In our last episode, we began looking at Jesus’ illustration that is normally referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. However, with how Jesus begins the parable, we thought it would be better to emphasize the father in Jesus’ story because this is how Jesus opened up the parable, and because the Father likely represents God.
But our last episode didn’t have enough time to cover the last portion of this parable, so this episode will pick back up where we left off. However, in case you missed the last episode, let’s read the parable through from the start to catch you up, or at the very least, to refresh all of our memories with how this parable begins.
Our parable and passage are found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 15, and we will be reading out of the New International Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 11, Luke tells us that:
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
This is where we finished off in our last episode. However, Jesus isn’t finished sharing the parable. Continuing in verse 25, we discover that:
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
What began as a celebration because of the younger son’s return home turns into a family dispute. It would seem that the father in this parable is only capable of pleasing one of his sons at a time. On the return of the younger son, the older son becomes resentful at the father’s joy.
Does this then mean that when God rejoices at the return and repentance of sinners, those who stayed beside Him without turning away will ultimately turn away and become resentful? From the way this parable describes this event, it certainly seems this way.
However, I believe this parable is a challenge and not a prediction. When we begin to see this parable as a challenge, then we stop letting it dictate our life and our future. Instead of seeing the two sons as two types of people we must choose between, we should think of these two sons as two extremes we probably should avoid.
The younger son represents the first extreme, and this extreme is rejecting God. It is never good to reject God, however this younger son does ultimately turn around and realize He needed to repent and return. The younger son’s return is the best decision that is made in this entire parable. The younger son falls, but he also models the best response when he comes to his senses and he chooses to repent and return to the Father, who as we mentioned in the previous episode represents God the Father.
The older son represents the other extreme, and this extreme is resenting God for His love and acceptance of sinners who repent. This extreme really is only a trap for people who have followed God their entire lives, and it is a trap because we begin to feel like we are missing out on something the world claimed to offer and that God is not happy that we stayed with Him. Neither portion of this trap is true. The younger son experienced temporary happiness that was shallow and self-serving, and then ultimately the younger son experienced rejection and ultimate humiliation. If these things are desirable to someone who has followed God their whole life, then perhaps rejecting God is a great choice.
However, before rejecting God, ask someone who has left God who then came to their senses and returned. Ask this person if their time away from God was valuable and/or worthwhile. Don’t ask someone living apart from God this question, because they won’t give you as honest of an answer simply because they either haven’t come to their senses, or because they truly don’t know both sides of this decision.
The truth of the older son’s extreme is that God is incredibly happy that we have stayed with Him and everything He has is ours. By staying with God, we have avoided many other traps we could face, and the only reason to be resentful is because we think we missed out on something important, or we don’t understand God’s love and His character of forgiveness. If we have been living our lives looking forward to seeing other people get judged for their actions, then we are living in the older son’s extreme and trap.
We don’t have to reject God and we don’t have to chose to be resentful when sinners repent and return to God. However, these two brothers represent the extremes we all face when deciding to come to God and when we discover just how loving, forgiving, and accepting God truly is!
As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:
Whether you identify more with the older son or the younger son, choose to avoid each son’s extremes. Choose instead to return to God humbly when you’ve fallen away, and choose to love those who return like God loves and celebrates for those who repent and return. Understand that these two extremes, and the traps that these extremes represent, are the extremes God wants us to avoid in our lives.
Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself. Don’t take my word, or anyone else’s word for it. Choose to study the Bible for yourself and don’t let me or anyone else get between you and your relationship with God.
And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!