Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: … “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'” (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 NRSV)
This story is the parable we all grew up knowing as the Prodigal Son. Prodigal is lavish spending , recklessly using what you have…
This story and the whole chapter of Luke 15 is thought to have been about repentance. The son after telling his father he was dead to him by asking for his portion of the father’s wealth comes to his senses and repents. Now don’t get me wrong. He comes to his senses. Nothing makes a good Jewish boy come to his sense quicker than wanting to eat what you are feeding the pigs you are working with. But is that what this story is really about? And this chapter? If so what is the part about the older son all about and what about the other 2 parables in the chapter?
The other 2 parables are the lost sheep and the lost coin. If this chapter is about repentance then how does a sheep repent and how does a coin repent. A sheep rents by say, “I’m sorry I’ve been baaaaaad.” and a coin repents by saying, “I promise I’ll change.”. So are these stories about sheep and coins repenting or are they about the shepherd and the woman? Just like the Prodigal Son is not about the son, but the father, just as the story begins, “There was a man who had two sons.”
The story is a it the father who goes out of his way to shame and dishonor himself to get his son back. The father who lavishly and recklessly gives his wealth, honor and dignity to get his son back. The prodigal father, just like God. God is chasing after you, so just turn around and see Him there chasing after you…
aSacredRebel 