The prodical son reading.

[Tayla]

While this is primarily a Christian reading from the bible, I find its theme thru out current day authors and past historical instances. May I have some persons interpretations of that story. For you see I am obviously not grasping its true nature. Why you might ask? When I read it , I read it with compasson for the son who spent years being loyal, tending to his parents, honoring them, only to be cast to the side when the prodical son returned. When I share this in my reading group I am met with deplorable looks for not seeing the prodical sons side. Maybe I identify with the concept of Honoring my mother and father and doing their will , ( I tended to my mother til her day of dying), So perhaps I am bias when reading. So if anyone can shed new light and guide me thru this reading I welcome it!

[amaysngrace]

It's because he was lost and found his way that is the cause for the celebration.

 

The older son always remained faithful and that did not go unnoticed by his father but it wasn't a cause for celebration like the one who repents.

 

The older son missed the point too so you really do identify more with him lol

[JFReyes]

It's because he was lost and found his way that is the cause for the celebration.

 

The older son always remained faithful and that did not go unnoticed by his father but it wasn't a cause for celebration like the one who repents.

 

That's another reason I don't dig this stuff. In my view redemption has merit but faithfullness and loyalty trump it. It was probably written by religious politicians as a propaganda piece to get more followers while throwing a breadcrumb to the clueless sheep of their fold.

Edited May 30, 2014 by JFReyes

[amaysngrace]

That's another reason I don't dig this stuff. In my view redemption has merit but faithfullness and loyalty trump it. It was probably written by religious politicians as a propaganda piece to get more followers while throwing a breadcrumb to the clueless sheep of their fold.

 

Well the faithful son was bothered by it too because he thought he deserved more from his father and resented the fact that his father was so pleased about the return of his son.

 

If he were as good of a person as he thought he was then he'd be pleased to see the return of his brother rather than worry about what's in it for him for being so good.

 

If you are always on top of the mountain you just don't have the same perception as someone who has been in the valley.

[pie2]

Tayla, I completely get the struggles with this passage.

 

The Prodigal Son

 

The older, more "obedient" son tells his dad he was angry because he had served his father for so long, and had never seemed to have a party thrown for him. He asks why his brother deserves the best and biggest party. His dad's response is so crucial:

 

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The older son was already blessed beyond measure by his father. All the time his brother was away, he had enjoyed so much that his father was able to offer.

 

Unfortunately, his attitude about the blessings he had been given wasn't great. The prodigal son had basically returned to life from the dead. And that was cause for a great celebration! The older brother wasn't happy for the repentance and change of heart the prodigal son had experienced, nor was he remembering all that he had already been given. He was jealous.

 

As a picture in our own lives, we're all prodigal sons. When we return to God (our father), there is a great celebration, because we've all rebelled and turned away at one point. So when we repent of what we've done, all of God's glory and blessings are ours.

 

That is the grace we're given from God after the simple act of repentance. We don't have to labor and labor and labor to earn God's love. He loves us regardless of how much work we have done for him. In other words, that kind of love isn't earned by anything we do for him, it's just a matter of grace.

Edited May 30, 2014 by pie2

[Betrayed&Stayed]

While this is primarily a Christian reading from the bible, I find its theme thru out current day authors and past historical instances. May I have some persons interpretations of that story. For you see I am obviously not grasping its true nature. Why you might ask? When I read it , I read it with compasson for the son who spent years being loyal, tending to his parents, honoring them, only to be cast to the side when the prodical son returned. When I share this in my reading group I am met with deplorable looks for not seeing the prodical sons side. Maybe I identify with the concept of Honoring my mother and father and doing their will , ( I tended to my mother til her day of dying), So perhaps I am bias when reading. So if anyone can shed new light and guide me thru this reading I welcome it!

 

It was the son's self-righteousness that kept him outside of the party (Kingdom of Heaven). I relate more to the good son now that I had to deal with my wife's affair. I was the one who kept the rules and did the "right" thing. My wife was the Prodigal Son, and it is hard to celebrate and join the party if self-righteousness is dominant in my heart.

 

The Father (God) offered the Prodigal Son (others) Grace and the Good Son (self-righteous/religious) did not like that radical Grace was being offered to others who were the sinners. The good son wasn't cast to side but "he became angry, and was not willing to go in". He excluded himself; the father pleaded for him to join the celebration.

 

If you go back and read Luke 15:1-3 you'll see that this parable was more about the Good Son then the Prodigal Son. This was told to the Pharisees and scribes. The Pharisees were the Good Son, and Jesus was the Father that welcomed sinners to the table.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Betrayed&Stayed

[Tayla]

A sincere thank you for the replies, it truly helped having it interpreted in a way that made both sides understood. Pie2 and Betrayed&Stayed, excellent breakdowns of the parable. I was blind , and now I see.

 

50 years it took...50 years to finally come to peace on this piece of ltierature and its true meanings. How humbled I am to know that there is much work still to be done.

[pie2]

A sincere thank you for the replies, it truly helped having it interpreted in a way that made both sides understood. Pie2 and Betrayed&Stayed, excellent breakdowns of the parable. I was blind , and now I see.

 

50 years it took...50 years to finally come to peace on this piece of ltierature and its true meanings. How humbled I am to know that there is much work still to be done.

 

Tayla, that is the coolest thing! I love what you say about how humbling it is knowing how much further there is to go in terms of understanding, something that's true for all of us .

 

In my experience, sometimes understanding comes and goes. Like, I'll get something for awhile, but then old ways of thinking creep back in. That has happened to me with the Prodigal Son parable.

 

It's also happened with a similar parable, the one about the men who work all day in the vineyard and end up getting paid the same amount as the guys who only work an hour. My head gets the meaning of the parable (that God's blessings are an act of mercy, not something earned), but sometimes a part of me is (still) like, WHAT? Grrrr...it's not fair! But then I have to remember that someone as ineffective as myself, who's really only done a minute amount of work, will receive the same reward as the Apostle Paul. That's when I remember what the parable is really saying .

Edited May 31, 2014 by pie2

[Tayla]

Pie2- Yes, both parables are empowering once the concepts take ahold.

 

the one inwhich you wrote of the men (workers) each getting paid the same, despite some working longer and harder, Can it be possible that we relate it to how much time and effort we are given here on earth til god calls us home? Some of us are here for years, whilst others are taken early in life. We each did our jobs ( gods mission for us) ,til it was time to receive his blessings.

 

Anyways, its good to read and understand so that a clearer vision of what is ahead can be achieved.

[pureinheart]

While this is primarily a Christian reading from the bible, I find its theme thru out current day authors and past historical instances. May I have some persons interpretations of that story. For you see I am obviously not grasping its true nature. Why you might ask? When I read it , I read it with compasson for the son who spent years being loyal, tending to his parents, honoring them, only to be cast to the side when the prodical son returned. When I share this in my reading group I am met with deplorable looks for not seeing the prodical sons side. Maybe I identify with the concept of Honoring my mother and father and doing their will , ( I tended to my mother til her day of dying), So perhaps I am bias when reading. So if anyone can shed new light and guide me thru this reading I welcome it!

 

Hey Tayla, I know your inquiry has been answered, so this is more of a release/sort of rant.

 

IMO it's the motive behind the motive. I've seen many who are "loyal" per se, but loyal to what? Sometimes the motives are pure and simply out of love, and others are straight up manipulative and self seeking.

 

I've seen so many users in my day that it's not even funny and am always in check to make sure I don't turn into one. There are friends and family that I keep at arms distance because of this.

 

In the case of the prodigal son I think both kids were users/opportunists, they just took different routes. One changed, one didn't.

[TheFinalWord]

While this is primarily a Christian reading from the bible, I find its theme thru out current day authors and past historical instances. May I have some persons interpretations of that story. For you see I am obviously not grasping its true nature. Why you might ask? When I read it , I read it with compasson for the son who spent years being loyal, tending to his parents, honoring them, only to be cast to the side when the prodical son returned. When I share this in my reading group I am met with deplorable looks for not seeing the prodical sons side. Maybe I identify with the concept of Honoring my mother and father and doing their will , ( I tended to my mother til her day of dying), So perhaps I am bias when reading. So if anyone can shed new light and guide me thru this reading I welcome it!

 

You might glean some more insights by also studying the corresponding parables of the lost sheep and lost coin.

 

This parable IMHO is also an illustration of God drawing in the gentiles. The Jews did all the correct customs and kept all of God's laws (in their opinion, just as the older son assumed he did not also need the father's grace), and here are the gentiles, who were not part of God's covenant, being welcomed with open arms. The interesting thing is that Christ describes both as sons...Paul explains...

 

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

 

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery (prodigal son)? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious (something to consider with your present situation!). But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Edited June 3, 2014 by TheFinalWord