The Father and Two Sons. Sermon by Carl Chin June 17, 2023.
Luke 15:11-32
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Jesus ate with sinners.
Leaders saw potential for Jesus to be the Messiah, but He ate with sinners, with the unclean. Scholars at that time thought and believed that attitudes were important.
The Basis of the story of the Father and two sons. There was a personal relationship between a father and his 2 boys.
Which are you closest to in attitude: the father, the eldest son or the youngest son?
Jesus told this story to the Pharisee, religious leaders.
The Bible has lots of stories of brothers: Cain and Abel, Joseph, David. In all these cases the youngest gets more than the oldest.
How in this story would the youngest son redeem himself?
The youngest son says "give me my portion". The on then took his land and sold it as money. The family saw him off.
Questions:
- What is wrong with the father? Why would he not discipline his son. Why not teach him to respect his elders?
- What is wrong with the older brother? Was he domineering? In Israel boys married at this time between 18 and 20 years old. They were expected to act as an adult at 12 years old, at their bar mitzvah.
- What is wrong with the younger brother? Deuteronomy 21:18-21. Was he like the attitudes in this text?
Inheritance:
- Oldest gets 5/9ths
- Youngest gets 2/9ths
- Father had 2% of which he had the right to use the benefit of the property.
The younger son usurped his duty. He sold his property. This was like robbing his father.
The youngest squanders his money on himself and his friends. Then the finds himself friendless, homeless and penniless. He takes a job feeding pigs and eating the pig's food. He comes to his senses when at his lowest. Lowest position socially, lowest mentally.
There was a saying at this time. Cursed is the man who teaches his son to feed swine or teaches him Greek.
The youngest son puts together a polished speech. He had sinned. The 5th commandment - honour Thy father. He was not keeping the ceremonial laws, like an unbeliever. He had stolen from his father, and wasted it away, now living with unclean swine, selling money from what he shouldn't have sold.
A famine arrives. There is no record of him reaching out to his father before he returns. Verse 19, he wants to be a hired servant? Or a day labourer without pay, to pay his father back.
Did the father hear news that his son was coming back? The father sees his son. He runs to his son. Men of his status did not run, they walked with grace.
The youngest son was hugged by his father. The son started to plea. He was embarrassed.
The father was open to welcoming his son, to a new opportunity for his son.
The youngest son was not open. True reconciliation is only possible where there is openness on both sides. The father did not close up. He waited, he accepted, and allowed time for his son to open up further. He is given the best robe, intended not for a son but for an honoured guest. Given a ring which represented the equivalent of an open cheque book. He was given a shoe, a symbol of authority. The youngest son desired to be a day labourer and was given a status greater than before. The father and son forgave each other. Their relationship became stronger.
The oldest son was a hard worker. He hears music and learns his brother is a guest of honour. He does not even want to go in. So the father comes out to him. Verse 28 to 30. The oldest son is placing himself in the position of the youngest. The older brother could not see the merit of accepting the youngest, sinful son.
The oldest brother represented the Pharisees and Scribes. This story was more than a family affair. It was a story intended for the Pharisees. Note that the story does not end. We are not told how the oldest responds. Why? The story was open ended. How would each Pharisee and Scribe listening respond? How would each individual hearing this story respond? Anger? Love?
How do you respond?