The Parable of the Lost Son
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
[SUP]22 [/SUP]“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.[SUP]23 [/SUP]Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.[SUP]24 [/SUP]For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.[SUP]26 [/SUP]So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.[SUP]27 [/SUP]‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
[SUP]28 [/SUP]“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.[SUP]29 [/SUP]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.[SUP]30 [/SUP]But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
[SUP]31 [/SUP]“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.[SUP]32 [/SUP]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.’”
Here we have a son who doesn’t know his worth to his Father nor how much his Father loves him; but his Father restores him in honor without ever mentioning “sin” and shows him nothing but grace and love. His older brother becomes jealous and believes he’s well earned his Father’s love more so than his “unworthy” brother; and his Father tells him that he never had to earn his love to begin with. Jesus was proving that Father God’s grace is greater than we can understand.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Jesus is telling us that some may be outwardly rebellious yet they will submit to the Father. And some will be nothing but talk and refuse to submit to the Father.