The Bible

The Bible is the most important book in the world.  It's importance probably cannot be overstated but it's contents can be misinterpreted.  When it is understood correctly it brings Spiritual life.  And when it is misinterpreted it can cause much confusion and distraction.

First and foremost we must understand that the Bible declares itself to be inspired by God the Holy Spirit.  In its own content it clearly teaches that it is a book inspired, or authored, by God.  And thus we call it the word of God or the word of truth.

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we see, "All Scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

The inspiration from God was first given to the men who were actually writing the individual letters or books within the Bible.  Also, we receive inspiration from reading the Bible, we can be inspired from God by reading this Book.  We can be inspired for "reproof, correction and instruction" towards righteousness and truth.  This Book inspires us not only to live in the righteousness from God, it also inspires us to the most abundant life we could possibly have.

Try reading the Bible with the understanding that this Book has been inspired by God.  And it can bring inspiration to us if we accept it.  The Bible can inspire us to a Spiritual life in Christ and it is the most important book in the world.

The Elder Brother

The parable of The Prodigal Son is primarily known for the younger son who rebelled against his father by leaving home and squandering his inheritance.  But we also see that the father in the parable is a key figure as it is he who welcomes his son home, forgives him, restores him to the family and also throws a big party to celebrate his return.  In addition, the elder brother is another important figure to recognize and understand.

Beginning with Luke 15:25 we see that the elder brother is working in the fields when he heard the party from the house and questioned one of the servants as to why there was a party.  The servant explained that his younger brother had returned home and that his father had killed the fattened calf to celebrate.  There was not only a big party but the best food was being served.  The elder brother however did not rejoice at the news of his younger brother's return.  As we see in v. 28, "But he was angry and would not go in."

At first glance we can understand that the elder brother was indignant because his father had given the younger son so much grace instead of punishment.  He knew he had himself been faithful and even diligent to serve his father in his work.  But with a second glance we may see that the elder son was hurt because his father had never given him a party even with so much as a goat.  The father-son relationship can be deeply hurt with even a hint of favoritism, and such lavishness of grace by the father to the prodigal could have been devastating.  For whatever reason, the elder son did not go to the house and join the celebration of his younger brother's restoration.

This parable is a fictional story Jesus tells to explain that there can be a rebellion that leads to waywardness and squandering an inheritance.  And just as deadly there can be a rebellion such as the elder brother exhibited that leads to pride and self righteousness.  Either type of rebellion can keep us from coming home to our heavenly father and being in fellowship with him.  The key to this parable however, I believe, is the repentance of the younger son.  As we know from v. 17, "he came to himself" and recognized his sin and foolishness.  And he repented with an unconditional return to his father.

Jesus interpreted this parable at its closing by saying to the elder son, v. 32, "It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found."  Jesus makes a clear contrast between the younger son's rebellion being a form of death and his repentance was his being made alive again.  This is the Spiritual life we all need for we all can identify with either the rebellion of the younger son or the self righteousness of the elder son.  Or both, at different times and in differing degrees. 

But the key to Spiritual life is first and foremost repentance from sin so that we recognize ourselves to be lost and to be dead outside of the grace of the father.  This was confessed by the younger son but not by the elder son in the parable.  And as we know from different sections of Scripture, God initiates grace to us, but we must receive Christ and the Spiritual life that comes from being restored to our heavenly Father.  It is this same repentance we must continue to live by as we live in faith and grow into the image of Christ. 

The Gracious Father

The parable of The Prodigal Son could be entitled, "The Two Lost Sons," but it is also about the gracious father.  This story shows the comparison between two entirely different sons and it also highlights a father who is both wise and abundantly gracious.

It is interesting to reread the parable in Luke 15 and see the actions of the father even when the younger son was still at home.  It must have been extremely difficult for the father to hear the son's request to receive his inheritance.  Traditionally in that culture the elder son would inherit two thirds of a father's estate and the remaining son then would receive one third.  This would be a huge loss to the father's livelihood and business.  He would also be losing whatever productivity his younger son had contributed as well.

This story is remarkable for several reasons as we see that instead of denying the younger son's request the father grants it to him.  Perhaps the father knew that such a request came from a son who would not listen to reason and the best course of action would be to let him go off into the world on his own.  It also must have been a shock as the younger son was also saying in effect that he wished his father were dead so he could have his inheritance now.  Both the insult and the monetary loss would have been more than most fathers would tolerate.  But the father lets the younger son go. 

The personal grief of losing his younger son must have also been a tremendous pain for the father to bear.  But even with his loss the father chooses not to go after his son or to send a delegation in search for him.  He bears the grief and must have longed for the possibility of his son's return.  It is no surprise then as we see the father looking for the son from a distance, hoping against hope to have his son safely home.  And when the father did see the son he ran to him to meet him along the way. 

The younger son had rehearsed a speech of unconditional repentance to his father as he knew he deserved nothing on his return.  And the father let the son begin the speech and confession, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son."  At this point however the father interrupts the son as he heard the son's confession and full repentance.  The father responds with full pardon and even more, he restores his son to his position in the family. 

If it is remarkable that the father let his son have his inheritance and leave home to begin with it is even more remarkable that he forgives him and receives him back home.  The father makes no secret of this as he calls for the best robe, the ring, sandals for his feet, and even the fattened calf for a feast.  The son was not only restored he was celebrated over, he became the center of attention or the guest of honor for a great feast.  The father celebrates in the greatest way possible. 

The parable of The Prodigal Son is not only about a son that was lost and is found, it is about a son who was Spiritually dead and became alive again.  The father in his wisdom let the younger son experience his limited freedom to discover his brokenness so that he would also in turn experience rebirth and repentance.  The father lavished his grace and mercy upon the younger son in his return and restoration to home.  This is the picture of our heavenly father as he too is seeking the lost to be found and the dead to be made alive again.
 

The Prodigal Son

Perhaps one of the most well known stories of the Bible is the parable of The Prodigal Son.  Behind a new interpretation of this parable however there is a new emphasis on the "prodigality" of the father in the story.  Interestingly, the word "prodigal" is not mentioned in the original language or text.  The parable has also been called "The Two Lost Sons," which is a much better title.  The word prodigal came as an editorial note or sub-title for this section in Luke 15 and can be very misleading.  Prodigal according to the Biblical text means wayward, sinful, reckless or one who squanders.  This definition does not describe God at all.

The story may be familiar to many of us as we remember the younger son decided to ask for his portion of his inheritance from his father.  This was unheard of in this culture, but the father granted his son his wish, and after receiving it, the son left home to a faraway land and lived recklessly, squandered his inheritance and lived sinfully.  The younger son was the prodigal, he was wayward and reckless.

After some time the prodigal son's money ran out and there was a severe famine in the land.  He then hired himself out to a land owner who assigned him to feeding the pigs.  The son eventually "came to himself" and realized that even his father's servants back home lived in better conditions than he did.  So, without excuses or preset conditions, he returned home to his father to see if he would even be welcomed back as a servant.

It is good to see clearly the attitude and posture of the younger son at this point and discover the essence of the story.  We will see the response of the father and the elder brother in the rest of the parable, but it's important not to miss the description of the younger son.  He realized he was foolish and sinful as he had lost all his money and disgraced his father, and he was broken.  At this point all his waywardness came down upon him and he was fully repentant.  We can even speculate that he was completely remorseful, and in response he made an unconditional return to his father. 

This story is told by Jesus to both the "sinners" and the Pharisees as he is describing what is true for all people.  We all need to recognize ourselves in a Spiritual condition as the younger brother, rebellious and wayward with God.  In light of our own independence or selfishness, we also need to recognize any form of self-righteousness and make an unconditional surrender to God.  The younger son comes to this brokenness and repents in his lost condition.  Jesus describes the younger son as making the right decision to go home, he is the 'success story' in the parable.  He is the one who is completely submissive as he makes a repentant return to his father.

We will see the father welcomes back the younger son in open arms and jubilantly throws a big party.  It was the brokenness of the son and his unconditional repentance before his father however that precipitated the father's forgiveness and joy.  The father is lavish but not reckless in his grace, as we see the response of receiving back the younger son, who was lost but was found.  It's the key of the parable that the Prodigal was saved and restored back to his father because he humbled himself and returned home with no conditions.  Without his repentance we would never see the lavish mercy of the father.