Luke 15:10-32 NASB95
[11] And He said, “A man had two sons. [12] The younger of them said to his Father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided the wealth between them. [13] And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. [14] Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. [17] But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my Father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! [18] I will get up and go to my Father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘ [20] So he got up and came to his Father. But while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] But the Father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; [23] and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; [24] for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. [25] “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. [27] And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ [28] But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his Father came out and began pleading with him. [29] But he answered and said to his Father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; [30] but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ [31] And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'”
It is interesting to me the perspective that both of the sons had about their Father. When the youngest son left home, he had asked the Father to give him his portion of the inheritance, and so the Father divided the inheritance between both the younger and the older son, and obviously, the older son was good with getting his portion. When the prodigal son finally “came to himself” when he was at the end of his rope (which is a common place for Christians to be when they finally begin to discover their true identity in Christ), he knew where home was, but all he could hope for in light of his sinful behavior was that the Father would forgive him and allow him to have the portion that one of the hired servants would have. At the end of the parable, the older son was angry with the Father because the undeserving younger son had received the best robe and a ring which was the seal of full Sonship, and there was a party being thrown in the prodigal son’s honor. The older son complained because he had been faithful his whole life, and yet he had never received the best robe or a big party for his faithfulness. The elder son was complaining because he believed that the Father’s favor should fall on those who earn it and should be withheld from those who don’t deserve it. What neither of the boys understood (now course, the prodigal son understood the true heart of the Father when he came home expecting to get what he deserved and instead experience the Father’s full measure of mercy and favor) was that the Father’s true intention all along was that both of the boys would own and enjoy everything that the Father had, not just a portion. This is being co–heir. This is what he told the older son when he said to him, “all that is mine is yours,” and by giving the prodigal son the ring, he was also saying to him, “all that is mine is yours.” The great truth being communicated in this story is that the Father, who is a picture of our heavenly Father, blesses us based on His favor, not our merit. The two sons were happy to have the portion they felt like they deserved, and the prodigal son felt like he had to settle for much less on his return because that’s what he now deserved, but the Father wanted them to enjoy all that he as the head of the household had earned and deserved. He gladly, in grace, wanted them to experience it all purely because of his love for them. Jesus, through this parable, is trying to teach us about the true nature of God, for “no man has seen God at any time, but He (Jesus) has intricately explained Him.” John 1:18.