Sunday, September 12, 2004
the parable of the father and his two lost sons
Better known as The Parable of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15)
I really like NT Wright's take on this parable. God being the father welcoming in celebration the return of the apostate son. The older brother being paralelled with the religious leaders of Jesus' day, who believed they were the gaurdians of Torah and righteousness. Wright looks at most the parables through the paradigm of being about exile and reconciliation. All three parables in this discourse, the lost sheep, the woman with the coin, and the prodigal son, speak to answer the pharisees and scribe's accusations of Jesus -"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Also noted by Brad Young in his book, The Parables, was that the people hearing the parable would have been appalled by both the audacity of the son basically asking his father to die, and the older son letting it happen via his silence on the matter... and then the elder son speaking out against his father publically. Both sons missing the mark, one in rebellion and one in his outward righteousness but inner resentment. The Father being wrongly expected of as a sort of caretaker instead of being seen by his sons as merely desiring restoration and relationship. This parable is easily paralleled to many Rabbinical parables, noting references to the many scriptures of God pleading with Israel to return to him.
Then there's what got me thinking of the parable again in the first place.. At gracepages, Dave's take on it was as "the parable of the foolish father", which also holds to historical understanding. In a culture where honor was of utmost importance, the father proceeded to make a fool of himself. Out of love for his son, he allowed the family to be shamed. And then he risked it all once again when he ran out to meet the apostate son returning home. The older son responds much like the proud in our faith.
As Dave notes...
God always seems to be doing foolish things like forgiving sinners and welcoming good-for-nothings into the kingdom while the truly deserving are left only to stomp off and pout because their efforts haven't been recognized.
I agree with Dave on his conclusion as well. I'm glad to know such a God that would make a fool of Himself and put everything He is at risk for me. One who is more concerned with reconciliation, restoration, and relationship than with everything being right and proper.
