Running to Prodigal Son

[Guest]

Reading a commentary on the great story of The Prodigal Son, I was fascinated about one point, among so many rich points this wonderful story brings up. 

Running was considered shameful in that culture!  I never knew that. I wonder if it is still? 

That the father ran to his son meant he left dignity and honour aside in his overwhelming love. 

 

[Justin Adams]

9 minutes ago, Melinda12 said:

Reading a commentary on the great story of The Prodigal Son, I was fascinated about one point, among so many rich points this wonderful story brings up. 

Running was considered shameful in that culture!  I never knew that. I wonder if it is still? 

That the father ran to his son meant he left dignity and honour aside in his overwhelming love. 

 

I think that account is less about sons and more about Father God.

[Guest]

Could well be. It has so much to teach us. 

[AdHoc]

1 hour ago, Justin Adams said:

I think that account is less about sons and more about Father God.

 

1 hour ago, Melinda12 said:

Could well be. It has so much to teach us. 

I understand the parable to primarily be about the sons. The reason is that the parable does not end with the end of the Chapter. The original text does not have Chapter and verse, so the "AND" in verse 1 would join what follows to what went before. To avoid lengthening the posting I use excerpts. It would read 

11 And 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 falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living
....
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
....
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
....
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

First, the structure and language of verse 13, "he wasted his substance" closely resembles verse 1, "he had wasted his goods". I propose that the "son" of Chapter 15 is the "steward" of Chapter 16. This does not change the meaning of the parable in Chapter 15. A repentant sinner is grandly welcomed back to the Father's House in every case. But Chapter 16 shows that his actions were not without consequences. We Christians are all sons of God, and we do fail. But some, in full knowledge, mismanage their duties. The parable is thus:

In this age we live and work in the Father's house - the Church. Since Christ is busy building the Church and attempting reconciliation with men, He does not exercise judgment. Judgment, with its attending reward and loss for how we performed, is DEFERRED. Before judgment is the age of grace and the Christian, as an ambassador of reconciliation, must set aside the treasures and pleasures of his inheritance. Christ has done so and He asks that the Christian do thankless work and suffer for a FUTURE Kingdom. The faithful son, though not without fault, sees this and is promised anon that "all Christ's goods" are his eventually (see also Matthew 24:46-47).

The prodigal sets himself above his Master. Christ has yet to inherit the world, but the prodigal demands his inheritance out of time and in preeminence to his Lord. He wastes his portion on himself and others not of the father's House. He suffers and is exercised by it. He returns in sorrow for his actions and is warmly received. He does not lose his SONSHIP and is accorded al the signs of sonship. But that which he wasted is GONE! His sonship is secure, but his STEWARDSHIP is called into question. There is an age to follow this one - the age when the servants and stewards of Jesus WILL INHERIT. Suffering, loss and ignominy will be past and fame and riches as co-kings with Christ will be the portion of the faithful.

We see the same situation in the parables of the coming Kingdom when Christ sets it up on earth. The servant who buried his Talent is cast out, not of eternal life, but of his stewardship. The man who wasted his pound in Luke is cast out and his pound removed. The Christian member of the Church at Corinth will be tested by fire and his works building will come to nought (Chapter 3). Faith and SONSHIP are not questioned. STEWARDSHIP IS! The faithful son, though not perfect, is made ruler of all the Lord's goods. The unfaithful son is forced out of the Millennial Kingdom. He must wander in places where he has no abode. Better for him to establish friendship with the world. At least they will receive him. The Lord won't.

Edited January 1, 2022 by AdHoc