The Other Son Series

Finally, the boy explains why the Father is throwing such a huge party and kills the fatted calf. The NIV translates the boy’s words “because he (the father) has him back safe and sound…….” So the father throws the party because his youngest son is back safe and sound. No not really!

Again the NIV doesn’t catch the nuance of what Jesus is saying. If we go with a more literal translation the text says that the Father has received him. But the Greek verb for received him, apolambano, can also mean the Father has gotten him back or returned him. It is active. The father did this!

According to the boy the banquet is in honor of the father who sought out his lost son and found him, this is what the village is celebrating! The father found what was lost. If you recall from last week, the Father had been looking for him and when he saw him a long way off, outside the village, he ran out, humiliating himself, to meet him. He did this despite the fact that the young boy had wanted his him dead. When the Father did this, he took the eyes of the village off the young sinning prodigal and forced them to look at him. He received the prodigal and restored him before the village could cut him off with the Kezazah ceremony.

Because the father humiliated himself by running and exposing himself to the village, the boy was ready to return as a son instead of a hired hand to earn his place back. As result of this Dad’s reckless love, grace, and forgiveness was ready to restore his relationship with his father

The young boy in the courtyard says that the Father has received or returned his young son with hugiaino. This Greek word can mean good health. But did the Father receive the boy back in good health? Probably not! The text tells us that he had been starving in a far off country. Also, we can assume that he come back in tattered clothes that barely covered him and without shoes—because the father immediately calls for the family servants to clothe him in the best robes and put sandals on his feet. I don’t think he came back in the best of health.

Here is another reason why. The Greek word health “hugiaino” is used to translate the Hebrew word Shalom or Peace in the Old Testament. Most likely, Jesus originally told this story to a Hebrew audience and used Hebrew word Shalom. So the Father has received the erring son with peace. He has restored him with his love and grace and the result is peace between him and his son! The son has been reconciled to his Father!! The village celebrates the joy of restoration instead of the Kezazah ceremony of rejection. The feast is a celebration of the Father’s costly efforts at creating shalom or peace with his rebellious younger son!

Next, the text tells us that the older son gets angry and refuses to go to the banquet. He does this not because he brother is back—but because his brother is reconciled. The young village boy in the courtyard suggests that it is all over! The father has already accepted him—and has done so without the prodigal paying for his sins by making restitution to the village and family! This is why the older son is angry! The older son becomes so angry he doesn’t go into the banquet, the party, the feast, the celebration! Instead, he leaves. He leaves his father!!