Luke 15 talks about the Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, & The Lost Son.
Can we know from this if The Prodigal Son was ever saved to begin with? Can we know from this story if the brother was saved?
What exactly is Jesus trying to tell us in The Prodigal Son?
This is a great question that we've been wondering myself. I've got different points of view on this one from people. I myself would think he was.
I think this may lead to Revelation 3:5
Interesting question, but I think it's irrelevant to this parable. Interesting enoughly, the parable of the prodigal son isn't really about the prodigal son. Though often cast that way, it's really a story about the older brother, designed to prick the heart of those who have a Pharisaical mindset, and anybody who has a works based mentality in their approach towards God. The older brother was upset over the return of the prodigal son, and the manner in which his father lavished his undeserving son with his best gifts. His father demonstrated unmerited favor to the younger brother, which did not sit well with the older brother with his hardened heart.
Whatever the original condition of the prodigal, it doesn't matter. He was lost, now he is found. He was undeserving, but his father chose to bless him anyway... in spite of how his older brother felt about it. The older brother wanted the younger to get what was coming to him. But the father chose to treat him in a way he didn't deserve.
*edit*
If you're a Calvinist---yes. If Arminian---probably not.
It's funny KJ, I actually heard it taught the story was about the father. As the preceeding 2 parables are about the people who lost things, so this one is about the father losing his son, and he truly is the prodigal i.e. lavish one talked about in the parable. John McArthur has a good sermon on it, I'll try to find the link later.
Hi Silo...
Well, the prodigal son lived in the house with his father and received an inheritance. In addition, consider the final two verses (Luke 15:31-32) of the parable:
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: [b]for this thy brother was [u]dead[u]alive again[u]lost[u]found
While I agree with KingJimmy that the parable also concentrates on the son who did NOT stray away, I think that it is also interesting in that it speaks about the son who is "alive AGAIN."
Tim Keller has a tremendous book about the parable of the lost son.
It's called the Prodigal God. You can go to the website and actually hear the messages that the book is about.
All I can say is....it is awesome!
This also makes me think of Judas Iscariot. That even if we walk with him (saved) that if we turn are backs on him we lose are inheritance. Unless we repent.
It's funny KJ, I actually heard it taught the story was about the father
Notice the context in which these series of parables are set up in: Luke 15:1-3:
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes {began} to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So He told them this parable, saying, ....
All three parables are ultimately a slam against the Pharisees, who don't see things as the Father does.
All three parables are ultimately a slam against the Pharisees, who don't see things as the Father does.
Exactly. I think the spin could be then exalting how God does see things. He does rejoice over the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. We see in verses 7 and 10 the point of these teachings, God rejoices over the sinner repenting not rejoicing over the dead legalism of the Pharisees. I totally agree that these parables slam the Pharisees only in that they glorify the true nature of God. For me, it's not "either/or" but "both/and." The Pharisees are slammed by God being revealed. I think it's cool to keep things God-centered and have teaching fan out from that. So for me I think put Jesus' revelation of God primary and then as an inescapable secondary the Pharisees being put in their place.
That sermon by Macarthur I referenced earlier is actually on sermonaudio.com. It's title is "A Tale of Two Sons: With A Never Heard Before Surprise Ending to the Parable of the Prodigal Son." It's a good teaching, some of Macarthur's mannerisms I didn't care for, but all in all, a good message.
This also makes me think of Judas Iscariot. That even if we walk with him (saved) that if we turn are backs on him we lose are inheritance. Unless we repent.
Probably not, but are you saying Judas Iscariot was like the Prodigal Son? He just walked away? I don't think he was ever saved. The Prodigal could have been.
But I know what your saying...you can walk with Jesus for years and still betray him.
Being who God is, I seriously doubt this parable is about only one character. No one is wrong here!
About it being named "The Prodigal Son," we need to remember when Luke wrote "Luke," he did not separate his information into chapters and verses and he certainly did NOT subtitle each little section for better readability!! LOL That was someone else a few hundred years later who added all that!
Also the word of God is living and breathing. I think there are different times in our lives when we will better relate to the son who spent everything through riotous living, another time we will understand and relate to the son who never left and yet felt left out. And one day we will be able to relate to the father who left all to run out and meet his son to welcome Him home as a parent and as God has run to meet us when we return home!!
Back to the parable... to answer your question, I think the "prodical son" and his older brother was indeed saved simply by being the "father's sons."
God bless,
I think the "prodical son" and his older brother was indeed saved simply by being the "father's sons."
That was good!
But I know what your saying...you can walk with Jesus for years and still betray him.
Yes we can walk with Jesus for years and still betray him, that's precisly what Judas did. And he paid for it. I think his name is blotted out of the book.
Although there are probably many parallels you can draw from the prodigal son, I have to agree with the KJ's initial assessment. Luke 16 is part of the same conversation. Here we have the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Notice it is a strong indictment against the religious Jews. Their eyes were blinded to the truth. When the rich man died (the Pharisee if you will, or at least the religious Jew who put his trust in keeping the law and denied Christ as the Messiah), he begged for someone to tell his brothers so they would not suffer the same fate. Jesus, prophetically speaking of Himself, says that they would not listen even if one rose from the dead. Lazarus symbolizes the gentiles who were despised by the Jews. But, God is going to use the fullness of the gentiles to provoke Israel to jealously. Though the religious Jews were cut off, they will one day soon be grafted back in when the fullness of the gentiles comes in. I believe the real point of the prodigal son is similar and focuses on the reaction of the older brother. However, this does not minimize or marginalize the other lessons we can draw from it. It is just that we see these parables from our own perspective rather than from the perspective of the Biblical and cultural context they were spoken in.
It is a story of all three characters, man is not an island, we are affected by everyone around us and in our lives.
Another angle that hasn't been mentioned is that of attitude.
At first the progigal had an attitude of 'give me, give me' He took everything the father had for him for granted and squandered it without regard.
Many christians have an attitude of 'what can God do for me?' what do I get out of this?' 'Lord, give me, give me' The 'name it and claim it' teaching.
It was only when he hit the pit of life that he came to his senses. He realised what he had done and what truly mattered, then he returned to the father in true repentance and said 'make me, make me - I am not worthy'
Here we see the father's heart - he was still his son.
The father allowed it to happen for the heart and attitude of the son to change.
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