Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘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.’”
Define Alienation: a withdrawing or separation of a person or a person’s affections from an object or position of former attachment.
It’s hard to even begin with this very familiar parable about the prodigal son because there are two sons. It always ends up being a story of their personal choices and here’s the tricky part. This parable seems to be teaching more about their alienation from the father than their choices. It’s obvious alienation is often the result of a bad choice but you can’t escape the reality that even a good choice with a bad motive also results in estrangement.
The Younger Son…views his bad choice as freedom and an opportunity to escape. He’s chosen to “set off for a distant country” as a way to avoid the responsibilities of a son to his father.
The Older Son…views his good choice to be obedient and faithful as “slaving.” He’s chosen to define his relationship to his father in a way that reveals his estrangement from him.
I think every believer has identified with that younger son who valued separation more than his relationship with his father until “he came to his senses“ and experienced the reality that “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son.” And I suspect I’m not the only one who’s also identified with the “enslaved” brother using his obedience to justify his entitlement instead of his relationship to his father; “all these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.”
The Father’s choice is the “more in this parable.” Jesus has given an age span the Father is concerned with, younger to older. He’s given two examples of what the alienation of sin can look like, separation and entitlement. And He’s given two very human responses to think about. The Father’s choice is to be “filled with compassion” for repentant sinners, even those with bad motives, and remind them “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” “Let’s have a feast and celebrate.”
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