sons vs. the father; parable vs. the teller prodigalson.txt
the parable has so many lessons and each of us will take a different lesson away from it.
both sons thought they knew better than the father and were both proven wrong. the father knows what we don\'t and we need to respect that.
i\'d like to draw attention to some of the verses:
(12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. (the younger son); and (29) ... And yet thou never gavest me (a kid), that I might make merry with my friends (the older son).
notice: both sons asked for the same thing.
the difference follows: when the younger son sinned he sinned. then when he repented he repented. his dirt was dirty and his clean was clean (because his father forgave him without malice). the older son had the same sinful inclination but lacked the nerve to follow through. with the older son, his dirt and his clean were almost identical; not quite dirty enough to be sinful, but not spotless enough to be righteous. his righteousness changed depending on how much you knew about him. there isn\'t a right son/wrong son debate. to me, one son was wrong in public where his sin was exposed and corrected, and the other was wrong in private where his sin was well hidden but the father knew it all along and corrected him also.
the younger son and older son alike were also selfishly demanding. it wasn\'t until the younger son lost all that he learned to pray. furthermore, the younger son learned to be decisive, to stand and account for his actions (in v18 and 19). the older son never did but instead resorted to excuses (v29) and blame (v30). he stayed selfish to the very end.
only one son repented and only he was happy to be in the mansion. how many of us who have been saved too long will enjoy being in heaven? i\'m sure some of us \'older son\' believers will complain when we see streets of gold and whine because they\'re not streets of platinum. surely god owes us some platinum after we\'ve served him all these years, doesn\'t he? i won\'t even mention what we\'ll say about some of the other \'younger son\' believers we scorn as \'unsaveable\' who arrive in heaven before we do. the devil himself would be ashamed to utter such backbiting and cursing.
now i\'d like to contrast the sons\' demands with the father\'s actions:
(22) ... Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry (to his younger son); and (31) ... All that I have is thine (to his older son).
bring the fatted calf! all that i have is yours! could either son say the same thing to their father? this shows the error of both their ways. the first couldn\'t say this because he had nothing. the second couldn\'t say this because he was selfish. neither son could be generous to their father because they were dependent on what he gave them. neither one was an earner. both failed to learn the lesson of wealth-building their father taught them daily with his words and actions. if you can\'t learn to be wealthy from a tycoon, who will teach you to be wealthy. if you can\'t learn to be generous from one who can afford generosity, who will you learn it from. these are important lessons neither son learned. again, it\'s not about which son was \'better\' off. both missed the mark.
and now, let\'s contrast the story with the storyteller.
jesus himself was a son who inherited his father\'s great wealth. he\'s also a son who left home, so he did what both sons did. unlike the other sons, jesus increased his father\'s wealth and returned home to unselfishly share with his father. he didn\'t sqander his returns like the younger son or try to angle his way to his father\'s portion of the family money like the older one. jesus didn\'t try to cut his father out of the picture like the other sons. his father was ever foremost in his mind. jesus didn\'t divide his wealth from his father; he multiplied it unto his father.
so often we read this parable and we wonder which son we\'re like. instead, we are free to look to the storyteller for the best example.
|
- Prodigal Son David Rogerson Sunday, February 19 2023 7:03 pm
- prodigal son by Marianne Balog Sunday, May 19 2019 4:54 am
- Message by Mark Eugene Lee Friday, February 9 2024 3:31 pm
- My opinion Laurie Saturday, July 22 2023 1:47 am
- the prodigal son Chad Wednesday, June 21 2023 7:48 am
- Prodigal Randy Wednesday, May 1 2024 11:30 am
- moral Nikki Saturday, May 6 2023 11:23 pm
- Who owned what? Hazel Gilliland Thursday, February 13 2020 3:47 am
- Prodical son:Hazel Gilliland by Rev Siva Moodley Saturday, June 20 2020 10:17 am
- the celibration we might never have lance convey Monday, September 25 2023 11:39 pm
- The One Parable Skip Brown Monday, October 24 2022 11:25 pm
- Prodical son's brother Mary Tuesday, August 20 2019 7:02 am
- The Prodical Son's Spiritual Warefare. by Omar Lammie Monday, September 14 2020 3:04 pm
- the prodigal son delano Wednesday, October 27 2021 4:16 pm
- Inheritance vs. property Will Wednesday, November 24 2021 1:20 pm
- Luke 15 SEINI Friday, February 23 2024 8:37 am
- In the pigpen Kado Tuesday, September 17 2019 10:16 pm
- A question about the prodigal son... Rae Wednesday, July 20 2022 8:13 pm
- A response to Rae by John Ferguson Friday, September 29 2023 4:21 am
- Rae's son by James Bachmann Saturday, January 30 2021 9:58 am
- prodigal son sara Monday, October 9 2023 12:34 pm
- thank you cyndy Tuesday, July 28 2020 8:51 am
- Prodigal Tom Thursday, May 13 2021 12:07 am
- prodigal son joe Monday, December 18 2023 7:07 pm
- The Prodigal Son Rachel Saturday, June 6 2020 2:40 am
- The older son Prof. M. Grahmonley Monday, July 17 2023 7:45 pm
- Re:The older Son by Benjamin William Lohmer Friday, March 29 2019 7:03 am
- reply to the older son by Stef Wednesday, October 6 2021 1:36 pm
- Reply to Staying at Home by Alaska Man Sunday, October 25 2020 11:51 am
- Characters Andy Friday, June 5 2020 3:53 pm
- sons vs. the father; parable vs. the teller DW Tuesday, October 11 2022 4:13 pm
- The Prodigal Prince Jim Bridges Friday, October 14 2022 4:26 pm
- Parable of Prodigal Son Elaine Lim Tuesday, January 2 2024 3:17 am
- Jungian Halley Willcox Friday, June 10 2022 4:32 am
- thanks a lot greg Wednesday, October 19 2022 12:32 pm
- Google Search Rick Lambke Sunday, March 24 2024 11:36 pm
- Prodigal Son by John Ferguson Tuesday, July 9 2019 4:18 pm
- Stay with God Mark Sutton Monday, October 17 2022 2:41 pm
- A lesson for parents? Kim Sunday, March 10 2024 1:51 pm
- Having trouble with this also re: older son Kim Wednesday, October 6 2021 5:21 pm
- Having trouble with this also re:older son by Rev. Tracy Foxx Tuesday, April 14 2020 8:58 am
- Homework Help! Mel Wednesday, May 5 2021 2:39 am
- the prodigal son Prater Wednesday, April 27 2022 11:19 pm
- Another Prater by Prater Tuesday, September 27 2022 4:07 am
- the prodigal son davobrian Thursday, February 8 2024 6:26 am
- prodigal son by Philip Koh Tuesday, October 4 2022 2:59 am
- prodigal by charlotte Friday, February 21 2020 4:41 am
- Prodigal son by kishvara Thursday, March 28 2024 4:23 pm
- Sons of the Father Hal Friday, January 20 2023 5:15 am
- Elder brother angela Wednesday, April 14 2021 11:30 pm
- Prodigal Son CS Saturday, September 14 2019 10:20 pm
- PRODIGAL SON LE Sunday, May 14 2023 10:25 pm
- PRODIGAL SON Patrick moo Saturday, October 28 2023 5:00 pm
- Deliver Elder Brother by A Thursday, June 22 2023 2:11 pm
- The Pigs Wendy Boss Saturday, May 14 2022 12:45 am
- d= ue Monday, March 14 2022 1:15 pm
- ring of reconcilliation christine roy Tuesday, November 12 2019 4:09 pm
- Prodigal Son and brother as relates to the church Roland Wilkinson Monday, March 11 2024 2:30 pm
- The LOST Parables Ben Wednesday, June 17 2020 5:33 pm
- Insight about the the prodigal son Glenn Tuesday, August 10 2021 3:41 am
- prodigal son Janet Wednesday, January 31 2024 8:22 pm
- prodigal son donna valley Sunday, March 6 2022 1:02 pm
- the brother by joanne Saturday, September 4 2021 10:34 am
- thanks mohammad Friday, March 29 2024 7:42 pm
- The meaning of the prodigal son Todd Saturday, October 15 2022 1:58 pm
- Prodigal Son DAN MANLEY Monday, September 7 2020 7:30 pm
- Salvation by Marilyn Tuesday, April 23 2019 2:57 pm
- About the inheritance Ade Sugeng Wiguno Tuesday, September 29 2020 2:22 am
- Barabas Geary Smith Friday, December 9 2022 1:28 pm
- Barabas by Robert Wilson Saturday, June 27 2020 7:16 am
- Barabas by Laura Saturday, March 27 2021 11:00 am
- Barabas by Deborah Friday, September 11 2020 4:32 pm
- Barabas by James Young Wednesday, January 8 2020 7:54 pm
- The sandals? Leslie Wednesday, September 27 2023 3:29 pm
- The Sandals of the Prodigal son by Leonard Layne Tuesday, March 10 2020 6:17 pm
- the sandals by Rev. Joe A. Burgos Sunday, October 24 2021 12:57 am
- Prodigal Son David Johnson Friday, October 16 2020 6:22 am
- The FirstCommandment and the Second Ricardo Monday, April 13 2020 8:25 pm
- Prodigal Janice Wednesday, December 20 2023 2:36 pm
- An interesting angle of mercy and justice Gary Witte Tuesday, March 21 2023 6:58 pm
- Re: reinstating the younger son by heather Thursday, October 10 2019 1:35 pm
- REPLY TO THE IDEA OF AN INHERITANCE by Bruce Potter Friday, August 18 2023 6:49 pm
- Modernized Parable Rozilne Tuesday, March 26 2024 6:02 am
- Modernized version by Heather Friday, December 3 2021 7:23 am
- One perfect response Dave Wednesday, June 21 2023 8:19 am
- research pete Wednesday, October 25 2023 11:39 pm
- possible thesis angle by gerry c Tuesday, July 27 2021 4:58 pm
- the prodigal by sharon cargile Sunday, April 21 2019 9:57 am
- We are wanted to be Highly Effective People GM Monday, June 8 2020 6:31 pm
- what does the eldest son represent? Deborah Sunday, May 8 2022 3:41 pm
- what does the eldest son represent? by jude24u Sunday, October 23 2022 10:32 am
- the elder brother of the prodigal son by mimi Monday, October 4 2021 4:15 pm
- who does the elder son represent? by Paul Victor Root Monday, March 6 2023 8:30 pm
- Who was the elder son? "The Prodigal son" by Rev. T. J. Boully Sunday, March 3 2024 11:38 am
- The ultimate sin, is sin against the holy spirit! by webmaster Thursday, March 23 2023 6:37 am
- Prodigal Son KB- Tuesday, October 13 2020 1:48 pm
- Prodigal Son by Terri Pang Saturday, October 28 2023 11:30 am
- prodigal son by CH Wednesday, April 17 2019 4:40 am
- Prodigal son Fred Kuypers Monday, January 24 2022 6:49 am
- History of People responsible for Prodigal Son Reema Monday, November 1 2021 12:41 am
- Pharisee and Publican by Ajo Mathew Monday, July 15 2019 6:08 am
- Parable should be called the forgiving father Frank De Gilio Saturday, June 6 2020 5:58 pm
- the prodigal son by rob Wednesday, July 15 2020 7:04 pm
- The Prodigal Son by Alex Tuesday, October 6 2020 8:24 am
- The Third Guy Jack Tidwell Thursday, March 4 2021 1:23 am
- seeking greater understanding of christs message peter redman Tuesday, June 30 2020 3:42 am
- Peter by tom Reilly Thursday, November 30 2023 8:16 am
- Peter by tom Reilly Sunday, February 11 2024 4:23 am
- Stay close to His Spirit. by Dan Tuesday, November 14 2023 12:42 am
- Greater Understanding by Marie Sunday, January 7 2024 10:34 pm
- a greater understanding by Marie Dzielak Sunday, March 22 2020 12:41 pm
- The ring Sonny Thursday, February 23 2023 7:04 am
- The Ring Darlene Moten Sunday, March 29 2020 6:53 am
- Ring by Tod Wednesday, September 27 2023 1:59 am
- The FATHER not the Prodigal Son Sonny Tuesday, March 24 2020 4:44 am
- The Two Sons joshh Friday, September 25 2020 6:52 pm
- healing the brothers' hearts... by Annie Hapeman Saturday, February 16 2019 7:53 am
- The Two Prodigal Sons johnny groda Tuesday, April 4 2023 6:10 pm
- Questions about the parable bob Tuesday, July 4 2023 3:00 am
- answers about the parable by Scott Monday, September 26 2022 4:43 pm
- reply by Aida Wednesday, May 6 2020 8:10 am
- Prodigal Son by Tom Reilly Thursday, June 16 2022 1:57 am
- The Church is LOST for not making the connection by Eric Friday, April 29 2022 12:59 pm
- 2 points Beth Tuesday, September 8 2020 12:35 am
- prodigal scott davis, sr Wednesday, March 31 2021 2:55 pm
- The brother of the Prodigal Son John Thursday, December 23 2021 4:28 am
- Grace jeff clay Saturday, February 16 2019 7:25 am
- Grace by Dan Monday, October 11 2021 11:35 am
- reply to grace by Young Breeze Wednesday, April 10 2019 1:25 pm
- The Prodigal Son never HATED his father! Webmaster Thursday, September 10 2020 3:42 pm
- prodigal son - hatred etc by davd danze Sunday, March 17 2019 11:35 pm
- old topic: the prodigal son never hated his father by FRANK FINK Thursday, July 7 2022 9:25 am
- Coming Home Cornell de Korte Monday, July 11 2022 5:33 pm
- coming home by a Wednesday, March 18 2020 12:04 am
- The name of the prodigal son? Jim Thursday, August 4 2022 11:35 pm
- prodigal son's name by Liz Tuesday, December 22 2020 1:03 am
- the prodigal son's name by Scott Wednesday, November 3 2021 6:39 am
- His Name by Peter Sunday, February 28 2021 11:31 am
- name of the prodigal son by john Monday, February 20 2023 6:25 pm
- Name of the Prodigal Son by Anne Monday, March 1 2021 8:05 am
- Name of the Prodigal Son by Donimus Thursday, March 21 2024 9:39 am
- Name of the prodigal son by john Monday, February 4 2019 3:36 pm
- prodigal son's name by mark valentine Thursday, January 30 2020 10:58 pm
- Prodigal son by jeff Wednesday, October 6 2021 12:53 pm
- Prodigal Church George Tuesday, April 4 2023 6:21 am
- prodigal by Halley Sunday, June 27 2021 1:33 pm
- The non prodigal son Lucius Monday, January 3 2022 11:58 am
- the non-prodigal son by Paula Sunday, January 21 2024 10:21 am
- Thoughts on the non prodigal son by Pauline Thursday, July 6 2023 10:06 pm
- Elder Son by Megs Tuesday, May 9 2023 11:47 am
- The Prodigal Son's Elder Brother by Thinker Saturday, July 25 2020 6:02 pm
- Elder's Need for senses by Jeffrey Tuesday, February 12 2019 12:46 pm
- the prodigal son`s elder brother by Adeku Adelani Friday, September 2 2022 2:06 am
- the non prodigal son by Jan Friday, October 8 2021 7:54 am
- the other son by Debbie Monday, October 25 2021 3:32 am
- When it okay to say "What about me?" by Jeffrey Tuesday, July 13 2021 2:32 am
- The "lost son": by KRIS BAILEY Thursday, October 19 2023 2:12 pm
- Elder Brother by pauline thomas Thursday, November 5 2020 6:07 am
- Prodigal Son by Phil Friday, June 21 2019 7:44 pm
- The older son by Stephen Tuesday, September 27 2022 9:00 am
- Non Prodigal by ROBERT ROBERSON Monday, June 1 2020 3:44 am
- The Son that stayed at home by Nathaniel McCoy Monday, November 7 2022 8:34 am
- The non prodical son by James Anderson Tuesday, February 16 2021 2:13 pm
- prodigal son by Daniel Tuesday, October 12 2021 11:36 pm
- This is such a neat parable Chrysoprasus Tuesday, April 25 2023 4:29 am
- lack of focuson the whole picture of this parable by kitt thompson Friday, September 17 2021 8:57 am
- Prodigal Son by john Sunday, October 11 2020 1:17 am
- As Sated by Edgardo Allan D.Maigue Wednesday, May 20 2020 2:31 am
- prodical son by Daniel Penn Monday, September 2 2019 3:19 pm
- The Prodigal Son by CARLOS Wednesday, November 23 2022 10:51 pm
- Gospels Vs. Letters by Michael McGhee Friday, May 19 2023 3:43 pm
- THE PRODIGAL SON by TRINITY'S CHILD Thursday, June 15 2023 11:26 am
- Children's Bible Stories by Chito Wednesday, March 17 2021 2:13 pm
- request by REY Wednesday, March 4 2020 11:48 pm
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame