and he said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”‘ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'”
Luke 15:11-32
So how many did you find?
Here is the list I have:
- A father and his two sons
- Both are from wealthy families
- Both younger sons break relationship
- Blessing and inheritance are in focus
- Both younger sons receive their inheritance in dishonorable ways
- Both leave in haste
- Both are estranged from the older brother
- Both younger sons go to a distant country
- The older son stays home – but is no longer in focus in the story
- Both younger sons don’t receive any wages
- Honourable and dishonorable farming activities
- Both younger brothers hatch a plan for restoration
- Both younger sons are afraid to return
- Lack of remorse initially by younger son”I will go back to my father” (Gen 31:3 / Luke 15:18)
- Both younger sons come up with a speech to manipulate the father/brother.
- The location of the reunion is a distance from home
- Both older sons are “in the field”
- A young goat or kid is involved in the meals.
- “I never took a goat” / “You never gave me a goat”
- Reconciliation with the older brother is in question
- Both older sons have a slave mindset
- Both older sons perceive an injustice has been done to them
- Both younger sons feel unworthy (Gen 32:10 / Luke 15:19)
- Both younger brothers are met by a potentially hostile crowd
- Repentance is emphasized in both stories.
- Both older brothers have not yet repented.
- Their grievance / bitterness is too strong.
Is that enough to convince us that Jesus is using the story the Pharisees like the most and putting a new twist on it with a purpose? Or do you think I am just making it up? Maybe this is just something Ian has come up with and it has no validity whatsoever in real life. The kind of thing that happens when English teachers reinterpret a literary work? Is that what is happening here? There are enough parallels between the two stories to force us to conclude there was purpose behind what Jesus was doing here. But for the sake of settling any arguments, let me draw your attention to the following direct quotes. These elements are present in both stories – the Jacob story and the Prodigal – and are found nowhere else in Scripture. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so. But if you are still in doubt, then all that remains, is for you to ask Luke and / or Jesus about it.
A) Run and fall on his neck and kiss him [Gen 29:13 // Luke 15:20]
B) Put the best robe on him [Gen 27:15 // Luke 15:22]
C) So many years I have served you [Gen 31:38 // Luke 15:29]
D) “All you see is mine” cf “All that is mine is yours” [Gen 31:43 // Luke 15:31]
To that we could add: “I never took a goat” / “You never gave me a goat”. In this case a little more allusory than a direct quote.
Convinced yet? It’s hard not to be isn’t it?
Time for you to pause and think about it.
See you back here in the next Gem. On the edge of the village. One more day looking at the significance of the above, then we will complete the rest of the Fourth Unit, pulling the strands together. There is still some more to highlight before we are ready to draw conclusions. Talk to me about your thoughts and reactions or interest in this and I will respond. But if you are silent, I will simply move on, leaving you to chew on it. The way to get me started is to dialogue with me.
He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). Pray this daily when you read your Bible.
I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.
Harry Emerson Fosdick
Wonder is retained by wise pondering.
Ravi Zacharias
All is mystery but he is a slave who will not struggle to penetrate the dark veil.
Benjamin Disraeli
Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain.
Tyron Edwards