My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.

The prodigal son is one of the most iconic passages of all the bible. I have probably studied this passage more than any other reading, and I could litterally write 10 pages explaining every little detail. But because this is not a college thesis, I am going to just focus on a couple things, the historical jewish interpretation of this reading, and the personal understanding of the reunion of Father and son.

In a commentary on this reading by John Bergsma, he explains that this parable tells the story of the history of the 12 Tribes of Israel. When the Kingdom of David was given to his son Solomon, Solomon had many wives and as a result many sons. But after Solomon died only two made claims to the throne. These sons vied for power, and as a result the tribes were divided, and the kingdom was split. And that brings us to the historical context of todays reading? Bergsma explains:

“The “younger son” is the northern kingdom of Israel, headed by the tribe of Ephraim, the youngest of the sons of Jacob (actually a grandson), which departed from true worship of the LORD way back in 1 Kings 12 and wound up exiled by the Assyrians to the four corners of the earth… The “older son” is Judah, (the oldest patriarch not cursed by his father Jacob), the head of the southern kingdom of Judah, which to external appearances was more faithful to the LORD and still lived in the land of Judea, surrounding Jerusalem and the Temple”

The metaphor of the two sons, symbolizing the divided tribes, is fascinating, but the parable also has a prohetic nature as well. It describes what will happen at the time Jesus arrives on the scene. Bergsma continues: “This parable is prophetic: the lost northern tribes, the “younger son” of Israel, will return to the Father, whereas the tribe of Judah will put up resistance out of envy and pride in its own righteousness.”  So what does this mean? The northern tribes mixed with the pagan cultures of the areas that they were scattered to. Some became the reviled Samaritans, who pretended to be jewish but were given over completely to pagan worship, and some became the gentiles, that filled all of the known world. But when Jesus begins his ministry, who is it that recognize Jesus as messiah and Lord. It is only a few of the faithful jewish people, but after His death and resurrection, the converts were mostly the gentiles and samaritans that flocked to Jesus’s disciples and came back to right worship. The pharisees, Saducees, and Scribes (the older brother) are the ones that resist, reject, and even try to kill our Lord Jesus when given the opportunity, and never converted.

The gentiles though lost to pagan idolotry, have now returned home and have come backe to right worship. The Haydock bible commentary writes: “Was dead, and is come to life again. A sinner, in mortal sin, is deprived of the divine grace, which is the spiritual life of the soul. At his conversion it is restored to him, and he begins to live again.” and so that is the point here, that what greed and avarice (between Solomon’s sons) divided, Jesus the messiah will then  repair, and restore to right worship. And that is the point for us as well. If you are lost to sin, if you are wandering in the wilderness…, all that you need to do is to return to the Lord. Ask for forgiveness, and you will be redeemed.

There is also another interpretation of this reading, a personal one, and it comes from reflecting on the reunion of Father and son. This is by far the more common way to reflect on this reading. For me, what comes straight to mind is the painting by Rembrant that depicts this scene. It shows all of the various types of people that are witness to this moment, and how they each react. Some are indifferent, some are resentful, and some are outright indignant, but the Father knows best what to do, and he shows us that all that is needed is to love His long lost son.

This image speaks so beautifully of the Fathers attitude toward us all. He is wise and loving and just, and even when we utterly reject Him and wish He was dead (that is what it means to ask for your inheritance before your father has died). He allows us to have what we ask for, even if it is not good for us. And even after we have burnt all our bridges and have nothing left, He still loves us, and He is always watching for our return. He is generous and forgiving and loving beyond measure. And when we return to Him, He is the first one running across the field to welcome us home.

We on the other hand, find ourselves living our lives, as both the “good” son and the prodigal son, and we are unaware of His infinite generosity, we take it for granted, and always want more. Whether our sin is greed, or lust, or pride, the Lord is ready to forgive us as soon as we return to Him. I think the message is clear here, that your idea of what you want, or what you think you deserve, is probably wrong. But if you trust in Him, He will give you everything you could ever need.

In the end, the only thing that actually matters is your personal relationship with the Father. Are you with Him in mind, body, and spirt, or are you separated from Him by either distance or pride. This relationship is the only one that matters, and it is the only one that you will be judged by at that time of your death. So stop feeding the pigs, and sitting in your pride, and return to the Lord, do it now, today.

Oh lord, help me today to abandon my pride and reconcile with those I have hurt. To spread your love, instead of seeking what I think is right.