In the last post, I mentioned Christians misunderstanding the basic nature of the Gospel. How each of us could either relate to the younger brother or the elder brother. Either way, we are guilty of falling short of God's glory. Without further ado, let's further analyze the parable of 'The Prodigal Son'.
Many times we are focused on the flight and return of the younger brother that we miss the real message of the story. Here both brothers in a different way are alienated from God and are finding a different way to seek acceptance into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us first pay attention to the people who were present there i.e the audience.
1) THE PEOPLE AROUND JESUS.
"All gathering around to hear Him" Luke 15:1
There were 'Two Kinds' of people.
The First group was the 'tax collectors and sinners'. We can compare them to the younger brothers' way of living. They observed neither the moral laws of the Scriptures nor the rules for ceremonial purity followed by Jesus. Basically engaged in wild living.
The Second group present were 'Pharisees and the teachers of the law' who can be compared to the elder brother. They held to the traditional morality of their up bringing. They studied and obeyed the Scriptures, worshipped faithfully and prayed constantly.
Now, the 'gathering' v.1 of the younger brother flocking around Jesus angered and puzzled the moral and the religious. This we notice in the summary of their complaints presented by Luke. v.2 “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
In Ancient Near East tradition, 'to sit down and eat with someone' means acceptance. Perhaps, Jesus heard all their muttering and in response to the 'second group,' he told this parable to the 'Scribes and Pharisees. It was a response to their attitude.
This parable takes an extended look at the soul of the elder brother and climaxes with a powerful plea for him to change his heart. All our life we have heard about how Jesus still loves and welcomes people, no matter what they have done.t But the target of the story is not "wayward sinners" but religious people who do everything the Scriptures require. Jesus is pleading not so much with 'immoral outsiders' but the 'moral insiders. He wants to show them their blindness, narrowness and self-righteousness. Also, how these things are destroying both their own souls and the lives of people around them.
It would also be a mistake to assure younger brothers of His unconditional love.
If we observe, we will see that the original audience were not in tears, but they were offended and angry.
Key Takeaways
1. The story alerts us about destructive self-centeredness of younger brother but also condemns the elder brother's moralistic life.
2. Both religious and irreligious people are spiritually lost and are wrong in their way about 'How to connect with God'.
3. We as Christians tend to be very unaccepting at times which shuns or blocks the growth of new believers towards maturity in Christ or even the people who don't know Christ as yet.
About Desamfm
Desamfm is an online platform catering to Christian youngsters aged 13 to 35. It offers a variety of multimedia resources, including videos, blogs, and podcasts created by Christian creatives. Covering topics like faith, relationships, and personal growth, DESAMFM provides an interactive space for young Christians to connect, share experiences, and seek guidance. With a user-friendly interface and regular updates, it ensures fresh and relevant content. DESAMFM serves as a valuable resource, combining Christian values with the interests of today's youth. Join the community and embark on a faith-filled journey together."
Comments