181. The Prodigal Family

Luke 15:11-32

Key Verse: "We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Luke 15:32

This is a familiar story to most of us. We love the portrayal of the loving Father, forgiving even the worst of sinners. Since most of us have probably strayed at some time in our lives, this parable gives the reassurance that our heavenly Father will always welcome us back, no matter what. What we, in western culture often do not appreciate, however, is the significance of how Jesus’ audience heard this story. To them, this parable was about more than a loving Father, but about an extravagantly loving Father, lavishing love on two very selfish, disrespectful, undeserving and ungrateful sons. Jesus told this story to illustrate just how far God had to go to forgive sinners.

First of all, let's review who is in Jesus’ audience. Jesus was speaking to tax collectors, sinners and religious leaders who were critical of Jesus spending time with the riff raff. Each of these groups is represented in the parable that Jesus shares. The sinners are like the younger brother. They are not innocent victims, but willing participants in their depravity. The leaders are like the older brother.  They deprive themselves, expecting a great reward and resent having to share with an immoral, brother.  The Father is God Himself, who has been mistreated by both sons, yet tries to reach out to each and build relationship for the sake of love and forgiveness.

There is so much depth here that I regret that I can only skim the highlights, but I will try, to bring a deeper understanding by explaining how those in Eastern, first century culture, would have heard this parable, to hopefully whet your appetite for going deeper on your own.

First of all, as with our culture today, an inheritance was only given after the death of the Father. To have the younger son come and ask for his inheritance while the Father is alive, would be as if he were saying, "I wish you were dead." Also, whatever this younger brother did while away, was carried back, probably through rumor and gossip, to the family, adding shame to the insult.

Yet, when the Father sees this son coming, he does something unheard of, He runs to meet him and put one of his own robes on him in front of the entire village. In that culture, Fathers never run, they wait for their children to come to them in humility. Dressing the young man, immediately, in fine clothes, told the villagers, "I accept him. Say no more about it." The Father, however, still has the older son to deal with.

First of all, the older son should have been at the party, greeting the guests while the Father sat and visited, but this son was a no show and even the Father could not enjoy the party because he had to leave to find his elder son. When the Father finds the son, he is greeted with a series of complaints about the unfairness of the situation and the lack of appreciation that the Father has shown toward this elder son's obedience, in his opinion.

How heartbroken the Father must have been to have to deal with the attitude of both of His children. Yet, are we any better toward God ourselves? Do we think that we deserve more because we have been faithful? Do we think that we can live out our Christianity in whatever way is comfortable for us because, "Hey, God will understand!" Romans 5:8 tells us: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." No matter what your attitude, the older brother demanding his rights or the younger brother demanding his privileges, do either of us really deserve God's own blood, shed for us? Take your walk and your forgiveness seriously. God is celebrating it with you. Make His celebration worth it.

Hymn: "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus"