In the biblical story of the prodigal son, the older brother complains that his father never gave him even a young goat for a feast with his friends. This statement reveals several important things:
1. The young goat (ériphos) requested by the older son was used for ordinary meals, not celebrations. In fact, it would have been skinny and meager compared to a celebration meal.
2. In contrast, the fattened calf that the father sacrificed on the spot for the younger returned son was reserved for occasions of great joy and celebration.
3. As is apparent in his demand, the older brother was looking for joy and a cause for happiness in his life, and was tragically unaware of his father's love both for him and his brother.
4. The father declares that the fattened calf had always belonged also to the older son. Unfortunately it was the son's servant mentality--his idea that his father was harsh and demanding--that kept him from the truth: if he had had the mentality of a son, he could have been celebrating the whole time because of his father's love for him.
This is why experiencing the love of the Father and the grace of God is the most important thing of all. Sadly, the older son had experienced only a meager life of servitude, because his mentality lowered his aspirations for real joy and love, which he could have enjoyed from the start.
How appropriate, then, is the fact that the story begins with "A certain man had two sons...." The story was always about the father's love and lavish blessing, not the sons' obedience or disobedience.
1. The young goat (ériphos) requested by the older son was used for ordinary meals, not celebrations. In fact, it would have been skinny and meager compared to a celebration meal.
2. In contrast, the fattened calf that the father sacrificed on the spot for the younger returned son was reserved for occasions of great joy and celebration.
3. As is apparent in his demand, the older brother was looking for joy and a cause for happiness in his life, and was tragically unaware of his father's love both for him and his brother.
4. The father declares that the fattened calf had always belonged also to the older son. Unfortunately it was the son's servant mentality--his idea that his father was harsh and demanding--that kept him from the truth: if he had had the mentality of a son, he could have been celebrating the whole time because of his father's love for him.
This is why experiencing the love of the Father and the grace of God is the most important thing of all. Sadly, the older son had experienced only a meager life of servitude, because his mentality lowered his aspirations for real joy and love, which he could have enjoyed from the start.
How appropriate, then, is the fact that the story begins with "A certain man had two sons...." The story was always about the father's love and lavish blessing, not the sons' obedience or disobedience.
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
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