in him because he had moved away from his relationship with God. He who had been given wisdom wasted it, and abused it. He used it in order to fulfil his desires, but his desires were never quenched because they were temporary, transient. Look at what he says:
“I said in mine heart, (It was his decision entirely; an act of his own will. He had nobody else to blame for his folly)
Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. (This was an attempt to be happy. But happiness relies on emotion and things happening which make us merry. Joy is a constant condition within a born again person.)
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? (Happiness is so temporary it has little value.)
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. (He was clearly mixed up in his priorities. It is sad that in London today so many executives rely on alcohol to give them the boost they need to continue in their business. Many would say it is not a problem, but so few can keep away from the stuff.)
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: (Rich men often spend years in building and furnishing their houses. They may not even live in them very long)
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; (He had a lot of people to boss about.. this is the misuse of power.)
also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. (He had every kind of possession, and every kind of entertainment).
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. (He was greater than Saul, Ishbosheth, David and all the kings in Jerusalem before the Israelites took it over. He even kept his wisdom concerning other issues.. but not his own life.)
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. (Everything he wanted he had. But he misuses the word joy, because these things did not satisfy.)
At the conclusion of his book he basically tells us: “I had a lot of money; I could afford to use it on wine, women, song, bigger vineyards, larger houses.. even sin; But it never brought me any satisfaction. You can’t afford it, so don’t do it! Instead, remember your Creator in the days of your youth because His is the only way.”
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land;
In the Bible famine is always a sign of judgement. God is displeased with a person or a land which has gone against His command. In some ways this would be similar with us, except for the fact that God does not withhold from us what He wants us to have. He makes it freely available, because it was won for us by Jesus Christ. However, although His hand is held out with the blessing, we cannot see it or believe it so we waste it!
and he began to be in want.
It is obvious that all those fair-weather friends he had when he had a lot of money had now deserted him. A lot of money usually means a lot of friends. A lack of money often means few friends.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country;
The word “joined” would have been quite significant to the hearers of Jesus. It was so close to their understanding of the practice of entering into covenant.
He was in a foreign country, among Gentiles. That was not illegal; in fact there were countries they could go and continue to practise orthodox Judaism without disturbance. However, a Jew in another land had to live a certain way, and to some degree keep their distance from the inhabitants. This boy was making himself reliant upon the foreigner, when he should have been trusting in Jehovah.
and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
We knew all along that this was a no good Jewish boy, but now we see the extent of disrespect for the religion of his father. He is so far from his father’s influence that he has no qualms about feeding the pigs. He has now lost all self respect in participating in such an occupation.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:
And eating with a person is a sign of their being in fellowship. This boy was prepared to commune with the pigs he was in such a desperate condition. Have you ever gone outside of the kitchens of a fast food restaurant and seen the waste and leftover food there. This boy was prepared to eat of the trash that others would not eat. The Simple English bible is very graphic: “The boy was so hungry, that he wanted to stuff himself with the food which the pigs were eating.”
and no man gave unto him.
He did not receive anything from anybody. There was nobody with compassion.. there was no intercessor. This boy was totally bereft. He was a hopeless case.
And when he came to himself,
The N.I.V. says “And when he came to his senses.” Finally, the boy realized that he had been very foolish. He had an awakening of how utterly ridiculous he had been. He had failed as a son abysmally, and so he is very ashamed.. but not too ashamed.
He said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
He realised that his father was, in fact, a generous man. He did not abuse his servants but cared for them. This father was no fool, but a good businessman. He knew that if he looked after his employees he would get better work from them.
Sadly, there are even Christian employers who abuse their staff. It is so easy to demand sacrifices from those around us, when we are not prepared to make them ourselves. A man is worthy of his hire, even if his work is of a spiritual nature.
God does not want those who work for him to go short of the carnal necessities of life. It seems that a large section of the church does. It is sad when a preacher visits a church and doesn’t even have his costs paid. Others have no understanding that the evangelist has a home and family. Some of it would be laughable if it were not so serious. In my own experience I have spent a lot of money on the ticket to arrive at a place. The pastor of the church, who should always know better, has not even apologized for the small honorarium which didn’t even pay for the sandwich on the train!
One of the most interesting things which happened in the Gulf War was how easy the allied forces took the territory they wanted without many casualties. On one occasion a small band of British soldiers came across an Iraqi “stronghold.” The British knew that they were heavily outnumbered, but they were confident that, with their superior weaponry, they would win any ensuing battle. They also knew that if the battle took place some of their men would be injured or even killed as well as many casualties on the Iraqi side. Suddenly, without warning, the Iraqi soldiers all surrendered. No shots had been fired. Over two hundred Iraqis had given up the fight and handed themselves to slightly more than twenty British soldiers. Why? Well there were two reasons:
(1) The Iraqis had not eaten for days. Hungry soldiers do not have the stomach for a fight. (2) They had not been paid. Nobody works well when they are worried about money. How are they going to feed their families back in Baghdad without money?
It is the same in the Christian army. No soldier of Jesus Christ should be without the things they need, especially when so many others have an abundance.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
This doesn’t even need the recipient to be a minister of the gospel.. just a believer. But the Lord had already spoken through the Apostle Paul and some modern bibles put it into terms which are understood by us as easily as it would have been by the early church believers:
“Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them” (Galatians 6:6 Living Bible)
“When someone is under instruction in doctrine, he should give his teacher a share in all his possessions.” (Galatians 6:6 Jerusalem Bible)
I will arise
These words mean, “I will change my position.” He has faith in his father because he knows that he is a man of compassion. He may be using some psychological tactics because he knows his father really well and may reckon on his kindness not to just do what the boy is asking for. However, even the bare minimum would be better than the position he was in.
The boy is a picture of a man who changes his spiritual position. Initially this is done at new birth. However, we do, from time to time, have to change our position. Often we have lost hope concerning our physical or financial condition. And then, in one way or another, we hear from God that we need to “change our position.” We need to line up with what His word says and not with our emotions or with the excepted wisdom of the day.
and go to my father,
The boy is going to take the first steps concerning reconciliation. However, it is not really him who is initiating this coming together. Rather subtly the father is the one who has made it possible. How? The boy knows that the father is inherently good. He knows that his father would not turn him away. We can only come to God because we know that He will receive us. Our understanding may be limited. We may think that He requires us to keep laws and rules. However, that is simply not true. And the Lord understands this. He will receive us even though our understanding of Him is so off the mark.
The boy makes his plan. It is always good to plan. We must endeavour not to be manipulative, but the plan needs to be thought through. I can remember when, as a child, I was called to see the principal of the school. I knew I was in big trouble. I had to think of a plan. Sometimes my plan worked. I would state my case and the principal would be impressed.
and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
The boy knows that his sin is not just against his father, but against the laws of God as well. Heaven would be holding him to account for his grievous sin. He knows that those in the town where he came from will be judging him as a big sinner. The Pharisees are always quick to judge and even condemn. We have these kinds of people around us. They disapprove of what we do, but do not empower us to change the way we are. And in their disapproval they commit the greater sin.
All of our sin against heaven itself, but heaven takes care of it. It is from heaven that Jesus came to set us free from the sins we chose to commit.
In this story the boy has prepared his plan. He needs to find a way to get himself off the hook. He knows that if his plan goes wrong then he is in peril of his life. If his father is not the man of compassion he believes him to be then the boy is a dead man. Has he pushed his father too far this time. Maybe he has been rebellious all his life. Perhaps his extravagant behaviour has been reported to his father. This is quite possible because those servants which had left with him must have been gradually laid off as the boy became short of money. They may have come to the same conclusion that it was a good idea to return to the only home they knew.
And am no more worthy to be called thy son:
And none of us are worthy. We have all failed, even since we believed, to live like sons of God. We may not be worthy, but Jesus is and we live by our faith in what He has done for us.
make me as one of thy hired servants.
A hired servant was different from a house servant. A hired servant just worked for his board and slept in an outhouse. A house servant lived in the house and was utterly trusted. Perhaps the boy knew that he had to admit that he had lost the trust of his father by his treacherous behaviour.
And he arose, and came to his father.
If you have a plan then you have to see that it is fulfilled. This boy did not just say what he would do, he actually did it. How many people I have met who plan to come to the Lord. They plan to get more involved in church activity. They plan to pray or read the bible more. They plan to tithe. The problem with so many is that they don’t ever get around to doing these things which they know are such a good idea.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,
I love this word, “BUT”. Often in the vocabulary of a believer this word is a negative. Here, however, it is very positive. The boy had made the first step, the father then makes many more. He was far from home seeking for his son, much in the same way as the shepherd had sought out the lost sheep.
and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The father’s compassion is a picture of God’s lovingkindness to us. We are without excuse and yet the Father runs to us and gives us His mercy and grace unreservedly. He embraces us and never lets us go again.
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.
The boy continues with his plan. Even thought the father’s actions must have already surprised him he still wants to make his speech. And, of course, it has to be made. He has to say that he is repentant. He has to confess his sin. He acknowledges that he is unworthy of his father’s love and beneficence.
But the father said to his servants,
Here is another “BUT”.
And the interesting thing to see here is that the father interrupted his son’s speech. He did not want to hear what was coming next. The boy’s plan was a good one but he would never say the whole of what he had prepared.
It may be a surprise, but when we start to make our initial confession to God regarding our sin and failure He does not want to hear everything we say. The Father is not wanting to hear that phrase: Make me your servant. He regards us as being sons, and when we come to Him He recognizes us as His children.
The father then gives the servants instructions. That is what happens at new birth. As we are saying: Make me a servant, the Father stops listening and begins to tell His servants what to do. The angels of God, and the Holy Spirit, Himself, begin to work at the Father’s behest and for our benefit.
He tells the servants to make provision in four areas: the best robe, a ring for his finger, shoes for his feet and the fatted calf. At a cursory glance we may think that the father is making provision for the son’s immediate needs.
His clothes are now rags following his long walk home; he has no jewellery; his shoes are worn out and he is so hungry he looks sick. However, Jesus is telling this story to the scribes and Pharisees and they knew immediately what He was saying and it would have frustrated and amazed them.
Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;
Who would have owned the best robe in this family. It was the robe of the father who was a nobleman. The father was making a declaration by this gesture and is saying: “Make my boy look like me!” You can imagine around town in the following days how people would be discussing a distant figure and unable at first glance to distinguish whether it was the father or his son. They now looked so alike.
Think about how we look at a new born baby and recognise certain characteristics. Eyes like it’s mother ears like it’s father etc.
That is what happens when we are born again. We look so much like our Father we are indistinguishable from Him. This is what the Word tells us: he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
Again we are told to put on the whole armour of God. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13) This is not some medieval material: it is the life of God, Himself. He is our armour. We are told to “put on Christ” and to “put on love.” Each of these is the same it is the Person of God whom we are putting on. He is our clothing. It cannot be seen with the physical eyes, but we are clothed with the Shekinah glory of God.
Some of us imagine that the devil wishes to get into hand to hand combat with believers. This is most unlikely. For a start we have a sword and he has none. However, we are also looking so much like our elder brother, Jesus, and so much like our Father, that the devil is confused that we might be the real thing. The last time he had a run in with Jesus the bible tells us that his head was crushed. He does not want that to happen again. And you look so much like Jesus you may even be Jesus in the eyes of the wicked one.
The question some ask goes like this: Is it possible for a Christian to be demon possessed or demonised? It seems to be such a sensible question. And I cannot give a categorical answer. It seems totally farcical when you consider what it would be like for the demon to live inside a bible loving, prayer praying, Jesus sharing, tongue talking worshipper. What demon would feel at home in that sort of place? Of course, if a person chooses to compromise in any area he may open himself up to demonic activity. It is hard, even impossible to think of them as being demon possessed. But the question becomes fatuous if a person maintains his fanatacism for the Lord.
and put a ring on his hand,
This is not a covenant ring it is a signet ring. It was the equivalent of the modern day credit card! Here was a boy who had wasted his father’s money by throwing it away on all kinds of sin and wickedness. However, the father says to the boy, “You are my son, I trust you.” He is really saying, “Welcome to the family business.” He is telling him to do business on his father’s behalf.
We do not get given a literal ring when we turn to Jesus. However, He does tell us that He trusts us and that we are to do business on His behalf. Only occasionally is this business of a financial nature.
What other kinds of business are there?
(i) “The word of our testimony”..
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
(ii) “they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15)
(iii) “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
(iv) “Ye are the salt of the earth..Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
We are part of the family business. I say we belong to the firm “Jesus Brothers” or even “Jehovah and sons.”
and shoes on his feet:
Years ago I was asked to preach in a church in Lagos, Nigeria. They said I would be most welcome, but that there was one condition. When I asked these nice people what the condition was they replied that in order to preach I had to remove my shoes. I was perplexed and asked why. They replied, “Because our church is holy ground!”
How they misunderstand the word of God. Others in the midst of the worship service remove their shoes because of the manifest presence of God. Oh Dear!
They are thinking of two Old Testament stories when they do this:
(i) The example of Moses as he approached the burning bush: (Exodus 3:5)
(ii) The example of Joshua when he was invading Jericho: (Joshua 5:13-15)
Moses was the servant of God. Joshua called himself a servant. And, of course, where the Lord is, it is holy ground. But we do not take our shoes off in the New Testament era. This is what the father did not want to hear. The boy was about to say, “Make me as one of your hired servants..” You were about to say, “I will be your servant..” BUT WE ARE NOT SERVANTS. We may call ourselves servants but God does not. There has been a series of promotions in your life and they all took place at the same time. We list them so that you can see it clearly, but you were transformed from the guttermost to the uttermost in an instant when you were born again:
You were an enemy of God; “know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
You could have been a servant of God but you missed this because Jesus said to His disciples: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 14:14-15)
But you are not even just His friend because the Word tells us two other great truths: “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (Hebrews 2:11) and “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God,” (1 John 3:1-2)
From enemy to servant, from servant to friend, from friend to brother and son. That is what we are. (Even the ladies are sons, because in Christ there is neither male nor female.. only sons inherit; daughters have to marry someone who has or will inherit!)
In the Hebrew culture only sons wear shoes. Servants do not wear shoes. When you are born again you don’t take your shoes off: You put them on. The church building in Lagos was not holy ground. I AM HOLY GROUND! And so are you, because you are the tabernacle of God.
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
The shedding of this animal’s blood reminds us of the covenant we have with God: The innocent was sacrificed for the guilty.
The eating together was a sign of forgiveness and fellowship.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20”)
The N.K.J. says “I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”
The Simple English Bible puts it this way: “I will come inside with him. We will have dinner together.”
Jesus was in fellowship with Judas at the Last Supper. This is what is recorded for us:
While they were sitting down and eating, Jesus said, ``I am telling you the truth: One of you will turn against me. He is eating with me!’’ They began to be sad. Each one of them asked Jesus, ``I am not the one, am I?’’ Jesus answered, ``It is one of the twelve who dipped in the same dinner bowl with me. (Mark 14:18-20 Simple English Bible)
Judas and Jesus were sitting next to each other. Jesus being the chairman of the meal, and Judas sitting in the place of THE GUEST OF HONOUR.
That is the major sin of Judas: covenant breaking.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
A picture of the new birth. From being lost in trespasses and sins we have been made alive by the power of God. The new birth was paid for with a great price so it is not some little thing. For this boy it was a total change of lifestyle. From being “self sufficient” he was now only satisfied at the father’s bidding. And yet it had been similar to this all along. Even when he was out carousing and throwing money around it was all his father’s in the first place. Men and women who live a life of sin can only do so because they have been loaned life by God Himself.
Now his elder son was in the field:
It would appear that the elder brother was a hard worker. He even appears to be better educated. But what was his motivation. It becomes so clear when we read on.
and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
Jews really know how to throw a party. Theirs is not some quiet cocktail party where people have to be careful to be politically correct and spend all their time in small talk. No, when the Hebrew people party they have a great time. Jesus deliberately used this illustration to describe the attitude God has. When a person comes to Christ God does more than just tick off the name on a scroll and say, “Good.” He, who is not moved by emotion, IS MOVED BY EMOTION!
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
There is a stark difference between the attitude of the servant and that of the elder brother. The servant appears to be excited that the younger brother has returned, and happily gives a full explanation of what has happened. How God’s servants join in with the celebration when a man is saved. Jesus had said there would be rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God.
And he was angry, and would not go in:
And that had been the attitude of the Pharisees all along. They were indignant that Jesus would spend time with publicans and sinners. They despised Him when he healed the blind man in the temple. They were frustrated when He healed the man with the withered arm in the synagogue. They were jealous. And that jealousy stemmed from a religiosity based on works and even based on power. They had no authority to do the things that Jesus was doing because the people did not respond to them. They could have had that authority if they had been gracious, kind and compassionate. However, they missed it when they thought that authority was about giving a lot of orders and controlling people’s lives. It has never been so. Authority, in the spiritual sense, is not about making a lot of noise and standing on your high horse. It is dignified and concerned primarily with the condition of those with whom it is dealing. Love always seeks the others highest good.
therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
A picture of the love of God. The father still goes out to the proud and intreats them to change their ways. The Lord may resist the proud, but He delights when we are obedient to His commands:
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)
We must ensure that we are not so judgemental when it comes to religious people. God loves them and goes to them and offers them what we have. Often when we are being so judgemental all we are doing is compounding the sin for we have become proud and boorish as well.
And he answering said to his father,
Here comes the whining and griping. How we pray so ridiculously I do not know. “Lord. don’t you care? You’ve never given me a party. I’m the only one around here who is not happy.” It makes you want to smack him. But it is a picture of so many of us.
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.
Barnes notes on the New Testament is very striking regarding this boys words: “This thy son” or “This son of thine” is an expression of great contempt. He did not call him his brother, but his father’s son, to show at once his contempt for his younger brother, and for his father for having received him as he did. Never was there a more striking instance of petty malice, or more unjustifiable disregard of a father’s conduct and will.
“Thy living” or “Thy property.” is still designed to irritate the father, and set him against his younger son. It was true that the younger son had been guilty, and foolish, and ungrateful; but he was penitent, and that was of more consequence to the father than all his property; and in the joy that he was penitent and was safe, he forgot his ingratitude and folly. So should the elder son have done.
Look at what he said in more detail..
I have served thee. There is a case here of forgetting that the Lord is no man’s debtor. However, we should serve the Lord freely. He does prosper us. But it would still be good to serve Him even if He did not.
I have educated myself to believe that I have never really served the Lord in the sense of what this elder brother is saying. I believe that what I do is the greatest joy I could have. “I delight to do thy will.” It is the best and safest place to be: The will of God.
I have not transgressed thy commandment. But that is the problem isn’t it? It has all been so difficult. He has believed that following his father is a burden. The Pharisees, among others, not only followed the law of God, they even added other laws to them, to make life even harder for themselves. Everything was one big religious exercise. But John tells us to obey God’s commandments:
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:2-3)
The New King James says, “And His commandments are not burdensome.”
This young man a picture of the Pharisees has not heeded the statement of Jesus:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’’ (Matthew 11:28-30)
As a young Christian I believed the words of the propagandists who told me, “Nobody ever said the Christian life would be easy.” But, on the contrary, Jesus, Himself, said it would be easy!
Jesus said, “My yoke is easy”. The yoke was an instrument which tethered oxen together as they pulled a plough. It was biased in such a way that the farmer would only need to guide one, and the other would follow naturally. So, the yoke is speaking of where the Lord is asking us to go. Too many think that the will of God must be that thing which makes us uncomfortable. No, the bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Notice that it is “your heart” and not “His heart”.
Jesus said, “My burden is light.” I can remember as a small boy trying to pick up a piece of luggage which was bigger than I was. I could not do so because it was simply too heavy. The Lord does not ask me to carry something I find too heavy. If I find something too heavy for me to carry then I am to give it to Him: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Thou hast not given me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. This man’s self pity knows no bounds.. and he has such a short memory. He is as guilty as his brother. The prodigal wasted the father’s money on unrighteousness. The elder brother wasted his father’s money on self-righteousness. Look again at verse 12:
“So he divided to them his livelihood.” (N.K.J.)
The elder brother could have had a party EVERY DAY!
This is what the father told him:
Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
This boy is a picture of those who utterly refuse to enjoy their salvation. They walk around with long faces and believe that God is only pleased with sobriety. Of course, we should shun coarse jesting and vain babbling. We should not hurt people with our humour. We should be concerned that we do not do damage, but that we speak grace so that those who hear can be edified and blessed.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
The father reminds the elder son that this boy is his brother. He appeals to the man’s better nature. But does he have one? His pride is so strong that he may not be able to see the truth of what his father is saying. And so it is the same with so many. They think the gospel should be a list of do’s and don’ts. Rules and regulations. They will put burdens on others in order to keep them under their control, or they will consider what we are saying as being too easy, and we must pay a heavy price. But the price has already been paid. Jesus paid every last penny. There is nothing left to pay. It is given to us freely. Our responsibility is to enjoy it.
And Jesus does not reach a conclusion concerning the elder brother. Why? Because the elder brother is in the same position as the younger. He must come to his senses and realise that his father makes ample provision even for the lowest in his household. And this young man would not be in a low position in the house. He is also a prodigal in need of returning to the love and compassion of his father.
