Tayla Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I've struggled thru the adult years on this very story. Its a parable told to have a "just" ending. Yet somehow I've yet to gain clarity on how I translated the parable. Basically the father has two sons. One retaliates and leaves the home to venture the world. The other son- faithfull and true to the legacy of tending to the flock, homestead and family, stays and labors to the father and mother. The father is heartbroken that the one son fled. Yet years later the prodigal son returns, welcomed with open arms, whilst the son who stayed is basically cast to the side and not acknowledged in the family dynamics. Its almost like the bible is saying, sometimes you must cast your back to the family, and family when he returns welcome him, but give little acknowledgment to the child who did tend the fields and honor the family heritage. Anyways my perspective is that the son who stayed was given a great disservice by the father....I get the idea that we must leave and find our own way, but dern if I can "GET" how the son who maintained loyalty is cast to the side....Any thoughts to help me understand the real lesson of this parable?
florence of suburbia Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 (edited) Is he cast to the side or is he just treated as he always is, while the return of the prodigal is celebrated? The real point of the parable from a Christian perspective, is that God welcomes the return of those who have rejected Him so long as it is sincere. The voice of the faithful son is, for example, like that of a lifelong somewhat snooty churchgoer. The churchgoer says, "why should you make a big deal welcoming this guy? He's been screwing prostitutes and using drugs for ten years and now he wants to come back?" and the minister says, "because he messed up, but now he has another chance and he genuinely wants to try again." Christ wanted to re-empahsize forgiveness where the status quo had become very judgemental and unforgiving. From a more secular perspective, imagine one of your kids went missing for a day and then a policeman brought him to your door. You make a big fuss over him. Your other kids, instead of welcoming him back, say, "What's the big deal, he broke the rules and wandered off. We were here the whole time. Why should he get special treatment?" They're being sort of petty and self-absorbed. Here's the end of the passage: The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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.’” Edited March 5, 2011 by florence of suburbia
Duckduckgoose Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 The sons are like the two types of sinners back in that time. The prodigal son was the openly rebellious sinner... like the taxpayers and whores of that time. The loyal son was the sanctimonious sinner, like the pharisees of the time. The parable of the prodigal son was aimed at the pharisees since they were talking smack about Jesus hanging out with "scumbags" like tax collectors. When he told that parable the older son represented those who tried to hide their sin with acts of righteousness.... the older son is the picture of the religious hypocrite. We are studying that parable in my Sunday School class right now, and are at the part with the older son. The book is in my lap haha.
Butterflying Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 (edited) This parable, just like many other in the Bible, is just an example of why we shouldn't take it so seriously. Try another story where Jesus is walking in the desert during dry season. He approaches a fig tree that is bare (obviously it's not time for figs yet). Instead of miraculously making figs appear on the tree, he curses the tree to never bare fruit again simply because it didn't have fruit when he wanted it. Can anybody explain what that story is supposed to mean? I persume it was Jesus' way of showing how much power he had both good and evil. Edited March 5, 2011 by Butterflying
jerbear Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 I remember studying this awhile back. It is how "we", loosely used definition, deal with those that dissent from the norm and non-conformity. It goes with the "sinner", for whatever sin, we should welcome them back into family. The greater good of the family is to welcome family members back. The family could be familiar, religious, affinity groups, fraternalities, etc. We are all part of a larger human family even when we do not like each other for whatever reason.
Author Tayla Posted March 6, 2011 Author Posted March 6, 2011 The sons are like the two types of sinners back in that time. The prodigal son was the openly rebellious sinner... like the taxpayers and whores of that time. The loyal son was the sanctimonious sinner, like the pharisees of the time. The parable of the prodigal son was aimed at the pharisees since they were talking smack about Jesus hanging out with "scumbags" like tax collectors. When he told that parable the older son represented those who tried to hide their sin with acts of righteousness.... the older son is the picture of the religious hypocrite. We are studying that parable in my Sunday School class right now, and are at the part with the older son. The book is in my lap haha. How peculiar is that , you are studying it , and I am still trying to wrapp my mind around the concept foretold from this parable. I "GET" the part where we need to welcome one back who is truly remorsefull , I get that as parents we forgive far more then we would otherwise, I GET that there is symbolism for back in the day in which this was told. I still DO NOT GET that the father OVER COMPENSATED for the younger sons return with a lavish dinner , whilst the eldest labored and shown true dedication to the family. (well..minus the part where his brother comes back to hog up all the attention lavished on him) . I think I will edit the bible to say : "And then the younger brother knelt down to his elder brother and thanked him for all his loyalty to the family and asked for forgiveness for abandoning the family and dishonoring them, Where upon they both forgave and went inside to partake of the meal. " ..yeah thats how I think it would make things good again
skydiveaddict Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 This is a parable about unconditional forgiveness. The "good" brother is guilty of the greater sin due to his unwillingness to forgive.
Author Tayla Posted March 7, 2011 Author Posted March 7, 2011 This is a parable about unconditional forgiveness. The "good" brother is guilty of the greater sin due to his unwillingness to forgive. One is forgiven when one is approached to be forgiven. That is where I differ that the elder had a greater sin. The younger brother never came to ask forgiveness towards his elder brother. Even in the bible one must go to GOD and ask for forgiveness...its not a taken for granted that "unconditional forgiveness" is already there. Otherwise we would willynilly thru life all the while saying, well god has already forgiven me..so I'll keep on sinning. you are correct, it is a parable.
skydiveaddict Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 One is forgiven when one is approached to be forgiven. That is where I differ that the elder had a greater sin. The younger brother never came to ask forgiveness towards his elder brother. Even in the bible one must go to GOD and ask for forgiveness...its not a taken for granted that "unconditional forgiveness" is already there. Otherwise we would willynilly thru life all the while saying, well god has already forgiven me..so I'll keep on sinning. you are correct, it is a parable. True, one must ask for forgiveness from God to be forgiven, and also be truly repentant. It's not stated whether or not the prodigal son sought forgiveness from his brother or not. The point of the story is the good son hardened his heart and would not forgive, despite his father's wishes. "Willy nilly" confessions (seeking forgiveness) without true repentance are mortal sins in themselves, (in the Catholic Church)
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