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prodigal son
dogcombat:
One underlying point in this and other parables is RELATIONSHIP. The Prodical parable says the father has 2 sons one who stayed, and the other, who left. The father obviously LOVED both sons and here is how it appears to me. The Prodigal son wanted to be AWAY from his father and live it up. The other son stayed with his father while the other was away. The question is, to a casual glance, though the father LOVED both sons, he didn't really have a RELATIONSHIP with either one.
Just as our Heavenly Father LOVES us. Some who are lost are caused to see their waywardness repent of that sin, like the prodical son was. On the other hand, the other son represents those who think, just because"I was here working my tail off...." will feel shafted at the love shown to those lost sheep who wander from the shepard. Was "being there" enough to be called a RELATIONSHIP ? Jesus said that not all who call Him Lord Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This refers (to me) to the home son. Just because you did good work (in your eyes) doesn't mean your work won't be filthy rags. Because they were done to please your flesh, it's filthy rags to God.
That verse Rocky and Bobf point to about election is in Romans 9:11
11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, NOT OF WORKS, but of him that calleth;)
As we grow in proper RELATIONSHIP with our Father in Christ Jesus. Then the work we do, as the Spirit leads, will prosper in what God intended.
Ches
Kat:
Hi dogcombat,
I like what you have said.
This parable is about the church. Those in the church are introducted to Christ, so to speak, but they do not 'know' Him.
He is our first love, but then we fall away, as the prodigal son left his Father, we too lose our first love.
We were always lost, as the church is, but when we hit rock bottom, when we have went the ways of this world to the point we can not take it anymore and we see how filithy we really are.
Then we come to our senses, or our eyes are opened, and then we begin to have a relationship with Christ and the Father.
It is at this point that we are able to really appreciate, what we are given in Christ.
It is a great day when God brings us home, and clothes us.
The brother was satisifed just to have a knowledge of Christ, but did not have a relationship with Him.
All have to go through judgment, the elder brother or the whole church, will have to go through judgment later, as the prodigal son or elect are going through judgment now.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
Pax Vobiscum:
By far, the most interestng character in this story is the stay-at-home son; but that's not what's on my mind.
Why all the talk about which son fulfills anyone's idea of who is "saved" or "elect?" Such talk is clanging bells. I believe the overarching theme of this (and, yes, all biblical parables) is that love conquers all -- therefore, if God is love -- then God conquers all. Whichever path brings us home is the right path and is cause for rejoiciing -- sometimes party-like and sometimes in the quiet confidence of a dutiful son.
Does it matter which son you are or I am? What matters is all are welcome to come home. I do not understand the futile impulse to categorize each other. Jesus did not ask us to evaluate one another -- He asked us to love one another. It's that simple.
The story stands on its own without meddling. It is a beautiful lesson on life, love, acceptance and forgiveness. It is folly and does Jesus' words a disservice to try and make His lesson into something to make us feel special -- we already are!
Peace
rrammfcitktturjsp:
Beautiful, beautiful
I think that this story is so tampered with we lose the orginal beauty of it just as your post says. Your post has showed me the original beuaty of this parable. All things are beautiful until mankind tampers with them to justify his own position of things.
Sincerely,
Anne C. McGuire
Joey Porter:
--- Quote from: rocky on January 03, 2007, 02:06:05 AM ---I have always thot of the prodigal son as representing the elect, those shown mercy rather than hardening, vessel of honor rather than dishonor.
If this is the case, then who does the older son represent. I've always thot of the older son as representing the many called.
But then i read this verse regarding the older son,
Luk 15:31 "Now he said to him, 'Child, you are always with me, and all mine is yours.
Luk 15:32 Yet we must be merry and rejoice, seeing that this your brother was dead and revives, and was lost and was found.'"
Kinda of strange that the older son had full inheritance (all mine in yours), yet never went the route of destruction.
So this makes me think that maybe the prodigal son represents the called, and those who go by the broad road to destrction (Lake of Fire).
any thoughts??
--- End quote ---
The verse that you underlined has always thrown a bit of a wrench into my view of the parable, which seems to be the same as yours. That is, if the stay at home son represents the called, the one who will be cast into outer darkness, the one who will be weeping and gnashing hist teeth, looking at the kingdom from the outside, then why does his father tell him "you are always with me, and all that I have is yours?"
First of all, the stay at home son has to represent the many called who will not be in the kingdom, because it harmonizes with all of the other parables such as the 99 sheep, the faithful and wicked servants, the house on the sand or the rock, the rich man and Lazarus, and so forth.
There is only good one answer that I can surmise as to why the stay at home son is told that.
Ezekiel 14
4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry.
2 Thessalonians 2
11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
That's the best I can come up with. In this parable, Jesus is showing us how God will answer the called according to the idols that they have in their heart so that they remain complacent, because of their carnality and stubborness.
That could also be why in the parable of the wedding banquet, the man is speechless when he is asked why he is not wearing wedding clothes. Because, due the idols in his own heart, he was given over into thinkingthat he was on the narrow path to life, when in fact he was on the path to destruction.
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