The context of the Parable is easily seen (Luke 15:1-10). It is the rejoicing of the Father over the return of one wayward Christian. But what is often missed is that the Parable continues into Chapter 16. But first, the Parable.
The number two is the number of "witness". The "younger" indicates the less mature. The parable is not about the son losing his "Sonship", but of losing his INHERITANCE. He asked for his portion early - while the testator was still alive. The younger son LEFT his Father and his Father's House. He "WASTED" his inheritance and landed as a servant of "that country" - the present world. "Swine" are unclean animals. The "citizent of that country" refused him even the husks of the swine food. He comes to his senses. He plans to return and be an hired servant. He is seen afar off and given the royal welcome. The loyal son is angry and sorrowful that the irreverent son was given such a welcome. He is admonished by his Father that he should have rejoiced at the return of the wayward brother. But the Father also advises the loyal son that (i) he would be forever
with the Father and that ALL that the Father owned would be, and already was, under the control of this loyal son. This IMPLIES that the wayward son would not receive an iheritance and would not remain in the presence of the Father.
The context in verses 1-10 is "
he",
"she" and the
"angels of God".
"He" would be Christ according to the context.
"She" would be the Church. Both our Lord Jesus AND His Bride - the Church, should be looking to restore wayward "sons". The rejoicing is in heaven. The only
"Father" in heaven is God. If the Father is God, then the
"sons" must be Christians (Jn.1:12-13). The Christian's INHERITANCE is not NOW. It is (i) for him when he is mature, and (ii) when our Lord, the chiefest of Sons, gets His inheritance when He returns to earth. The wayward Christian son wanted his portion in this age, and in this worldly setup. It is TEMPORAL and is used up. He goes downhill until he serves the swine and is unclean and regarded as not alive anymore, having fully gone back to the world. He thinks to come home and SERVE, but his SONSHIP is confirmed by the robe and the sandals (servants in Middle Eastern lands may not wear their shoes in the master's house). His INHERITANCE is gone but his SONSHIP is not.
The loyal son shows his true colors. He is equally fallen, but was a diligent STEWARD. He is NOT overjoyed at his brother's repentance. He is not overjoyed at his brothers odyssey from "death to life". And he is hard towards his Father in two ways. (i) he did not share his Father's joy, and (ii) he wanted to share joy "with his friends" - NOT his Father! He is as fallen as his brother but he was a GOOD STEWARD of his Father's GOODS.
Thus, the Parable shows these two points. (i) Neither son cared for his Father, BUT (ii) one was a GOOD STEWARD of his Father's goods in this age.
Now, if you cover the Chapter marking (for the original texts do not have chapter and verse), you will at once realize
that Luke Chapter 16 is a CONTINUATION of the narrative. Verse 1 says;
"And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods." The word
"also" means the narrative continues with the next aspect. The phrase
"wasted his master's goods" is almost identical to
"and there wasted his substance ... ." That is, the SON of Chapter 15 is the STEWARD of Chapter 16. The result! The prodigal son does not lose his SONSHIP, but he loses his STEWARDSHIP. He may no longer manage his father's goods. Added to this, while he might be welcomed back in his REPENTANCE he must seek his lodgings with the UNBELIEVER. That is, he may not live in the Father's presence. His self-interest is shown in how he further mismanages his Father's goods. Then the sense of the parable is revealed -
"the children of the LIGHT" (16:8)! Where do we find an equivalent in scripture?
The EQUIVALENT is found in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew Chapter 25, and the Parable of the Pounds in Luke Chapter 19. In both cases the man is a "servant", but also a STEWARD of the Master's Goods. In both cases the "goods" are taken away from him. In both cases he is rebuked and may not serve any longer. In both cases he is told to be removed from Christ's presence. In both cases the Parable is NOT ABOUT LOSING "SERVANTHOOD", but losing STEWARDSHIP. In both cases the Parable is about the Kingdom that Jesus will set up WHEN HE RETURNS.
I propose that the two main meanings of the Parable of the Prodigal son are:
- A repentant Christian is always welcomed back, and causes joy in the House (the Church) and heaven
- But his ACTIONS have consequences. He is cast out of the Father's presence, has his goods removed and may no longer be a STEWARD - although his sonship is never removed
This shows that a Christian is a son of God and his sins are forgiven, but that how he manages his Father's goods IN THIS AGE, will be met with LOSS or REWARD because of his ACTIONS (or works). In the next age, the age of Christ's Kingdom, the wayward Christian will NOT be allowed to be a co-king with Jesus, and NOT be allowed to be in the presence of Christ for 1,000 years. This is again confirmed in Matthew 24:45-51. His status as a "servant" is not changed, but his REWARD is turned to LOSS for being a bad STEWARD.