We can say without exaggeration that the parable of the prodigal son is the most famous of all Jesus’ parables. It represents one of the most powerful witnesses to the mercy of God in the Gospels and in all of world literature.
I believe the elder son is the focus of the parable as much as is the younger. Narrowly, by talking about the elder son Jesus is criticizing those who opposed him because he offered his love to those who were considered beyond redemption in their eyes. He is saying God welcomes the sinner who repents, and you should rejoice at their turning back to God. He made a similar point in the parable of the worker who were well paid although they had only worked for a short time. More broadly, he is talking to all of us by talking about the elder son. We are often as mistaken as the elder son when we condemn those we think less faithful to God than we think they should be. To do so, or not to hope they wlll turn and receive the gifts Christ offers, is a sin. The elder son is proud; we should not be.
None of this is to deny the importance of what the younger son has to teach us. However, Jesus talks about the elder son for good reason; he even ends the story with the elder. When he talks about the elder son, he is talking about all of us when we feel smug, superior, and enjoy the suffering of those we think are worse than we are--common sins. Me culpa.
I will offer another example that reflects this thinking: when we think of past evils - genocides and the like - for the most part we place ourselves in the position of the victims - that would be us, how sorry we feel for them, etc.
Yet, history has shown that many willingly choose to be the perpetrator.
Just as you say, there is a lesson for us on both sides of this parable.
I believe the elder son is the focus of the parable as much as is the younger. Narrowly, by talking about the elder son Jesus is criticizing those who opposed him because he offered his love to those who were considered beyond redemption in their eyes. He is saying God welcomes the sinner who repents, and you should rejoice at their turning back to God. He made a similar point in the parable of the worker who were well paid although they had only worked for a short time. More broadly, he is talking to all of us by talking about the elder son. We are often as mistaken as the elder son when we condemn those we think less faithful to God than we think they should be. To do so, or not to hope they wlll turn and receive the gifts Christ offers, is a sin. The elder son is proud; we should not be.
None of this is to deny the importance of what the younger son has to teach us. However, Jesus talks about the elder son for good reason; he even ends the story with the elder. When he talks about the elder son, he is talking about all of us when we feel smug, superior, and enjoy the suffering of those we think are worse than we are--common sins. Me culpa.
Brian, this is a very good point.
I will offer another example that reflects this thinking: when we think of past evils - genocides and the like - for the most part we place ourselves in the position of the victims - that would be us, how sorry we feel for them, etc.
Yet, history has shown that many willingly choose to be the perpetrator.
Just as you say, there is a lesson for us on both sides of this parable.
The older I get the more I catch myself feeling superior, and the more I resist it. So far, not with great success.