"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.'"
(LUKE 15:32)
Two sons. One is dutiful, obedient, and responsible. The other is prodigal, wasting money on sinful living and sinful people. Which son needed forgiveness?
Some say the older son was treated unfairly in this parable. After all, it was the prodigal who demanded his inheritance while his father was still alive. In today’s culture, it was as if he said, “I wish you were dead already!” Then this disrespectful young man threw away the money on a sinful lifestyle. But back home, his dependable older brother worked hard, doing everything right…or so he thought.
Jesus was making a point to the religious leaders. None of us does it all right, not even the older son in this story. Many of us are a lot like him. Among his failings was a lack of love for his younger brother, a judgmental attitude, and a legalistic outlook with no room for grace and no desire to forgive. Blinded by pride, he could not see that he was no better than his brother and needed as much forgiveness, if not more.
Of the two, which son are you?
Some say the older son was treated unfairly in this parable. After all, it was the prodigal who demanded his inheritance while his father was still alive. In today’s culture, it was as if he said, “I wish you were dead already!” Then this disrespectful young man threw away the money on a sinful lifestyle. But back home, his dependable older brother worked hard, doing everything right…or so he thought.
Jesus was making a point to the religious leaders. None of us does it all right, not even the older son in this story. Many of us are a lot like him. Among his failings was a lack of love for his younger brother, a judgmental attitude, and a legalistic outlook with no room for grace and no desire to forgive. Blinded by pride, he could not see that he was no better than his brother and needed as much forgiveness, if not more.
Of the two, which son are you?
Scripture Focus
Luke 15:11-32
Insight
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NO BETTER THAN PRODIGAL LIVING IN GOD'S SIGHT. RECOGNIZE YOUR NEED FOR GOD'S FORGIVENESS IN CHRIST...THEN SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE TODAY.
Bible In A Year
- Jeremiah 21-22
- Psalm 114
- 1 Corinthians 3-4
