The Parable of Two Sons
A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And he was angry and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
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The boys and I have been reading and reciting this passage from Luke 1 since the beginning of the school year. They nearly have it now, but we may continue until summertime. I am not sorry it has taken them so long (not really so long after all—it is the longest passage I have given them yet), because it has allowed me to dwell on these words and their meaning.
For example, I recited this with the boys for weeks before I noticed that the great famine came as soon as the younger son had spent all his inheritance. This reminded me that the atheist is able to prosper only on what Cornelius Van Til called the ”borrowed capital” of Judeo-Christianity.
The boys and I will share with each other what we uncover, bit by bit, in the passage. One day, Third Brother reminded us that feeding swine would have been unthinkable to a Jew, as they are unclean animals. Surely, this younger son has fallen low!—Not only does he live with the swine, but he would “fain” (“gladly”) eat like one.
Then he “came to himself.” We love that phrase and say it with relish. The son is jolted awake to the horror and futility of his situation. He remembers his father’s generosity even to the servants, whose hunger is more than satisfied by the abundance of bread. Realizing his sinful foolishness, the repentant but apprehensive son rehearses a speech of apology, confessing his sin and unworthiness, and asking his father to take him as a hired servant. “He arose” from the muddy pig-stye, and “came to his father.”
“But when he was yet a great way off...” Third Brother says this with considerable emphasis on great, so that the son is miles away when the father sees him. And the father’s welcome is beautiful, without consideration for his personal dignity and righteousness. He runs to meet his son, falls on his neck, and showers him with kisses. But with the prodigal son there is a certain stiffness; he believes things cannot be as they were. He begins his little rehearsed speech, but the father breaks upon his confession with directions for the honor and comfort of his son—robes, rings, sandals, and a feast with music and dancing.
This passage is often called “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” but the very first verse makes it clear that this is about a certain man with two sons. The elder son comes from laboring in the fields and is surprised by the sounds of festivity. What does it mean? A servant tells him, “Thy brother is come... safe and sound.”
Rather than responding with joy and welcome, the elder son is angry—full of self-righteous outrage and bitterness. He refuses to join the party, and his father comes out to entreat him, to earnestly plead with his son to come in.
The elder son could not understand and accept the grace of his father extended to the repentant younger brother. (He refuses even to identify himself with his brother, referring to him as “thy son.”) He reminds his father of all the years he has obediently served him. The elder son emphasizes his own good deeds in comparison to his brother’s immorality, and upon their respective works draws the conclusion that he himself should be the one feasting with his friends. “Thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.” (The boys recite this line with petulant emphasis on me, I, and my.) He himself doesn’t need forgiveness or grace; he has earned the right to a feast.
This parable is the last of three directed, one after another, to the Pharisees and scribes who condemned Jesus for receiving and eating with sinners. Jesus ended the parable with the Father’s gentle words of recognition, and a repeated welcome to rejoice in the prodigal’s safe return. Jesus left the Pharisees to decide whether the elder son would join the feast or remain outside gnashing his teeth in the darkness.
Friday, April 20, 2012