Luke 15:1-2 - The Parable of the Forgiving Father
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 11Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Context: Perhaps the most familiar of all of Jesus’ parables, today’s lesson is often referred to as the parable of the prodigal son. It could more appropriately be called the parable of The Two Beloved Sons, or at least the parable of The Loving Father. It is not simply the story of a sinful son’s repentance and return. It is the story of a Father’s loving relationship with his two sons, when they deserve it and when they do not. For Luke, this section (chapter 15) is the centerpiece of his gospel. It is set in a section full of parables, many of which are about human relationships and actions. In this complex story of family relationships, we see a pattern for forgiveness and, even more profoundly, an almost unbelievable portrait of God’s love. To fully grasp the scandal of this story we must remember that it is told in the context of Pharisees grumbling and complaining about Jesus’ relationship with tax collectors and sinners. It is a story about Grace so broad and grand that it can offend our sense of fairness and moral superiority. It is a story heard very differently depending on the character with which one identifies. Are we like the loving father? Are we like the son who leaves home in his arrogance and selfishness? Are we like the dutiful and resentful son? How we understand the story depends on where we stand as we hear Jesus tell it.
The Role of Table Fellowship: It is impossible to overestimate the importance of table fellowship to pious Jews and to the early Christian movement. Together with Sabbath observance, with whom and the manner in which one ate, was an identifying mark of the covenant people. It was a way of acknowledging the sacred distinctiveness of people as set apart as God’s own. It was a way of acknowledging the holiness that was expected of God’s people. To violate the laws of table fellowship was powerfully offensive. To eat with someone was to publicly declare full acceptance of him or her. Jesus constantly came under heavy criticism on this score. In essence, what he is doing in this chapter is redefining the very identity of the Christian church. As he tells this story to the complaining Pharisees, he is saying, “My movement is a full acceptance movement.”
Tax Collectors and Sinners: Few were as despised in Jesus’ day as the tax collectors. The Roman Empire imposed many, many taxes. There was a business tax, a poll tax, a property tax, a fishing tax, an import tax, a road and bridge tax, a sales tax and many more. Ordinarily wealthy citizens were given the job of collecting these taxes. They often subdivided their territories and hired others to do the collecting in smaller regions. These collectors were able to set their rates to give themselves a nice profit. The whole system had become increasingly corrupt with the tax collectors charging different rates for different people. Because God is always a God of justice, this injustice was seen as a crime against God and those who perpetrated it were total outcasts. Sinners could refer to anyone who flagrantly broke the Law, especially those laws that rendered them ritually unclean and unable to worship in the synagogue.
Inheritance Laws: According to Jewish law, a person had a right to his (and it was only his) possessions and estate until death. At death the eldest son was given 2/3 of the estate. The remaining third was divided among the other heirs. We do not know what other heirs there were in the family in today’s story. In any case, the younger son could have gotten as much as 1/3 of his father’s estate but no more than that. He would then have relinquished all future claim on the family. This was a transaction in writing. While getting one’s inheritance early was provided for in the law, it was most unusual and considered highly disrespectful. In a culture ruled by shame and honor codes, to make this request brought shame on the father. It was like the younger son saying to him, “I wish you were dead!”
Word Study
Vs. 11 – There was a man who had two sons – This introduction makes it clear that the story is about the father and his relationship with BOTH of his sons. It is not a story about a good son and a bad son. It is about the love of the parent.
Vs. 12 – so he divided his property – literally “he divided his life.’
Vs. 13 – dissolute living – could mean licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing and lawless idolatry.
Vs. 15 – feed the pigs – this was as far down as a Jew could sink. Pigs were unclean animals and the Law forbade dealing with them.
Vs. 17 – came to himself – this implies the facing of himself and the capacity to renounce error. We see here that the beginning of the journey home is honest internal dialogue.
Vs. 18 – go – this is a word associated with repentance, which, in Hebrew, always means to return to God’s way, to change one’s mind and direction.
Vs. 22 – robe, sandals and ring – these were the symbols of sonship. The father is fully restoring the son to his status as heir. Ordinarily this would have meant that the property be divided again. This is what angers the older brother. It is not that the sinful one has returned. It is that it is going to cost him money. All would have approved of the boy coming home and allowed him to go to work on the land. The scandal was restoring him to his original relationship. This was both an emotional affront and an economic one to the older brother.
Vs. 29 – listen – It is interesting to note that in every instance the younger son, even in his internal dialogue, addresses his father with the ordinary and respectful address of “Father.” In his anger, the older brother insults the father by refusing to address him with respect and thereby refusing to even acknowledge their relationship. It is interesting to note, also, that it is the father who takes the initiative with both sons. He goes out to greet the younger son and he goes out to plead with the older.
Working like a slave – he is not engaged in exactly self-sacrificing work. Since now the vast bulk of the father’s estate (all of it if there were no more heirs) would go to him. He was building up his own wealth by his work. Luke’s audience would have understood this immediately.
Vs. 31 – all that is mine is yours – the father is reminding the son that technically the younger son has no further claim on the estate. Whether that is what happens is not all that clear since his father has given the younger son his signet ring, allowing him to act financially on behalf of the father. That is of little importance to the father and even less to Jesus. The point is that there is enough for all. What is important is that the younger brother has been found.
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. A famous preacher once preached this parable from the perspective of the elder brother. In his version the younger son was not received back home and the elder brother got all of the father’s love, respect and inheritance. The party was even thrown for him. This preacher reports that after his sermon, one woman in the back stood up and shouted, “That’s the way the story should have been written!” How would you respond to that woman?
2. Have you ever found yourself in desperate need of forgiveness and starting over? How did you ‘come to yourself?’ How did you return home?
3. How would you describe your relationship with God? What do you think God thinks of you? Are you in a far country right now? Are you turning around? Are you on your way home? Are you receiving God’s kiss and celebrating reunion?4. What is the hardest thing for you to comprehend about God’s grace? Ask God to help you daily to recognize God’s grace and to experience the joy of repentance and forgiveness.