Unit Four:
and he said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”‘ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'”
Luke 15:11-32
The shock elements of this story:
- A reprobate son asks for his inheritance while the father still lives
- The father divides his wealth between them
- A Jewish boy feeding the pigs and tempted by the pig food
- The father ran
- The robe, the ring, and the sandals
- Kill the fattened calf
According to Old Testament Law the elder son was to get a double portion of the inheritance. Hence the younger son would have received a third and the older son a two thirds portion. Where the text indicates the wealth was divided between them, the division was not an equal one. Most of us read this parable and conclude that the younger son took the money and ran. We don’t notice this little element that shows the older son also received his inheritance early. To receive your inheritance early was to send the message, “I consider you dead Father. I want no more to do with you.” It was an insult to the father. The text tells us the older son also received his inheritance. He was in the same boat as the younger son. What he should have done when the father showed his preparedness to give them their inheritance was to say, “No Father. There is no way I will dishonour you by taking my inheritance before you die. No please don’t give me my inheritance before the time.” But he said nothing and received his inheritance too.
As soon as possible the younger son leaves and takes the money with him. The dishonour which resulted in his actions was not only dishonour his father but the whole village as well. For a son of the village to act in that way was a slight to them all. But it is also true for the older son. To take his inheritance and remain under his father’s roof was perhaps an even greater dishonour. The younger son burnt his bridges and left; he took the money and ran. The older son took the money and stayed. He is now fully entitled to spend the money how he likes. He has declared his independence from his father. Both sons are now effectively saying they no longer wish to be connected with the father. One breaks the connection and leaves, the other breaks the connection but stays. How strange. The villagers would have gossiped about this for a long while.
Leviticus 11:7 declares that the pig is unclean. No Jew would have anything to do with pigs at all. They certainly didn’t eat pork in any form. Neither did they want to touch a pig or be near a pig, even look at a pig. For a Jewish boy to end up feeding pigs was an indication of the depths to which he had fallen. This was the lowest of the low. But it got worse. He was so desperate that he was seriously contemplating “eating pig food”. Now think about that for a moment. There is something base about that depth of depravity. Don’t eat pork. Don’t even touch a pig. They are reasonable demands, especially in a society where the pig is considered unclean. But to consider eating the food or the slop that is being fed to pigs is truly depraved. I don’t imagine there would be any culture in the world which would applaud that kind of prospect. It would be considered gross in anyone’s language. Yes that is point of the story – to shock us. Well to shock someone.
This father runs. I told you yesterday that it was not proper for dignified men in the ancient world to run. They were to be the epitome of poise and decorum. There was no need for a rich important man to run. They were wealthy enough to afford servants. Simply send a servant to accomplish something that needs to be done in a hurry. That is what you have servants for. This father is clearly wealthy. So for him to run was to bring shame to his name among the townspeople.
Kezezah means “the cutting off”. The ceremony was performed for someone like the younger son in this story. As I told you, the sin of taking the money and running was as much against the community as it was against the father. They all felt the loss of communal wealth. So the ceremony of Kezezah was performed to declare the relationship broken. Bitter herbs, burnt nuts and corn were placed in an earthenware pot and then the pot was smashed as symbol of the relationship between the perpetrator and the community being severed. The person was no longer welcome in the village. If they came again they would run the gauntlet and be beaten. The broken pot symbolized the broken relationship and the fact that the village community consider this son to be dead. Ironic isn’t it, that is what he had done to the father. The father was running to accept the son and bring him back into the fold before he got what was coming to him. Our God runs to our aid at the expense of His own reputation and dignity. Now that is huge.
Now from the point of view of shocks, let’s look at the robe, the ring, the sandals and the fatted calf.
The Robe:
When you think of a robe in the Bible I think what would immediately come to mind would be the coat of many colours that Joseph was given as the favoured son. The robe doesn’t necessarily signify the favoured son but it certain does represent the father and the family in the community. Often a family had distinctive robes that told everyone which family the wearer was from. There is also the robe of righteousness mentioned in Scripture. While there is no direct link to that, certainly the inference is one of restored relationship. He is able to wear the family robe again.
The Ring:
Normally the ring was worn by the sons and by the father. The ring often contained the family seal for signing documents in wax. In other words it symbolized a restoration of power and authority.
The Sandals:
The only ones allowed to wear sandals inside the house were the father and his sons. The servants wore no sandals. This speaks of the restoration of sonship.
The Fatted Calf:
This was a calf set aside especially for a special occasion. The calf was fattened up on grain and not pasture-fed. It was deliberately fed in a way to make it gain weight and have the best meat possible. No running around for this calf so the meat didn’t get tough. The fatted calf was set aside for a very festive time. Partying was on the agenda for the return of this boy.
All of this together amounts to excessive grace. Everyone in the village again would be talking about this crazy father who has gone overboard this time. Can you believe it, after what his son has done the father goes to these lengths? Incredible. The boy certainly doesn’t deserve a party with the fatted calf. HE DESERVES KEZEZAH, THAT’S WHAT HE DESERVES!
Time for another song. I normally include a song with each book I gem. During Luke I have added a song with Gem 748 and then again with 924 and now with Gem 1039. Three songs for one book. Well it’s a long book. You may think that’s too many songs for one book. No, this event was pretty spectacular and the song is a great one. This time I have included the song with a link to YOUtube. Enjoy. It gives me goosebumps and makes me sing along, LOUD.
When God Ran – Phillips Craig and Dean
- Almighty God, the Great I AM Immovable Rock,
- Omnipotent, Powerful, Awesome LORD
- Victorious Warrior, Commanding King of Kings Mighty Conqueror,
- and the only time the only time I ever saw Him run
- Was when He ran to me,
- He took me in His arms
- Held my head to His chest,
- said My son’s come home again.
- Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
- With forgiveness in His voice He said,
- Son, do you know I still love you?
- He caught me by surprise when God ran.
- The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
- And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
- Then one night I remembered His love for me
- And down that dusty road, ahead I could see
- It was the only time, it was the only time I ever saw Him run
- And then He ran to me,
- He took me in His arms
- Held my head to His chest,
- said My son’s come home again
- Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
- With forgiveness in His voice He said,
- Son, do you know I still love you?
- He caught me by surprise and He brought me to my knees
- When God ran, I saw Him run to me
BRIDGE:
- I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
- But now I know He’s been waiting for this day
- I saw Him run to me,
- He took me in His arms
- Held my head to His chest,
- said My son’s come home again
- Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
- With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again
- He ran to me, He took me in His arms
- Held my head to His chest,
- said My son’s come home again
- Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
- With forgiveness in His voice He said,
- Son, He called me Son He said, Son
- do you know I still love you?
- He ran to me I saw Him run to me
- and then I ran to Him. When God ran.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mysvqAiJQdk
GRACE is everything for nothing to someone who doesn’t deserve anything.
Jose Carol
Only a fool will stay a fool.
Yiddish Proverb
I WAS bruised, confused, depressed, distressed, obsessed and oppressed.
NOW I’m purchased, cleansed, released, used, and blessed!
Rick Warren
GRACE: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Anon
Grace is not theoretical, it’s experiential.
Anon