Pastors often give sermons on Cain and Abel, and the Prodigal son. They all give, basically, the same message—but when it comes to the Prodigal story, they all make the same inexcusable error. Sadly, many pastors and teachers are maligning one of Scripture’s famous sons—but we would like to correct the record.
The typical teaching of Cain and Abel goes something like this:
Abel is a righteous son who always does what’s right as seen when he gives the best of his flock for an offering, which Yahweh accepts. Cain is a lazy, or evil son because he does not make the effort to give the correct offering; therefore, his offering is rejected. In a spiteful, jealous rage he makes Abel the first martyr of the faith. Pastors hold up Abel as the good, righteous example that we would do well to emulate for his faithful obedience. And Cain is just plain bad, bad, bad. The end.
However, the typical teaching of the Prodigal and his brother goes something like this:
A wealthy father has two sons. One day the younger son, who apparently can’t wait for his father to die to claim his inheritance, asks the father to give him his portion now, which the father does. The Prodigal goes through his inheritance like water as he takes a walk on the wild side until he’s broke and wallowing with pigs. The Prodigal eventually comes to his senses. Ashamed, he returns to the forgiveness of his father who throws him a welcome home party. But the older son is jealous. He complains to the father because he’s always obeyed his commands, yet, he’s never been given a party!
In this case, pastors hold up the greedy Prodigal who squandered his inheritance in wicked living as the good son, because he eventually repented. It’s said that we are like him: “sinners receiving the Father’s forgiveness and grace.” Yet, the older son who got angry is considered the bad son, because he represents “legalistic Jews,” and people who try to “earn brownie points with the Father by keeping the Law.” We’re told that we should avoid being like this brother at all costs, because the father was displeased with him. He didn’t run amuck with sin and crawl back to receive the father’s grace—worse, he obeyed the Law; therefore, he represents the legalistic unsaved. The end.
But wait! Whatever happened to the rest of the story that many pastors fail to teach? It goes like this:
When the older son did not attend the party, the father sought him out and explained the importance of his lost brother’s return. In his explanation, the father makes a few remarks of immense importance that should not be overlooked.
First, he calls the angry elder his child. He also tells him that he has always been with him, and that all that he owns has always belonged to him. Does this sound like the words of a displeased father? Or statements made to a rebuked, legalistic, unsaved son? Of course not. These are powerful words of a father’s love and acceptance. What father would rebuke his son for obeying his commands? The father doesn’t even rebuke him for his surly attitude. The only crime that can be laid at this brother’s door is sibling rivalry. The father’s words very simply and beautifully reassure the older son of his position in the father’s heart and life. It’s true that if we sin and repent as the Prodigal did that the Father will restore us. But how much better to be as the son who never left! The Prodigal took his half, but the son who remained had it all!
How is it that so many teachers hold up men of Scripture, such as Abel, Abraham, or Joseph as heroes because of their faithful obedience, yet turn on the Prodigal’s obedient brother like rabid dogs? With Cain, Yahweh, Himself, draws a comparison when He says to Cain, “If you do well, is there not acceptance?” But there is no such comment made today by teachers in regard to the Prodigal who should have known to “do well.” By the way, these two brothers also represent the prophetic restoration of the two houses of Israel, but that’s for another article.
At its most basic, the entire Prodigal parable—not lacking any of its context—will reveal a couple of consistent truths: 1) No matter how criminally stupid, or pathetically sinful we’ve been, we can always repent and go home where the Father’s grace and mercy await us with open arms. 2) The Father’s good pleasure and blessings always remain upon the children who continue to abide with Him, faithfully obeying His commands.
May we all find true joy, not condemnation, in abiding with The Father by obeying His Torah, and striving to be imitators of Yahshua who said, “I always do what pleases The Father.”
Back to Articles
|