Many look at the story of the Prodical Son as a contrast between two Brothers, one conservative and the other a non conformist, a rebel. But in essence it is way more than that. We can see many a lesson from this account. The first is between the Father and two different sons, the second is a conflict between God and two different religions, or should I say, interpretations.
The View of the Gentiles (i.e. Christians.) and the other the Jewish House of Israel. (i.e. Gods Chosen People.) Now the third thing that we see here is the difference between the people of Israel, (The Poor and unlearned.) and the other the Pharisees.(The ruling class.) Luke 15:12 And the younger of them ( Barnes states;- By this younger son we are to understand the publicans and sinners to be represented. By the older, the Pharisees and scribes.) said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
(This was the separation of Lands between the twelve tribes of Israel. Historical Fact) Barnes was stating that the publicans and sinners, were rebellious because of the treatment that this class of people had gone thru. They were disillusioned with the religious right and wanted the freedom to seek God and their identity in other ways.
This is historical fact, not only from the record books of the Isralies but from The Books of Moses. They found out later that the road to religious freedom required to be bought by a great price, that they were unable or unwilling to pay. Rejecting the Teaching that they had received from the Mosaic Law, these people became a target for Satan and the demons of Lust, Theft, Idolatry, Hunger, Depression and want, of things of the Body and those things of the Spirit. We still see this today in Israel, a separation of peoples, Brothers, divided only by religious differences but joined as one for preservation of a Nation.
Now in contrast we see the Pharisees and scribes as a constant unmovable force that stayed with the Mosaic Law.
Jesus was trying to teach that, If the people of Israel and the ruling Class of the Pharisees and the Temple Priest, could have come together and live as God had intended them to live, that there would have been no division between the two. The Eldest son, (The Religious Order.) Wanted everything for themselves. They said that they were loyal to the Law and The Prophets and Jesus was saying, Why are you angry when your brothers come back to their senses and accept the rule and will of God?
Luke 15:17-27; And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare (Love. Remember Jesus stated that He was the Bread of Life.), and I perish with hunger! This is in reference to Matthew 5:6, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Righteousness at this time was missing from not only the House of Israel, (The people.) but also from The Temple, Priest, Pharisees, and Scribes. Need proof ? OK, lets look at Matthew 5:20; For I (Jesus) say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ( They practiced the Law in principle but not truly in Spirit. This is not to mean that there were none that were righteous but only a very few.) , ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.(Here, they had a form of religion, knowing the form and fashion of it, but none of the truth nor power of it.)
Somewhere between the Prophets of Daniel, Isiaha and Ezekiel and Malachi the Righteousness of the Nation, as a whole, fell. I will arise and go to my father,( i.e. Return to the Law.), and will say, (Repent.) unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (This verse is a repeat of the prior verse, for we must first admit to ourselves that we have sined, and then admit it to God.)- And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants (Angels.), Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (This is the acceptance of non-jews as sons and daughters.)
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (God cannot accept a Son of His as a servant no more than we could our own children.) Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
Now in Luke 15:28-32, we see the anger of the Israelites over Jesus accepting the poor and the lower class, also with the addition of the gentiles into salvation. This all was contradictory to what the Pharisees were teaching. And he was angry, and would not go in ( Not going in, was speaking of acceptance of Jesus as the messiah and the fulfiller of prophecy.)(Referencing Matthew 23:13; But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.) : therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid(Referencing a reward for service.), that I might make merry with my friends: (We see here the bitterness of the ruling class against Jesus and any change in their status regarding control over religious matters.)
But as soon as this thy son(Gentiles) was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots(False gods and Idols.), thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. (God was telling the Religious order, that their place with Him was not taken away but was altered with the acceptance of the others, so that all mankind would have a place with Him. So long as they accepted Jesus as The Christ.) It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother(The gentiles and The other Tribes of Israel.
We must remember that the other tribes, as it is today, were and still are separate of each other.) was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Just as I stated in the beginning of this message, this is just one of three interpretations that are within the same scriptures. each interpretation has its place. Just as Paul stated; I have become all things to all men that by some means I might win some. I hope that this message has given you a little more insight into the understanding of Gods word. ars
Luke_5:29-32, Luke_7:29, Luke_13:30; Eze_18:27; Mat_9:10-13, Mat_21:28-31; Rom_5:20; 1Ti_1:15 |
