Collected Commentaries on The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

Editing and Additional Commentary by Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent, Des Moines Christian

(I looked at, although did not cite, 7 commentaries on this parable.)

Is this The Parable of the YOUNGER Prodigal Son?

“The eldest son always received a double portion (Deut 21:17); in this case, he would have received two-thirds of the inheritance and the younger brother one-third.”[1]

Prodigal can mean “wasteful.” The younger son was “wasteful” with his relationships. He was wasteful with his inheritance.

And he went a great distance from God.

The younger son’s sin was sin of the flesh.

The wages of sin is death.

“He who begins by using the world as a servant, to minister to his pleasure, ends by reversing the relationship” [Trench]. [2]

“Note the parallels between the prodigal’s coming to the father and our coming to the Father through Christ (John 14:6):

The Prodigal / Jesus Christ
He was lost (v.24) / “I am the way”
He was ignorant (v.17) / “I am the truth”
He was dead (v.24) / “I am the life”

[3]

Is this The Parable of the OLDER Prodigal Son?

One commentator pointed out that the contrast between the two sons is the entire point of the parable.

The older son’s sin was sin of the spirit.

The older brother self-righteously breaks The Great Commandment. He failed to love God, and he failed to love others (which should most certainly include his brother).

The Pharisees saw the Kingdom of God as accessible through good works and following the law.

“. . .here the elder brother, returning at the end of a long day’s work, refuses even to enter the house. This is also a grievous insult to the father’s dignity and could have warranted a beating (cf. 15:12).”[4]

The Kingdom of God is accessible through RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ.

“Because the inheritance had been divided, the elder brother was already assured of his share, effective on the father’s death (15:12); he had nothing to lose by his brother’s return.”[5]

“If we are out of fellowship with God, we cannot be in fellowship with our brothers and sisters and, conversely, if we harbor an unforgiving attitude toward others, we cannot be in communion with God (see Matt. 5:21–26; 1 John 4:18–21).”[6]

Is this The Parable of the Prodigal GOD? (According to Timothy Keller – who wrote the book, The Prodigal God – this story illustrates God’s “extravagance.” God loves extravagantly.)

The penalty for this younger son’s sin was death by stoning when he returned, but several commentators have pointed out that those participating in the stoning of the son would have stoned the father to death, because he was hugging and kissing him!

“[The father] ‘fell on his neck and kissed [the younger son]’—What! In all his filth? Yes. In all his rags? Yes. In all his haggard, shattered wretchedness? Yes. “Our Father who art in heaven,” is this Thy portraiture? It is even so (Je 31:20). [7]

“The best robe in the house would belong to the father himself. The ring would probably be a family signet ring—a symbol of reinstatement to sonship in a well-to-do house. Slaves did not normally wear sandals, though they carried and tied a master’s sandals. The father is saying, ‘No, I won’t receive you back as a servant. I’ll receive you only as a son.’”[8]

The son was nearly naked, and the father clothed him. The son was willing to come back not as family but as a servant, but the father reinstated him to the family with the signet ring. The son was dishonorable, but the father honored him with his best robe. The son was hungry, and the father fed him. What grace! What mercy!

The love of the father overshadows the wastefulness of the younger son and the hard-heartedness of the older son.

“The father resents not the insult [of the older (or younger) son]—how could he, after the largeness of heart which had kissed the returning prodigal? He calmly expostulates with him, “Son, listen to reason.”[9]

“. . .we are not saved by God’s love; God loves the whole world, and the whole world is not saved. We are saved by God’s grace, and grace is love that pays a price.”[10] (emphasis in original)

“Everything the younger son had hoped to find in the far country, he discovered back home: clothes, jewelry, friends, joyful celebration, love, and assurance for the future.”[11]

We do not know how the story ends. How does the story end? Is it important as to whether the story “ends”?

2

[1]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. 1993. The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament . InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Ill.

[2]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. 1997. A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[3]Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.

[4]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. 1993. The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament . InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Ill.

[5]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. 1993. The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament . InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Ill.

[6]Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.

[7]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. 1997. A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[8]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. 1993. The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament . InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Ill.

[9]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. 1997. A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[10]Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.

[11]Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.