The parable that we come to today is probably the most popular parable in all of the Word of God. It is definitely the most popular parable in Luke’s Gospel. Though this parable is so well known, I do not believe that it is rightly known.
First, the main character is not the lost son, but the father. There are 3 parables in this chapter: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost silver, and the parable of the lost son. All three have Christ as the star! In the parable of the lost sheep he is pictured as the good shepherd. In the parable of the lost silver he is pictured as the one who came to seek and to save the lost. And now in the parable of the lost son, he is pictured as a gracious and merciful and compassionate Father. So, the main character is not the son, but the father.
Secondly, the title that we have come to recognize this parable by is backwards. We call it the parable of the prodigal son. I want to submit to you this morning that the title should be the parable of the prodigal father. I have a very good reason for this title. After all the word prodigal is a very old English word that actually means extravagant. It does not speak of youthful rebellion or sinful living. The main idea behind the word prodigal is that of wastefulness and excess. A prodigal person is a big spender who spreads his resources around, someone who is recklessly openhanded with large gifts.
I want to submit to you that the father was more of a prodigal than his son ever was. We will see the prodigal nature of the father in 4 things this week. First, we see the prodigal nature of the father in the Rebellion of the Son. Look at what happens in verses 11-13. And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living."
This younger son was a rebellious son. He said to his father, give me my inheritance. Pull your will out of the safe, call a lawyer, and give me what is coming to me. For a son in that culture to request his inheritance early was equivalent to saying, I wish you were dead. And any father with a proper concern about the honor of his own name and the reputation of the family would now see to it that a boy like this received the full and just punishment for his disrespect. A son guilty of dishonoring his father to this degree could well expect to lose everything he had or was hoping to receive. He could expect to be permanently dismissed from the family. Actually, he would be viewed as dead. It was not uncommon in that time and place to hold an actual funeral for a child who disrespected and abandoned his home and family in this way.
The scribes and Pharisees are sitting on the edge of their seats in utter shock and amazement. They fully expected the prodigal son's father to drop the hammer on the wayward youth. After all, the father's honor had been turned to shame by his son's rebellion. Here is where we see the first sign of the father’s prodigal (lavish, extravagant, excessive ways). Rather than publicly strike the boy across the face for his disrespect, this father granted his rebel son exactly what he asked for. He dug out the will, called in the lawyer, and gave him his entire inheritance. That was a little excessive in the eyes of the religious leaders. Instead of punishment, he gave him what he did not even deserve. We see the prodigal nature of the father in his response to the rebellion of the son.
We also see the prodigal nature of the father in the Ruin of the Son. Look at what happens in verses 14-16. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
We see the prodigal nature of the father in the ruin of the rebellious son. The party has ended for the son. His funds have run out, his friends have run off, and a famine has set in. The son has lost his inheritance and he has lost his hope. He finds himself a job feeding pigs. He is at the lowest of the low. Rabbis actually are quoted as saying, “Cursed is the man who breeds swine.” Here is this young Jew working for a Gentile, feeding the swine, and even considering eating with them. Obviously, he is at his lowest point. He is ruined.
What is the father doing during the ruin of his son. It is dangerous to assume much of anything, but I think it is safe to assume that he is waiting and watching for him. It is evident that the father was looking diligently for the prodigal's return. Look in verse 20, “While he was still a great way off, his father saw him.” How else could he have seen him while he was still a long way off if he were not watching and waiting for him? We see lavish mercy, excessive love, and extravagant patience from the father. We see the prodigal nature of the father as he waits for his son to return from his ruin.
We also see the prodigal nature of the father in the Repentance of the Son. The son is awakened to his sin in verses 17-20a, “But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20 And he arose and came to his father.” He sees his sin. He sees the solution. He formulates his plan. He arises and begins to carry out his plan.
Look at the prodigal response of the father. 20b But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. He ran to him. In that culture of honor, especially in a situation like this, it would be nothing extraordinary if the father simply refused to meet the boy face to face. Yet, here was the father not shunning his son, but running to him. In the context of that culture, the father's action of running to the boy and embracing him before he came all the way home was seen as shameful. Nobelmen in that culture did not run. Running was for little boys and servants. No, noblemen walked in a dignified, authoritative manner with deliberate steps. The text uses a word that speaks of sprinting, as if he were in an athletic competition. The father gathered up the hem of his robe and took off in a most undignified manner.
Not only did he run to him, but he embraced him! Now that the boy was coming home, the Pharisees expected him to get what he deserved. It would be fairly typical to punish him first by publicly shaming him. A father in those circumstances might have his son sit outside the gate in public view for several days. The boy would be completely exposed to the elements—and worse, to the utter scorn of the whole community. In a typical village where everyone knew everyone else, the entire village would mock and verbally abuse him and possibly even spit on him. He would just have to sit there and take it while he waited. After a few days wait, the son would be expected to bow low and kiss the father's feet. But his father kissed him, and the verb tense means he repeatedly kissed him (the rag wearing, pig smelling, disrespectful son). He does not receive what he deserves (shaming). He receives what he does not deserve in abundance, in excess. He was embraced and kissed. Such an embrace with repeated kisses was a gesture that signified his full acceptance, forgiveness, restoration, and total reconciliation.
In verses 21-22 we read, And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants. The father quickly cut him off. The prodigal never even got to the part of his rehearsed speech in which he would ask to become one of the hired servants. The father had already reinstated him as a beloved son, and the great celebration was to get underway.
The excessive, lavish, extravagant love, forgiveness, and mercy the father showed reveals his prodigal nature.
If you are not yet convinced that it is the father who is the prodigal in the story just wait until next time…
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