But the older son was in the field. And having come, as he drew near to the house, he heard music and dances. And having called one of the children, he inquired what this may be. And he said to him, “Your brother came, and your father killed the fattened calf, because he received him back in health.”
But he was angry and did not desire to go in. Then coming out, his father begged him. But answering, he said to the father, “Behold, so many years I serve you, and I have never transgressed a command of you. And you never gave a goat to me, so that I might be merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, the one devouring your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.”
But he said to him, “Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours. But to be merry and to rejoice was right, for this brother of yours was dead, and lived again; he was lost and he was found.”
Luke 15:25-32
The older son ought to have come home and entered the house willingly to enjoy the party and to have been excited that his brother was back again. But he remains miffed and aloof outside. What is he doing? Milling around outside the party would have been a large group of youths. It would have been predominantly these rabble rouses who the prodigal would have met at the edge of the village. They would appear wherever there was something happening, soaking up the music, looking for excitement, uninvited. It is highly likely that the boy / child / youth the older son called was one of these. The boy says, “Your brother . . . “. While some translations mark this person as a servant, I don’t think he is a servant. It is not a servant he is talking with. I think he is one of the youth. The word [pais] can be translated youth or servant.
Normally, the rightful place for the elder son at this time is beside the father on his right side. The sons were expected to mingle and entertain the guests by engaging them in conversation. But in this instance the younger son is the reason for the party so he would have been prominent as the guest of honour, leaving the elder son to do the hosting and schmoozing. Normally having the sons undertake this role is sending a message to the guests that they are highly favoured, because this important man’s sons are designated to take care of their every need; acting as servants. To act as a servant with his younger brother as guest of honour is too much for the elder son. He can’t stand to do that and so petulantly stays outside, refusing to go into the festivities. To not go inside and greet the guests when he arrived at a party was the height of impudence and dishonour, both to the guests and to his father. That is the reason the guests were there, to pay respect and honour to the one throwing the party and to the one for whom the party is thrown. Not to take care of them was an insult. The older son ought to greet his lost brother and for the sake of his father. All family members were expected to line up at the entrance so all guests can shake their hand and the later to mingle with them and look after their needs.. For the elder son not to do this “for his father” is as big an insult as taking his inheritance prematurely in the first place. But now he makes this insulting gesture before all the guests. This is abhorrent behaviour and a major shame to the father.
This angry son is waiting outside. Everyone knows it. The word would quickly spread among the crowd. Remember this family is right in the spotlight as far as the village is concerned. The latest rumors are spread abroad while they are still fresh. When the news reaches the father, he comes out to the petulant son and begs him to come in to the feast. I imagine a crowd gathered to see what was going to happen next. The gang of youths who are gathered outside have a front row seat and they didn’t have to pay for it. This is tantamount to impudence on the part of the elder son and it is likely he will be beaten for his insolence. Or maybe the other way to handle this is to pretend that it has not happened and to let him be and wait for a more appropriate time to have it out with him. But not here in front of everyone.
Instead the father is conciliatory again, just like he was with the younger son. Oh my goodness, has this man no sense of personal shame? He needs to discipline both of these boys but instead he BEGS him to come in and welcome his brother. Everyone now is waiting with bated breath as to what will happen next. What will this father do? The youths gathered outside are not going to see an open family feud before their eyes. The father demonstrates just as much love for the older son as he did for the younger. Notice that the father goes outside of the village to meet the younger son and save him from kezezah. So too the father goes outside of the house and the party to meet the older son. Now what will happen? Will the older son accept the enormous grace given or will he throw it back in the father’s face. Remember the older sons are the Pharisees, for whom this whole story has been crafted.
As Kenneth Bailey draws out, there is a major play on words in the use of the form of [kaleo] used in the text.
The Greek word [kaleo] has multiple meanings depending on the compound formed from the prefixes added:
- [Eis-kaleo] is “to call into” or “invite”.
- [En-kaleo] is “to call against” or to “accuse”.
- [Epi-kaleo] is “to call by name”.
- [Para-kaleo] is “to appeal to” or “to entreat” or “to try to appease or to conciliate”.
- [Pro-kaleo] is “to provoke” or “to challenge”.
- [Pros-kaleo] is “to summon”, “to call to oneself”, “to call to account”.
- [Sun-kaleo] is “to call together”.
“And when he comes home, he calls together [sunkaleo] his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
“When she has found it, she calls together [sunkaleo] her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’
Luke 15:6, 9
It is not stated in the text, but we would expect a verse:”And when they came home, he called together [sunkaleo] his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the son which I had lost!’
All of these guests have been invited, called in to share in the festivities to celebrate. Note the refrain which has appeared throughout this parable fits with the original accusation of the Pharisees and fits with the cultural practice of finding something lost. But in this case it is not present just as the great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents is not included either. What is going on here? Is there significance in this or not? You decide. Note also the appearance of [kaleo] in two other places – verses 26 and verse 28.
“And he summoned [proskaleo] one of the boys and began inquiring what these things could be.
But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him [parakaleo].
Luke 15:26, 28
We would expect [proskaleo] to be used for the father talking to elder son just as the elder son had done with the boy. But in fact we are told the father entreated with him, appealed to him, was conciliatory. But it seems in this case his appeal has fallen on deaf ears. Ears deadened by rules and regulations. This son instead chooses to flaunt the law. He has responded out of duty – all these years I have slaved for you.
I have done everything you have told me. I have kept my duty and obeyed all your commands. Yes, but where is your heart son?
You can keep all the laws and still miss the boat. Remember the words of Jesus in response to the “disciples” who said, “Lord, Lord, we have done all sorts in your name.” And Jesus said, “Go away I never knew you.”
It alright to make mistakes, but not to fake perfection.
Ian Vail
Determining what’s right & wrong is not just an academic exercise, it’s an ongoing personal experience.
Robi Sonderegger
Your problem isn’t that you don’t love God enough – it’s that you don’t realise how much he loves you!
Rick Warren
Sometimes GOOD people make BAD choices. It doesn’t mean they’re bad…. It means they are human!
Rick Godwin
You can’t break away from a problem until you break the patterns in your life that created it.
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