The parable of the prodigal son is a favorite amongst many preachers and S.S. teachers in the South. It is taught as a mushy, sentimental statement that the "black sheep" of the family can always come home once he comes to his senses, repents, and seeks forgiveness. Unfortunately, this is not an accurate telling of the parable. The actual meaning of the parable is far more beautiful and profound. Until I heard it taught by Tim Keller, I had never heard it properly taught. The state of preaching and Biblical learning in the Bible Belt is simply abysmal.
In my experience with many churches, most preachers focus on the prodigal son and the beautiful reunion between the prodigal and his father. Unfortunately, most of these preachers also believe that, unless and until we forgive others, we won't be forgiven by God. These preachers teach that, once you ask forgiveness, the father will forgive. However, the prodigal portion of this parable directly refutes this.
The father (God) doesn't wait for the prodigal son to ask for forgiveness. Instead, the father runs, simply throws convention and propriety aside, and runs to his long-lost son. The son doesn't have to ask for forgiveness first--the son is already forgiven by the father. It works the same way with us. Only when we know that we are "a priori" forgiven will we truly confess and truly repent. If we have to repent first, we always wonder whether we will be forgiven; therefore, our confession and repentance is guarded at best. Just think about your relationship with your spouse. If you know that your spouse is going to forgive you, you readily confess and repent. If, on the other hand, you don't know whether you will receive forgiveness, you may cover up your misdeeds. So, most times, the portion of the parable dealing with the prodigal son is mis-taught--it is taught that forgiveness is waiting on our confession. Instead, forgiveness leads to confession. This is a principle that sets Christianity apart from other religions.
What is almost never taught is that the elder son, the Pharisee, the self-righteous one, is the one that was the farthest from God. The son who squandered his inheritance, consorted with whores, wound up eating with pigs, i.e., completely dishonored his father--still had a closer relationship with the father than the elder son. Jesus directed this parable to the Pharisees (the church people of their day) to illustrate their distance from God. Surely the son who dishonored his father is the one who should be farthest from the father's heart, not the son who stayed home, raised the cattle, and kept the home fires burning. So, Jesus' parable was a huge affront to the self-righteous religious people. Jesus had a radical view of humanity. It is not the outwardly righteous who have a relationship with God, but those who have had their hearts transformed. Unfortunately, in order to have a heart transformation, we must learn that deep down we are sinners. This usually is occasioned by some type of fall or impasse. This is why the prodigal son had a loving relationship with his father, while the elder brother did not.
The younger son had come to the end of himself, he had encountered a "merciful imasse" as Paul Zahl teaches, and thereby learned that he was a sinner. In contrast, the elder brother did not realize that he was a sinner. The elder brother thought that he was a righteous fellow and deserved his father's good will. The younger son understood that he deserved nothing from his father. When we understand that God is not in our debt, but that we are in his debt, then (and only then) can we begin to understand the depth of the father's love for us. Then, and only then, can we experience the freedom to forgive, to love, and to begin to be the persons that God created us to be.
So, this Christmas, let's consider the true Jesus--the God-man who turned upside down the apple carts of religious people like me.
P.S. I once taught the parable of the prodigal son just like everyone else. Then, by God's grace, I heard Keller teach it about 10 years ago. When I point the finger at the self-righteous, I must first point it at myself.
P.P.S. Praise God for the few preachers, the very few, such as Zahl, Tchividjian, Keller, Capon, and Rosenbladt, who truly understand the Gospel and proclaim it in all of its radically--regardless of the personal consequences to them.
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