Word Count: 1 577

A Fractured Parable

Scripture Text: Luke 15: 11-32; focal passage: verses 17-22.

In abstract, this New Testament chapter is of a respectable, prosperous family, with two

brothers who differ in demeanor, taste and practice.. That choice will later depict the older son as

reliable, steady and upright by respectable standards. In rebellion, the younger son pictures a

wasteful, wanton life in pleasures

Another way to tell this story is in conformity to social and religious custom, to what sells, to what

excites, and to what asks nothing of profound truth and redeemed character.

It goes like this: In that Holy Land home, two brothers on the farm had little in common. The older

brother toiled about farm tasks faithfully, while the younger one was fed up with farm routine and had

rambling fever. He made his plans and packed up. He asked for a conference with his dad. He

wanted a settlement of the property with his share given him right away.

On such demanding terms, the father felt it futile to convince the son to change his mind and stay on.

If the boy had determined he knew best for his career and was capable of making his life in his way, no

argument would change those plans.

True to his dreams and schedule, the son left home, chose his route and some kind of occupation, but

mostly had fun. He had no trouble finding “friends and buddies,” for he was popular. Just being liked,

sought after, and usually found, required no struggle and no courage to resist and oppose. Why had
not this young man known so much pleasure was available? It seemed his father was just an old

fogey, a spoil sport, believing his sons must be shielded from fun. The great times he was having,

living it up: the girls flocked around--- sharing his generous money--,furnishing him pleasures he could

only have imagined before. He felt free to spend money for choice gifts for friends. Their good looks

deserved it.

By and by his funds ran out. He was quickly reduced to menial jobs, some that paid just coins a day.

He was desperately hungry and thirsty. Even literal chicken feed would surely taste good. He would

even consider taking bites from the scraps he was feeding the hogs.

He was no fool, though he may have been proud. He sat down and figured what he would do. He took

stock of his options. He recalled the bounty furnished by his father .

This decision would require the confession that he had made a colossal mistake. He would grovel in

the dirt if necessary to be accepted in his former home. He would confess to his father he had done

wrong, and was willing to take on the most humble task or perform the most drudging work for his

board.

As he made his way home, weary, dragging from fatigue, and nearly exhausted from a skimpy diet, he

slowly approached the farm.

He found dad in the barnyard, piling straw in the stalls for cattle, hay in mangers, and carrying a load of

ear corn to the feed troughs.

“Dad, “ he said. “Dad, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

Finally the father paused and looked at him for the first close up view. “How well I know you;'re not

worthy,” the dad said. “You're not the son I knew. You need to repent and get humble. You must

confess.”

“Dad, as best I knew, I've repented, I've confessed my sins; I've asked the Lord's forgiveness. I ask

your forgiveness. I come completely broken, without anything to offer of merit. I offer myself as a

servant instead of as a son.“

The father continued about his chores, as the son hurried to keep up. “Dad, are you all right? Do you

hear me all right?”

“Of course I hear you. And of course I'm all right, no thanks to you. Why wouldn't I make it alone if

you've been gone away from me all this time?.”

“Dad, I'm truly sorry for my attitude before, for my asking before time for my inheritance”

“Boy, you don't seem to understand. You're unworthy of this home. Why aren't you like your older

brother? All this time he's been faithful, working hard and obedient while you partied and played

around in pleasure. You don't deserve this family!”

“I know it, Dad, how well I know it--”

“--Young man, you must understand you have to fall on your knees and beg God's forgiveness, my

forgiveness, your mom's forgiveness. You must also beg your brother's forgiveness.”
“I know, Dad, how well i know, and I have done so---”

“--Young man, you kneel down here with me. Let's pray through this. You got to beg the Lord and us

all to forgive you.”

They both fell on their knees. As best he knew, the son repeated to his Lord his contrition, his

unworthiness and his earnest faith. He knew he was repeating himself, for he had already repented,

confessed and prayed to the Father above for forgiveness. He knew his Lord was asking nothing more.

He arose, looked sadly at his father, who was praying loud and in vain repetition, and asked ”Dad, are

you well? Did you hear me that I've done all the Lord asks. Surely you don't ask more than God!“

“Boy, you need to repent and confess. Get back down on your knees and pray to receive God's gift.”

Whereupon the young man fell on his knees again and along with his father, prayed as before with

some added details. He raised his head. His father was carrying on long and loud in many rituals.

Finally the old man raised his head. “Young man, if you're defiant, if you're too proud to pray and

repent and confess, you can't be in God's family. You have to get worthy to be saved. Those are also

the conditions for you to be taken in by this house. Don't you understand that?”

The young man stood there for several minutes, wondering if indeed his father had lost his senses. He

seemed rational enough, and yet insisted on this “praying through” as he called it, in some kind of

penance. Didn't he know the Bible at all that the Sacrifice of the cross had paid that price?”

With dry tears of grief, he swallowed hard, cleared his throat, and said, “Dad, I'll go now. I really
meant it about taking the lowliest position here, of groveling in the mire and of serving as the lowest of

hired hands. But I'll go now.....I...uh.. I'll go now. L .uh...I'm sorry. Good bye.”

Now to resume reading”Verse 21: “But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and was

filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

22“The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy

to be called your son.'

“But the father said to his servant, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his

finger, and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Lets have a feast and celebrate .

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'

So they began to celebrate.” ( New International Version NIV))

Notice the strong verbs in verse 21: “ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.”

Notice that the father took the initiative in running to meet the son a distance away.. Notice these acts

of compassion preceded any speech by the son. But to make his repentance clear, the son carries out

his prepared speech. Notice that the father's response is to preempt that speech with further active

orders to his servant. “Quick! Bring the best robe...”

Verse 25: What accounts for the older brother's bitter attitude toward his younger brother? Why did he

not share the joy of his father, and readily join the celebration?

Perhaps up to a point we can understand the oldest son's resentment of honor to a wayward brother.

The older reliable son was correct in naming the wild living and squander of fortune. But negatively he

sought to justify himself on his own merit. He never acknowledged his need of forgiveness because he

never believed he had done any wrong. He was self-righteous..

What this older young man needed to see was the plague of mankind across the board: All mankind
comes short of God's glory. Along with the human race, this older son had sins of omission. Thus, one

and all must repent and ask for forgiveness. As surprising as it may seem, this was the state of heart

the younger brother had attained. Everything in that passage of scripture proves his contrite heart and

deep repentance. He had responded positively in all he needed to do for salvation. The father there in

compassion toward the returning son represents a Divine Lord's initiative in redemption. A lost soul,

dead in trespasses and sins ascends to spiritual life in celebration with saints in heaven and on earth.

The repentant son could never have attained that bliss in the merely natural state.

This made-up version of a classic parable really is a “Fractured Parable.”