Luke 15: The Parable of the Ungrateful Son

What's in a name?  A great deal when it comes to the interpretation of a parable.  For years, I knew Luke 15:11-32 as the "Parable of the Prodigal Son."  Prodigal isn't a common word anymore.  Dictionary.com tells us that prodigal means "wastefully or recklessly extravagant."  So obviously the title "Parable of the Prodigal Son" tells us that the focus of the parable is on the youngest son, the son who squanders half his father's great fortune in riotous, hedonistic living. 

There is no doubt that viewed from the perspective of the "prodigal son," this parable of Jesus gives us some great lessons about grace.  Through the story of the youngest son, we see how willing Jesus is to receive and forgive even after the gravest of offenses.  And not only does He forgive, but He restores. The son receives great reward from His Father.  This is a wonderful picture of how our Heavenly Father welcomes and receives us when we come to Him through Jesus.

But for all of the lessons that we can draw from the prodigal son, I don't think that this parable is properly called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son."  I think it should be named the "Parable of the Two Sons."  As I interpret the parable, the focus is every bit as much on the eldest son as it is on the youngest.

Luke 15:1-2 sets the context for all of the parables that Jesus tells in this chapter.  Those verses say: "Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear him. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'"  All of the parables in this chapter address that comment of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.  They all address the question of why Jesus eats with "sinners" and "people of bad reputation."

In short, the Pharisees and teachers of the law are the eldest son.  They are the ones that are upset that Jesus is having a party for people who haven't always been faithful.  The Pharisees have abided by the law.  They have fasted several times a week.  They have tithed all that they have made even their spices.  They have gone to Temple and offered sacrifice on every occasion that it was required.  In their mind if Jesus is going to have a party for anyone, it should be them.  But Jesus doesn't seem to celebrate them.  He seems to celebrate the Johnny come lately crowd.  He participates in parties for those who have not been faithful and for those who have pushed the envelope of grace.  Angry, the Pharisees and teachers of the law refuse to welcome the lost coming back to the fold.  They won't join the party. Jesus tells the parable of the two sons to encourage the religious leaders to receive those whom God is saving.  

It is easy for us to be eldest sons especially if we became followers of Jesus at a young age or have been in the church a long time.  It is easy to forget that church is not designed to celebrate the saints but to save the sinners.   I have seen Christians in a church grow uneasy and discontented when new people start to enter.  The whole dynamic of a church can start to change as a fresh breath of the Spirit blows through.  We need to be careful not to grow angry at God because others seem to be supplanting us in His affections.  Instead, we need to be confident that our Father has enough love for all.  We need to celebrate the grace of God that has called others home and blessed them.