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.
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.
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