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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – You probably know the parable of the prodigal son.
Jesus tells the story this way: A father has two sons. One son asks for his share of his inheritance early. He leaves home and squanders his money through reckless living. When his money runs out, he hires himself out to a pig farmer. He is starving, and decides that he’ll return home and offer himself as a servant to his father. His father sees him returning, and welcomes him as a son, not a servant. The father celebrates his son’s return with a night of feasting. But the older son does not go inside. He tells his father that he’s been a loyal son, and a party has never been held in his honor. The father says everything I have is yours; but your bother was lost and now he is found.
Well, here is a part of the story for you to ponder. Jesus didn’t carry out the plot his far.
When the father dies, does the loyal son inherit everything? After all, the wayward son already got his share. So is the second son to be left destitute? Does he become the servant of his brother?
What might Jesus’ teaching be? We really don’t know.
I would think that the teaching would be that the brothers are equal. At their father’s death, I believe they would be co-heirs.
You say, hmmm, that doesn’t seem fair to the loyal son. He watched half the family’s estate wasted, and now must share his half. But consider this, Jesus preached forgiveness and salvation – not necessarily fairness.
Suppose you lead a good life, and follow Christ’s teaching. But I leave a sinful indulgent life. But before death I realize the error of my ways and repent. Christian doctrine says I get the same heavenly reward that you do. The point is forgiveness, not equality.
The parable of the prodigal son is a rich teaching. I ask you today, could you forgive your brother? Could you live with him as an equal?
Chris Conley
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