Aaron

Erhardt

minister & author

Governor Mike Beebe of Arkansas made headlines when he announced plans to pardon his son, who had been convicted of felony marijuana possession years earlier. Some agreed with the governor while others criticized him, but what stuck out to me was his comment to a Little Rock television station. Beebe said, “I would have done it a long time ago if he’d have asked, but he took his sweet time about asking.”

 

I imagine the father of the prodigal son would have said the same thing in Luke 15. If asked why he put the robe, ring, and shoes on his son and had the fattened calf killed for a celebration dinner, he would have probably said, “I would have done it a long time ago if he’d have returned, but he took his sweet time about returning.”

 

Let’s look at the parable.

 

“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’” (Luke 15:11-32).

 

The father in this parable represents God. He is the hero of the story. The prodigal son, who represents the tax collectors and sinners of verse 1, brought great disappointment to the father. He left home, squandered his portion of the inheritance in a foreign country, and ended up working in a pigpen. The average Jew would never work for Gentiles feeding unclean animals, but this boy did. He disgraced himself and the family. Yet when he came to his senses and returned home, the father was eager to receive him.

 

It must have been incredibly painful for the father to hear his son ask for his part of the inheritance; to see him pack his packs and leave; to know that he was far away in a foreign country. There must have been many sleepless nights, tossing and turning, as he thought about his boy. Though the father did not restrain his son or chase after him as he left, it broke his heart to see him go. And then it happened.

 

Grace Presented

 

When the father saw his son coming, he ran to meet him with open arms. He embraced him and kissed him. He then called for three items that were of great significance in the household — a robe, a ring, and shoes. Servants did not wear these things, sons did. They were privileged possessions for privileged people. He also ordered the fattened calf to be killed for a celebration dinner. It was time to party!

 

The prodigal son did not deserve a party. A lashing, maybe. A lecture, certainly. But not a party. He knew that (vv. 18-19) as did the older brother (vv. 28-30). His reckless behavior was simply inexcusable. After all, how dare he demand his part of the inheritance while the father still lived? How dare he go off and blow the money on loose living in a foreign country? How dare he come back now with nothing to show for himself? He deserved banishment, not a banquet! He should be sentenced, not celebrated! But that’s the point. God is willing to extend grace to even the worst sinners when they seek it. It is not based on their merit, but on His mercy.

 

The father could have put his son on some sort of probation. That alone would have been more than he deserved and a remarkable demonstration of grace. But probation never crossed his mind. He immediately issued a full pardon. 

 

While the first two parables of Luke 15 emphasize God’s part in the salvation process, actively seeking the lost, the last parable emphasizes man’s part of the process. The son had to humble himself and come home. He had to repent and seek reconciliation. If he had not done that, he would have never benefited from his father’s grace. And so it is with us. God will do His part, but we must do our part.

 

Grace Resented

 

Though the father is the hero and the younger son garners much of the attention, the main focus of the parable is the older son. He represents the Pharisees and scribes of verse 2, who grumbled that Jesus “receives sinners and eats with them.” His self-righteousness was their self-righteousness. His heartlessness was their heartlessness. His criticism was their criticism. Rather than rejoicing in his brother’s return, he was resentful. All he could think about was how much “better” he had been than his shameful sibling.

 

The older son argued on merit. He was keeping score. He reminded his father that he had “served” longer and “never disobeyed.” Since he had put in more time, exerted more energy, done more good, and been more reliable than his brother, he felt that the party should be for him. He earned it. This was the mindset of many Pharisees and scribes (Luke 18:11-12).

 

This begs an important question: Which sin was greater? Was the outward action of the younger son more egregious than the inward attitude of the older son? Are sins of the flesh worse than sins of the heart? The older son was guilty of harboring animosity, jealousy, and pride. He was self-righteous and stubborn. The only person he could speak to peaceably was the servant!

 

Pigpen of Sin

 

The prodigal son went from living “high on the hog” to feeding them. He was dirty, deserted, dejected, and debased. This pitiful condition epitomizes the state of sinners before they come to God. They are far away and wallowing in a pigpen of sin. They are filthy and famishing. Their only hope is to repent and seek reconciliation. The good news is that God waits eagerly to receive them when they do.

 

Conclusion

 

The prodigal son had his speech prepared. He no doubt recited it countless times on the way home. It was locked and loaded. “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” Yet before he could even finish those three sentences, he was interrupted. The father had heard enough. It was time to celebrate. I just wonder if the father ever said, “I would have done it a long time ago if you’d returned, but you took your sweet time about returning.”