Hi, welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for the Daily Challenges. Yesterday we read the story of the Prodigal Son, one of Jesus’ most famous stories. Known as the story of the ‘prodigal son’ in Luke 15. We’re going to retell it today with some context that will really help us understand.

  • Starts with the younger son approaching his father -asks for inheritance.
  • Traditionally, Jewish father was expected to not hand out any inheritance until the very evening of his life, when he would give 2/3 to his older son, and 1/3 to his younger son.
  • So here is the one son asking for his third of the inheritance NOW, not when his father dies. Basically saying – $ is more important to me than you – I wish you were dead
  • Audience expects Father to punish him– imagine their shock that the father splits up his possessions amongst the two.
  • The son does not stop there – he sells the land – a further insult – by Jewish tradition it was stated that in a rare instance where the inheritance was divided the sons could not receive money until his father dies, so that the father can be taken care of – but the son goes and sells the land – probably at a bargain – because the new owner can’t lay claim until the father dies – now two people want father dead (son, and owner).
  • Top it all off he goes to a foreign land – we miss the point of this…he is not loading the backpack to travel to Europe to find himself…he is going to live with the pagans, the gentiles, he dishonours his Jewishness in desolate living.
  • Famine — $ gone
  • Forced to work for a gentile with pigs…pigs were the most unclean of all animals and now this young man brings not only dishonour upon himself, his father, but upon his entire nation.
  • It would be here that the original listeners of the story would expect an ending. Serves the guy right, he should starve and die, this is exactly what he deserved for not honouring his father.

But then there is a second son – the older son.

  • Just as lost as the younger son.
  • 1st c Jewish family – clear social order…the role of the OS to be a mediator and a reconciler…
  • The moment his brother asks he should step in and make it right…Dad he didn’t mean what he said – and should have taken him out behind the barn and straightened him out.
  • But he doesn’t…Why?
  • Because he knew what was coming – his father separates out the funds…and he gets by law a double portion (2/3)…so he keeps his mouth shut for his own sake…his brother takes the fall, but he still gets the money.
  • When the younger brother finally returns home, the older one starts pouting…
  • When the father comes out to him asking him what is wrong, and invites him to come back to the party, he insults his father even furrther by refusing.
  • His response must have been through clenched teeth – All these years I have served you…you owe me…you often find this type of lostness in churches – I have…
  • The audience is awestruck…this guy has two lousy sons.
  • Finally lets take a look at the Father – from the moment the son acknowledges his wrong he is there to restore him.
  • As said – Jewish culture had clearly defined roles.
  • Older, especially men in culture were imbued with respect, honour, and dignity.
  • To uphold that honour…1 thing you never did was run…if your house was on fire you walk out with the dignity befitting your rank…you walked too fast…talk of the town.
  • Like officers in our military always walk, and never run or march, to show their rank and position.
  • In Jewish culture then, and the military culture of today, to run was to throw away your dignity.
  • But the moment the son starts coming home, He runs to his son.   He undermines his dignity.
  • Then when his Older son does not come in he further undermines his dignity by going out into the field to plead to beg with his son to come in…
  • All this father wants is a restored relationship with his sons.
  • And this is Jesus’ point – God will throw away his dignity to restore a relationship with his kids – us.
  • God wants us back. We were created for relationship with God and he will throw away his dignity to bring that about…and he did that by coming to earth as Jesus.

Question: Have you heard this story before? Who did you side with? Has today’s explanation helped you learn something new?