The Prodigal Son... Sons... Or Father?

[GoldenEagle]

First the definition:

prod·i·gal

adjective

1. wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.

2. giving or yielding profusely; lavish (usually followed by of or with ): prodigal of smiles; prodigal with money.

Second, what are your thoughts on this passage? Who do you relate to more?

Luke 15:11-32

¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

²⁰ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

²⁸ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

³¹ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. ³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

Edit: Reference is to Luke 15 not Matthew 15. I apologize.

[GoldenEagle]

I. Definition:

Prodigal – for the sake of this discussion let's use both these definitions.

1. Recklessly extravagant

2. Having spent everything

II. Audience :

Sinners and tax-collectors (Luke 15:1)

Pharisees and Scribes (Luke 15:2)

III. Background:

Jesus is talking about how God views people regarding repentance in this chapter.

First the parable of the Lost Sheep. (Luke 15:4-7) Jesus says there’s great joy in heaven over a sinner who repents.

Luke 15:7

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Then second the parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10) Jesus again says there’s great joy the presence of the angels of God (who are constantly worshipping Him) over a sinner who repents.

Luke 15:10

"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Finally, Jesus teached the third the parable of the Prodigal Sons or the Prodigal God. (Luke 15:11-32)

[GoldenEagle]

IV. Question: Satisfaction

The question is what are you and I looking to fill the need of satisfaction in our lives?

Money?

Power?

Our Job or Career?

Our Significant Other or Spouse?

Our Kids?

Our Family?

Doing Good? (Probably not something we often think about)

V. Main Characters

Father – God

Younger Son – Rebels: Sinners and tax-collectors

Older Son – Moral Conformists: Pharisees and Scribes

VI. Two Kinds of People According To This Parable

Younger Brother – (Self-Discovery) I reject God and with my rebellion with follow my own way.

Older Brother – (Moral Conformity) I reject God and will do good deeds of my own power to earn God’s favor.

[GoldenEagle]

VII. Assumptions:

A. God is the initiator.

Salvation is absolutely free for us but very costly for Jesus Christ as it cost Him His very life.

B. All need to repent.

Younger brother - Those who are rebels need to repent of their evil deeds.

Older brother - Those who are “moral” people need to repent of the good deeds they did of their own power for their own gain.

C. Motivation is just as important as actions.

God chose David, the youngest in his family and a shepherd, to serve Him as champion and chosen king of Israel over all his brothers.

1 Samuel 16:7

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

D. The Eldest Son’s Responsibility

In Jewish culture it was the oldest son’s job to seek and restore his younger brother. The older brother in this story didn’t do that.

But Jesus Christ is the ultimate Eldest Son and succeeded where the eldest son in the parable failed – Jesus restored all to the Father.

E. Riches = Land

Money was not common place and readily available. Generally, we all live in urbanized settings and we’re no longer an agricultural society so this could easily be over-looked. But don’t miss this!

Peoples’ identities and wealth were tied up in their land. Land was often in people’s family for generations.

People’s honor was tied up in their land.

To sell land meant loosing honor in society not just material wealth. It also meant the father was tearing apart his identity or himself.

F. Jesus’ teachings

Jesus’ teaching consistently attracted the irreligious (sinners) while offending the Torah-believing, religious people (Pharisees and Scribes) of the day.

The listeners were not melted into tears by this story but rather they were shocked, offended, and infuriated.

Jesus listeners would never have expected the father in this parable to sell his land, run to his younger son, restore his younger son, or go out of a party to speak to his eldest son. These all would be perceived as unthinkable as the father lost perceived honor with all these actions.

This is a beautiful story about mankind’s blindness, God’s love, and God’s sacrifice.

Anyone interested in discussing any of these first few sections? If so let's do it. If not I will continue to the actual story.

[Sevenseas]

OK...question? not sure what you mean by bold italics below

Finally, Jesus teached the third the parable of the Prodigal Sons or the Prodigal God.

Thinking about the above, will read it again...and respond. I tend to think in the background while I am doing other things...like a remote player

[GoldenEagle]

OK...question? not sure what you mean by bold italics below

Finally, Jesus teached the third the parable of the Prodigal Sons or the Prodigal God.

Thinking about the above, will read it again...and respond. I tend to think in the background while I am doing other things...like a remote player

That is the question is it not? What is the purpose of this parable? Who is the key player or character? That is ultimately what this discussion is about. See your PM.

[He giveth more grace]

The story of the Prodigal son is dripping with typology for sure, that basically all I can say on that, right now.

[nebula]

Well, I think we need to remember what preceded the parables:

Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

The parable we call "The Prodigal Son" was not merely a lesson on the loving and forgiving heart of God, but it was primarily a lesson on forgiveness in general. The parable is about the contrast in reactions to the repentant son.

Most people end the story with the son coming home and the father throwing a party for him, but they leave out the part of the brother's reaction and father's rebuke.

So, I don't mean to negate the use of the parable for the purpose of evangelizing, but this was not the original intent behind the parable. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and scribes, not to the "sinners".

[GoldenEagle]

Well, I think we need to remember what preceded the parables:

Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

The parable we call "The Prodigal Son" was not merely a lesson on the loving and forgiving heart of God, but it was primarily a lesson on forgiveness in general. The parable is about the contrast in reactions to the repentant son.

Most people end the story with the son coming home and the father throwing a party for him, but they leave out the part of the brother's reaction and father's rebuke.

So, I don't mean to negate the use of the parable for the purpose of evangelizing, but this was not the original intent behind the parable. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and scribes, not to the "sinners".

Maybe the story was for both sinners and teachers of the law?

[Sevenseas]

That is the question is it not? What is the purpose of this parable? Who is the key player or character? That is ultimately what this discussion is about. See your PM.

OK...thanks...got it now. (use of the word prodigal threw me off and still not sure about its use that way, but I think I'll drop it cause it doesn't matter)

Hmmm...actually, truthfully, I always kind of understood this from the aspect of the father and not either son as I thought the father was the

central theme in it

I did not take so far as to think of the aspect of the older son being 'sacrificed' for the younger (prodigal/sinner/needing salvation) and I am not

sure that can be applicable without stretching things a bit or at the least, a shadowy typology? Gets the wheels turning though

I always did notice the older brother's reaction..haha..maybe I am just over sensitive regarding family dynamics and notice all these things

Will wait for more input, but a good discussion and thanks for the pm and trailer

ps...I do know that there can be layers of understanding in something, but I'm hesitant to fish for a hybrid specimen that does not

reproduce.