The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

Today we look at a parable that many of us know well or at least we think we know it well.

However as always the Holy Spirit of God desires to lead us into all truth or deeper truth about God’s word.

It is important to remember that all of God’s word is meant to be a reflection of Jesus who is the living word of God for us.

So turn with me again to this very familiar passage and let us see if there is more here for us to discover beyond what we think we already know.

This parable like so many others is offered to a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles. People of the promise of God the Chosen People and people who are called out by God.

The great difference here is that Israel is God’s chosen possession, His special jewel. God has selected them, they did not choose God.

The gentiles on the other hand have not been chosen in the same way. Instead they are the called out ones. God the Father is calling out to them to come to Him of their own free will to choose the Father.

Each of these two groups are made to represent God’s sons dwelling in God’s house, the house of the Father.

The younger son represents all of us who are Gentiles. We are younger because we have not walked with the Father as long as our older brother has.

Our older brother has been with the Father and been granted special status that we do not have. The older brother is the son of blessing who often receives a special blessing or portion from the Father simply because he is the first born.

The older brother is also the first to receive the rules of the household the law and he is expected to be an example to the younger brother in keeping the Father’s laws.

Sometimes this practice of blessing by birth order seems to us like favoritism instead of an act of heritage. It is this kind of envy between the older brother and the younger brother that sets off the younger brother who wants his portion now.

Proverbs 17:17 New International Version

“A brother is born for adversity.”

17 A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

The dictionary describes adversity as opposed to ones interests.

The younger brother cannot wait for His Father to die in order to get his share instead this insolent young man demands what would be his, here and now. He is contemptuous.

Contempt is a legal word that a Judge might use against you to hold your respect and obedience in a legal proceeding. The Judge might say to you “be quiet or I’ll hold you in contempt of the court”.

The dictionary says "contempt is willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body."

Receiving an inheritance from a father is a legal matter as well as a matter of heritage.

We see the younger son making demands that he has no right to make but a Father who sees an opportunity to teach a disrespectful son a most valuable lesson.

Jesus is giving us an inside look at the heart of God the Father and at the same time showing the Jews that their special place and status is secure. Jesus did not come to remove them from their place but instead wanted to see them willingly take their place and be an example of love and obedience toward the Father.

Unfortunately they were lording it over others and using their special place for selfish reasons instead of demonstrating humility and compassion.

So now Jesus gives us this parable to speak to both Jew and Gentile.

The Father acquiesces to the young sons request and what would be his inheritance is given to him as requested.

God our Father has given us our “Free will” in a world of choices. The young son squanders his inheritance by making one bad choice after another.

Jesus frames it for us in the worst possible light. The young son wastes his inheritance on wine, women, and song. He makes fast friends who help to spend his inheritance at a record pace and then they are all gone when the money is all gone.

The young son is destitute and goes so far as to become a herdsmen of pigs. The pig was an animal that was most foul to Jewish people. They were not to eat it or even go near a pig but here we see the son feeding the pigs while his own stomach goes empty.

Jesus is teaching us that even the vilest sinner, the seemingly unredeemable are still within the Father’s grasp.