Chapter 4: Prodigals
THE
PRODIGAL SON
Intro:
Let us look at a verse from the story of “The Prodigal Son”, as found in Luke 15. Briefly, the story of the Prodigal Son goes as follows: A rich man had two sons. One day the younger one came to him and said that he wanted “his share” of his future inheritance to be given to him now. Surprisingly, the father complied; and the son left home then quickly squandered all the money. He then fell on hard luck and suffered for a time. Eventually he decided to return home to his father to ask if he might be a servant in his father’s household; he figured this would be better than his present condition. Upon reaching home, the father graciously welcomed him back. The father didn’t accept him back as a servant; instead he restored his son to his former position as a family member. The older son, who had never left home, but who didn’t have much more love for his father than the younger son did, protested his father’s recognition of the rebellious sibling. But the father maintained his decision, and instructed the older son and all the servants that the young son was to be accepted back.
The parable of the Prodigal Son is a double parable. It deals with two sons. The two halves of this parable tell of the relationship between a father and each of his sons. The actions of the father and the sons in this parable do not represent common attitudes and practices of the day; far from it! Everything that happens in this story is extraordinary. But the point of the parable is to illustrate that the ways of God are very different than the ways of man. The way we think our heavenly Father wants us to behave is often very different from the way that He really wants us to behave.
This parable is so rich with meaning that it can be examined from several perspectives; and each examination yields even more detail about the character of God. Let us look at three different aspects of this story.
Verse 22:
One verse from this story is particularly interesting because of the elements found in it — Luke 15:22. “But the father said to his servants,‘Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.’” Let’s examine these elements one at a time.
First, consider the “Father”. The father of the story represents God; He is the Father to us all. The actions of the father in the parable represents God’s Love for us as rebellious sinners. He is not vindictive and rejecting of us; rather, He is accepting and forgiving. He doesn’t get angry when we insult Him and leave. He doesn’t punish us for our actions; although He does let us experience the consequences of our choices. When we’re ready to come back, He doesn’t criticize our past; He just welcomes us warmly. He is willing to reinstate His child as soon as the child wants to come back. The Father respects our decision to leave; and He rejoices over our decision to return.
Next, let’s look at the “Servants”. They represent all His created beings; all His children. Some of His children remain loyal to Him (good angels and other celestial beings). Some of His children rebel (bad angels and humans). Some rebel openly, like the son that left (those who plainly reject God). Some rebel secretly, like the son that stayed home (those who take His name but not His rule). Everyone is given freedom to choose; and their decisions are respected.
We may choose any degree of separation from Him that we wish: Perhaps we want partial independence; where we do much of what we want, but call on Him in emergencies. Or we may desire complete separation; where we seek no contact at all, and perhaps completely refuse Him or even deny His existence.
Imagine a small child who is at the beach for the first time. He sees the vast ocean stretching to the horizon; he sees the big waves rushing toward the shore; he hears other children in the water screaming as they are hit by the waves. He is scared and doesn’t want Mom to put him down. He just clings to her arms as tightly as he can. After Mom reassures him, he lets her put him down and walk hand-in-hand with him to the water’s edge. As the first little wave touches his feet he grasps her hand tightly; but after a few minutes he relaxes. She let’s go of his hand and walks back to her beach towel. He runs after her and stands beside her as she sits down and puts on lotion. Even though he’s close beside her, he’s looking at the water wanting to go back. Soon he ventures halfway to the water’s edge; but just then a child down the beach cries out at being splashed by a wave, so he runs back to Mom. After building up his courage again he starts back toward the water. Halfway there he stops and looks back to make sure Mom’s still there; she is, and she’s smiling. So he continues to the water’s edge. A little wave comes in and wets his toes; he laughs with glee and looks back at Mom. Soon he’s having a lot of fun. Before long he’s not even looking at Mom as he digs in the sand, splashes in the water, and discovers the shells. He might continue like this for quite some time, caught up in the excitement of his circumstances, and completely oblivious to his former dependence on his mother. Just then a large wave rolls in and catches him unawares. He’s knocked down, rolled over, and completely doused with water and sand. He’s shocked for a moment, catches his bearings, then starts crying for Mommy to come rescue him. She’s there in an instant giving him all the help he needs. After this “emergency”, he’s ready to stay beside her so she can keep him safe and secure. This illustrates in a simplified manner the experience of some people as they venture from God.
We also encounter the situation where some who are “in the family”, so to speak, are not accepting of the ones who wants to return. In this way they show they don’t have their Father’s attitude. Instead they show their heart differs greatly from the Father even while they occupy His house. Also, by their rejection of the Father’s decision and their argument that they are being treated badly, they show they don’t have love for the Father as they should have. Those family members who accept the Father’s decisions and who even hold the same welcoming attitude as the Father, show they are true children of His who cherish His same spirit.
Next, let’s look at the “Best Robe”. This represents Christ’s Righteousness. Upon coming back, we go through a cleansing process to fit us to be family members again. Our own “filthy rags” are taken away. Is 64:6, “All our righteousness is as filthy rags.” The good we do is nothing compared to what He does for us and through us for others. We are washed and made clean; through baptism. Is 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” We must reject our rebellious ways and embrace His loving ways. Of course, we need Him to do this for us; but we must be willing for Him to change us. Christ’s righteousness is then imputed to us. Ga 3:27, “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.” With His righteousness on us and His Spirit in us, we are changed into His image; we become like Him. When the process is complete, we’re then seen as being as pure as Jesus.
Now, let’s examine the significance of the “Ring”. This signifies that God’s power & authority is given to us. A ring or a signet is a symbol of position, office, or even royal lineage. Rings are tokens of station. They are symbols of authority being invested in someone. Once we’re made holy, we’re reinstated as sons and daughters of God. Remember, our Father is a king; and that sons of a king are princes and daughters of a king are princesses. When He puts His authority on us, we are given the right to speak in our Father’s name. As we learn and know His will, we are then authorized to speak and act on His behalf. 1 Jn 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
Finally, let’s consider the meaning of the “Shoes”. This represents our commission to go out and work. As reinstated family members, with authority, we’re sent out on our Father’s business. When we were “in the far country” ourselves, we were miserable. With the same love and compassion that our Father has shown to us, we’re to help others be relieved from their suffering. We must let them know that the Father is willing to receive them back; and not only as servants, but as children with full rights. By hearing your experience, they may be enheartened to come back themselves. We are His ambassadors to all parts of the world; local, near by, and even far away. Ac 1:8b, “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem and all Judea; in Samaria; and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”
From this single text we learn that our Father is willing to accept us whenever we’re ready to come back to Him. He instructs all his Creation to accept us as He honors us with restoration into the family. We’re cleansed, given authority, and sent out to work for Him. Our task then is to help bring others back into the family, just as we’ve been accepted back.
The Sons:
As preachers and commentators examine this story they typically study it from no more than a human perspective. Thus they study what it meant at the time and how we can apply it to our times today. To begin, we’ll start from this same perspective as well.
The first verse sets the tone for the story. By requesting his inheritance, the prodigal is wishing for his father’s death. This request was the same as saying, I can’t wait for you to die. In all of Eastern culture, this is unheard of. There is no precedent of a son making such a demand. A father did not relinquish his property until death was imminent. Even in the few instances where a father might express how he intended to dispose of his property, he retained control over it until he died. What is even more remarkable is that the father granted the request. He would be expected to discipline his son or even disinherit him. But to grant the request jeopardized his own living and his own future security. He demonstrates qualities of love that are unique, beyond that of any ordinary father.
We thus are given to understand that the actions of the father in the parable do not represent normal human thought. His actions are meant to show how our heavenly Father’s way of thinking is far from what we expect it to be.
The second half of the parable stylistically repeats the first half. The details are different, but the essential nature is the same. Further, the father’s response to each of his sons is identical.
The older son also dishonors his father by refusing to respect the father’s wishes. He goes on to embarrass the father publicly through his selfish and un-family-like display. His actions are serious enough to invite public rebuke; yet this is not the response that comes.
The younger son was so moved by his father’s love that he changed his whole attitude. The older son has also invited rebuke. For him, too, the father has demonstrated his love. But without the same results. Instead of confessing his fault, the older son begins to complain. He says, “I have slaved for you and received nothing for it!” He thus showed that his attitude has been that of a servant, not a son.
After this attack the father should be furious. Instead he overlooked the tirade. He did not reject or criticize his son. Rather, he continued to pour out his love to him. He assured him that his rights were protected. He indicated to the older son that he was not a servant, but a son and heir.
The father didn’t want him as a servant, he wanted him as a son. The younger had been dead, and was now alive. The older, too, was dead. Could he come to life? Could he, too, begin to behave as a true son?
The parable is told without an ending because each hearer is left to provide the finish of the story for himself, through the choice he or she makes in response to hearing how the father behaves and wants his children to behave.
The Father:
The points we’ve looked at so far represent the lessons commonly derived from this parable, because this is the perspective usually adopted: that is, the typical human standpoint, as represented by the two sons. What is almost always overlooked is the perspective of the father, because his attitudes and actions are so foreign to us. Yet it is his view of things that illustrates how God looks at what we should do.
Although the actions in the parable are unusual for that day (and this), Jesus was trying to tell us the way things are in the heavenly culture. Thus it is very instructive to notice the attitudes held by each of the three principal characters. There are some lessons that can be drawn from this and applied to us today: that is, we who are learning through the Holy Spirit about our standing as sons and daughters of God. We are learning that God has granted us rights and authority through our receiving of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The Younger Son: He goes to his father and says, “Give me what’s mine!” He doesn’t ask, he demands. He considers that if it belongs to his father, it belongs to him too. Although we typically portray him as the disrespectful son, when we use him as a sermon illustration, his opinion of what’s “his” and his willingness to demand what he wants is worthy of observation. He knows the standing of a son before his father. What is more, he receives what he pushes for. Then, even after his rebellion, he knows that servants of his father are treated pretty well; so he’s willing to accept even servant status if only he can get back to his father. In terms of attitude he best represents that accepted by the heavenly culture.
The Older Son: He goes to his father and says, “I’ve worked like a slave for you for years, and you’ve never even given me a sheep so I could party with my friends.” Although he is a son, he thinks of himself as having no more rights than a servant. He didn’t ever feel he could take a sheep for his own use; he felt he had to wait until his father offered to give him one. His expression also reveals that he doesn’t have a high regard for servanthood in his father’s house. In contrast to the younger son who felt it would be lucky to be a servant to his father, the older son expresses that he has felt like a servant all along and he doesn’t like it much. This son is often portrayed as the “good one” in sermons; although it’s admitted that he has a few small faults. He’s not criticized too harshly because his attitude so closely resembles that of modern Christians. Many today feel their Christian service should be that of a servant to God; to just wait for His instruction and not do anything without His direct command. This son’s self-imposed standing before his father is that of a servant, not a son. His misconception of himself keeps him from receiving the things he really wants.
The Father: When the younger son comes with his demand, the father respects his request and gives him what he has asked. The father’s granting of his demand is a recognition that a grown son has attained certain rights to his father’s possessions. When the older son talks as if he’s a servant, the father gently corrects him. He explains to his son the he had a right to take a sheep any time he wished. The father even stated that all that he had, was also the son’s. So, more than the father’s silent acquiescence to the younger son, we have his explicit statement to the older one: “What’s mine is also yours, to use as you wish.” And this statement is made in Jesus’ parable meant to show what the heavenly Father is like. This is how the Father wishes for us to think. You are part of the heavenly family; have the attitude of a family member. When each son came in turn and referred to himself as a servant, the father corrected them both and let them know they weren’t expected to be servants to him; they were both accepted as sons and they were to act as such. And those who really were the servants were told to treat them both as sons.
In our experience, we see ones who should be sons but who think as servants looking at ones who are behaving as sons, then speaking against them trying to justify rejecting them rather than accepting them. They then point to their own attitude as the proper one. God, however, gently tries to correct their erroneous ideas by pointing out that they, too, should be acting like sons; and by showing that the one who behaves as a son is the one who gains what he desires.
We must adjust our thinking to stop considering ourselves as heavenly slaves. We’ve somehow twisted two biblical concepts into a wrong idea. The Bible tells us we are sons and daughters of God. It also tells us we should be servants to our fellow man. By combining these incorrectly we come up with a wrong attitude toward both God and mankind. To get it straight: We are sons and daughters to God; we are servants to each other. We are not servants to our Father; he has millions of angels to work as His servants. We are to stand in relation to Him just as Jesus did while here on Earth. Remember, Jesus came to be our model; that is, we are to think and act just as Jesus did. Jesus’ relationship with His Father is the example we are to follow.
As adults we’ve struggled for years to learn how to act appropriately humble and pious. But take a moment and think back to when you were a teenager. How did you ask your father for money when you wanted to go out playing with your friends on the weekend? Please don’t tell me horror stories about a domineering or abusive father. I’m talking about a good father who had a healthy relationship with his children. You probably went up to him boldly and said, “Dad, I’m going out with my friends. I need $20, please.” Then he would pull out his wallet, hand you the money, and tell you to have fun but be careful. When you were laying in front of the TV in the evenings and you felt like a snack, did you have to go to your parents to beg and plead for a piece of bread? Or did you just go straight to the fridge and help yourself? Didn’t you know that whatever was in the house was also yours? We need to learn to have this same confidence with our heavenly Father.
We must correctly understand our position as a son or daughter of God. We must not fear to seek the blessings, authority and power of our Father. Instead we should insist on receiving them. We are to then use the power we receive to relieve the suffering of our fellow man that has come on all through the working of the Enemy. We must seek the advance of our Father’s kingdom; for it is not just His alone — as His sons and daughters, His kingdom is our kingdom. Use the family resources to promote the good of the family estate. As sons and daughters you have the right to do all that you can to advance our joint interests.
Use
your rights. Ask for and receive your inheritance. It has not only
been promised
to you; it is rightfully yours as soon you become a member of the
family. Our heavenly Father is every bit as loving, and
uncondemning, and generous as the father in the parable; for surely
the point of the parable is to show exactly this. So, know your
status and come to your Father; He’s waiting for you.
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