THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

09/23/2024

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours." (Luke 15:13)

What has been popularized as the Parable of the Prodigal Son might actually be viewed as a parable of the two sons. Jesus didn't speak siingly about the prodigal son. Luke 15:11 says, "Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons." So the parable was about two  sons or more specifically, two types of sons. 

What we examine about these two sons is a difference in their approach to sonship and not necessarily their conduct.  So, who is a son? A son is one who comes from and recognizes a source. Who he or she is, has little to do with effort, character or likeability. A son's power is his or her identity with a father or source. The Bible says, "And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living" (Luke 15: 12-13).

Notice that the younger son had faith in the financial capacity of His father before he went into prodigal living and also, in the financial capacity of His father, when he realized his error. In Luke 15: 17-19, the Bible says, "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” 

This faith in the capacity of the Father is what is missing in many of God's kids today. Many cannot stake a claim on their sonship. They aren't believing God for bigger, greater and more that are clearly in His plan for them. 

And we see this play out in the account of the older son, after his brother returns. Luke 15:25 says, “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing." What does this mean? Some of God's children prioritize duty over their identity and this is why so many are lured into the idea that they have to slave for everything they want. Luke 28-29 BSB says it all: "The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends."

One son expected an inheritance because of who he was, the other tied his inheritance to his years of faithful service and loyalty. One thought like a son and the other, like a slave. This is the meaning of the parable of the two sons. 

Understand that God's children always fall into one of both categories and by your expectations of God, you can tell which category you belong. It's not enough to have an inheritance that exists somewhere in the sweet-by-and-by, you must be able to access your inheritance here and now, to accomplish God's call on your life. Hear me, there is a mighty avalanche of results that follows the moment you think like a son and not a slave because your expectations change.

Read today's devotional as many times as you can and let the message soak.

God bless you.

Faith-Filled Confession

I live like a son with an inheritance and not like a slave who has to depend on the labour that I put in. God is my source. Therefore, I live based on who I am and not from the labour that I engage in . Hallelujah!