The Parable of the Lost Son
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S
A Pig is a Pig
"Come home with me," said the prodigal son.
"We'll sing and dance and have lots of fun.
We'll wine and dine with women and song.
You'll forget you're a pig before very long."
So the pig slipped out while mamma was asleep,
Shook off the mud from the mire so deep.
Around his neck was a bow so big,
He's gonna show the world a pig's not a pig!
With his snout in the air he trotted along
With the prodigal son, who was singin' a song.
It must be great to be a rich man's son.
He would surely find out 'fore the day was done.
It didn't take him long to realize his mistake–
He'd been scrubbed and rubbed 'til his muscles ached!
He squealed when they put a gold ring in his nose
And winced with pain when they trimmed his toes.
He sat at the table on a stool so high
A bib 'round his neck and a fork to try,
While the prodigal son, in his lovely robe,
Kept feeding his face, so glad to be home!
When the meat came around, the pig gave a moan.
It looked too much like a kind of his own.
He jumped from his chair with a grunt and a groan,
Darted through the door and headed for home.
His four little feet made the dust ride high,
For he didn't stop till he reached that sty!
It's what's on the inside that counts, my friend,
For a pig is a pig to the very end!
–Evelyn C. Sanders
"Come home with me," said the prodigal son.
"We'll sing and dance and have lots of fun.
We'll wine and dine with women and song.
You'll forget you're a pig before very long."
So the pig slipped out while mamma was asleep,
Shook off the mud from the mire so deep.
Around his neck was a bow so big,
He's gonna show the world a pig's not a pig!
With his snout in the air he trotted along
With the prodigal son, who was singin' a song.
It must be great to be a rich man's son.
He would surely find out 'fore the day was done.
It didn't take him long to realize his mistake–
He'd been scrubbed and rubbed 'til his muscles ached!
He squealed when they put a gold ring in his nose
And winced with pain when they trimmed his toes.
He sat at the table on a stool so high
A bib 'round his neck and a fork to try,
While the prodigal son, in his lovely robe,
Kept feeding his face, so glad to be home!
When the meat came around, the pig gave a moan.
It looked too much like a kind of his own.
He jumped from his chair with a grunt and a groan,
Darted through the door and headed for home.
His four little feet made the dust ride high,
For he didn't stop till he reached that sty!
It's what's on the inside that counts, my friend,
For a pig is a pig to the very end!
–Evelyn C. Sanders
. I emphasized your words because they are very precious and give a whole new light and perspective to the parable. Of course the son spent himself, his substance in wordly things! I admit that I never thought about the syntagm "prodigal son" in this way, and yet, it is so clear, so "right in your face", like americans say.
B
My take on this is that the prodigal had come to a place in his life that he realized how wretched he had become (eating the husk of the corn with the swine in a distant country) and the Holy Spirit intervened at that point taking him back to the memory of what is was like in his father's house having bread to eat. This is when he realized just how far he had gone into sin and the Spirit turned him to go back home. In his heart he was not worthy to go back but the father would have none of that.
I find it interesting how we all seem to have slightly different understandings on certain parts. By only reading what is there, it appears the prodigal did not receive any further inheritance. The father told the other brother everything was his. When we do what we want with the gifts God gives us there are consequences. From my perspective here are the highlights, Jesus is talking about two of God's children, blood bought believers. God gives us gifts or abilities to fulfill our purpose on earth. By using these gifts we build up treasures in heaven. If we spend our earthly lives and abilities trying to attain wealth and pleasure it will eventually all go away. Then at the end of our life when we are lonely, our health is failing, death is a reality, when all of these earthly pleasures only disappoint, then some return to God. At that time, God will still welcome us. Notice that the son admits to his father he was wrong, and in humility asks for forgiveness and mercy. It's after that they celebrate. There are some Christians who are prideful because they've been faithful in avoiding temptations all of their lives and feel that God should show more favor to them. Jesus adds this part at the end to address this. The faithful will receive many more heavenly rewards and inheritance, and doesn't love them less, but he rejoices and celebrates when His lost children return home.
I've read through all the posts and don't see anyone mentioning the two sons as "House of Judah....near" and "House of Israel....Far". Jesus' parables are mostly about reaching the "lost sheep of the House of Israel", but states He also has "other sheep" meaning people of the House of Judah who in diaspora have lost sight of who they are.
Jesus purpose in dying and resurrecting is to bring all peoples into the ONE KINGDOM with the renewed covenant writing the mosaic law on our hearts and all "knowing the Lord".
The prodigal son represents a son coming back home. The brother who never left is the Jews who never lost their identity even in dispersion. The house of Israel is returning in these last days and being grafted in to that one Olive Tree, receiving full recognition back to the household of God.
The parable of the 11th hour is happening now. The Jews are not so glad their brethren of the House of Israel are coming back into covenant at the end of the work day and all being rewarded equally.
Jesus purpose in dying and resurrecting is to bring all peoples into the ONE KINGDOM with the renewed covenant writing the mosaic law on our hearts and all "knowing the Lord".
The prodigal son represents a son coming back home. The brother who never left is the Jews who never lost their identity even in dispersion. The house of Israel is returning in these last days and being grafted in to that one Olive Tree, receiving full recognition back to the household of God.
The parable of the 11th hour is happening now. The Jews are not so glad their brethren of the House of Israel are coming back into covenant at the end of the work day and all being rewarded equally.
The greek word for sin, "amartia-αμαρτια", bears the meaning of "wandering", of "getting lost". Sin is an existential failure. Through sin, man fails to achieve his target (being in communion with God). When the son comes to his senses, he repents; but, repentance is another word that we understand from a moral (good-bad) point of view, when in fact, to repent means much more than to regret something that you have done; to repent means to change your mind (meta-noia), to have another perspective on life (a new one).
The distant country itself, from the parable, represents the sin, or better said, what sin does to ourselves and to our relationship with God.
The distant country itself, from the parable, represents the sin, or better said, what sin does to ourselves and to our relationship with God.
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The parable of the prodigal son touches and moves each soul in an unique way.
I respect your point of view and I agree (in part) with what you say. Indeed, there is no indication that the prodigal son received another inheritance. However, although he returned home humiliated and with no expectations - other than becoming a servant in his father's house -, the father received him with a hospitality worthy for a noble man and a joy that is inversly proportional with what the son actually deserved; the father restored and invested the repented son with authority: "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."
So, we can know that the prodigal son has been accepted and re-integrated in the house as a beloved son.
I respect your point of view and I agree (in part) with what you say. Indeed, there is no indication that the prodigal son received another inheritance. However, although he returned home humiliated and with no expectations - other than becoming a servant in his father's house -, the father received him with a hospitality worthy for a noble man and a joy that is inversly proportional with what the son actually deserved; the father restored and invested the repented son with authority: "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."
So, we can know that the prodigal son has been accepted and re-integrated in the house as a beloved son.
The father told his older son that everything was his in a certain context. The older brother felt anger when he saw the reception that his little brother got. The older brother felt that he, who obeyed his father, was more worthy of a feast, than his "debaucherous" (does this word exist? ) brother.
In this parable, the older son is in fact the dead (dead spiritually, of course) son, and not the prodigal son! The prodigal son "was dead, but became alive, was lost and then found".
Yes. A sinfull life leaves us with scars...
Notice also that the father was filled with compassion and forgave his son before even the son confessed his sin.
He rejoices more when one sinner repents than He rejoices with the faithfullness of a thousand saints, not because He doesn't appreciate the loyalty of the saints, but because, the return of a lost man, the healing of a sick soul provokes an active joy.
Also, I think the older brother is a reminder for people that christianity is not only about avoiding temptations, but about having love.
) brother. In this parable, the older son is in fact the dead (dead spiritually, of course) son, and not the prodigal son! The prodigal son "was dead, but became alive, was lost and then found".
Yes. A sinfull life leaves us with scars...
Notice also that the father was filled with compassion and forgave his son before even the son confessed his sin.
He rejoices more when one sinner repents than He rejoices with the faithfullness of a thousand saints, not because He doesn't appreciate the loyalty of the saints, but because, the return of a lost man, the healing of a sick soul provokes an active joy.
Also, I think the older brother is a reminder for people that christianity is not only about avoiding temptations, but about having love.