#81: The Story of the Father of Two Sons (Part 1)

Luke 15:11-32

Just as a form of introduction, the story we caption The Prodigal Son was a story Jesus told when the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners (vs 1&2). Before this story, he talked about the joy a shepherd gets when he goes out of his way to seek for and find a lost sheep, notwithstanding the rest 99 sheep; he also talked of the joy a person gets when he searches for and finds a lost coin, notwithstanding the rest 9 coins. It is in the light of this joy and feast in heaven at the return of a lost soul that Jesus spake this parable. This parable however was more elaborate than the first two. I sense Jesus was deliberate and by the grace of God, He will be revealing to us what indeed He was passing to us as we study scriptures together.

A certain man had two sons: The first thing I sense in my spirit that Jesus was trying to teach here is of two sons of a father. Many times when we come across this scripture, we are carried away by the life and times of the son that was prodigal. It will pay to note that if the man had two sons, then Jesus was pointing to two categories of sons. On this note again we have to note that unlike how we must have previously understood this parable, Jesus was not talking of people who are alienated to the Father in question. The story is not about people who are strangers to the man in the parable. The story is about the sons of the man. This then means that our minds be brought back to the family of God; to the church of Christ.-people in sonship, you and I. Jesus is speaking to us.

And the younger of them said to his father, “Give me the portion that falleth to me”: Another interesting twist in the story is the picture of an impatient son. Looking at his position, he is not to be the first person to be asking for his inheritance. The request he makes is a very dumbfounding request. Gal 4:1-2 tells us that when a son is young, the father will not give him the inheritance, but keep him under stewards until the time appointed of the father. This younger son could not wait for the appointed time. What he was asking for was rightfully his, but the timing was wrong. Funny enough, his father shares the inheritance and grants his request. I sense that no talking was going to change his mind, he was hell bent on what he wanted. Could we be meticulous to check all the requests we petition to God in prayers? Could we be so careful to notice when the LORD has stopped scrutinizing our list? Are we sensitive enough to know when the LORD stops disciplining us? The son was already lost at this point, and you will see why.

Not many days after, he gathered all and journeyed to a far country: This was the intent of the petition he made to his father. He wanted to be independent. He wanted to have liberty-liberty outside the confines of his father’s estate. And I quietly sense this is peculiar with many Christians today (remember this parable is addressed to sons of God, not aliens). He actually had liberty in his father’s house, after all he was a son, but he was seeking another liberty, there was another liberty he was defining for himself quietly and he was desperately yearning for. From now on we will be seeing what distance from his father made him do.

…and there wasted his possession with prodigal living: This is exactly what happens when we are far from God. We beginning to do what we want to do. These things would not have been possible in the presence of the father. His father’s constant voice and teachings made sure of this. But he was hearing other voices, inviting him to a faraway land away from his father. The bible calls his present lifestyle-prodigal and wasteful. Unfortunately, he didn’t notice. As far as he was concerned, he was having fun. He finally had the freedom he wanted. All his plans in life could now be fulfilled. But he was wasting!

Action Point: Do you see yourself being painted in this section of the parable? Are you gradually going far from the Father’s love, instruction, guidance? Have you been making requests with vane intentions? The Father is calling you home.

(By the grace of God we will be continuing the study next week. God bless you.)