Campaign: A Tale of Two sons

Jesus’ Intention for the Characters: Father Younger Son Older Son  God / Jesus  Tax Collectors & Sinners  Pharisees & Teachers of the Law

What’s Happened… Father divided the wealth The younger son left He lost everything & returned to be a worker Greeted by Father’s love he was received as a son A celebration was ordered

The Elder Son Campaign: A Tale of Two sons

Luke 15:25-26 (KEB) Now the elder son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the boys and asked what was meant.

Notes: Luke 15:25-26 “Field” both sons start back from a field! (Music / celebration) “Boy” his words will tell how the village understands what has happened

Insight There are usually two reports of events – will the village believe / report the reconciliation of the son? Whose story do you believe / report?

Luke 15:27-28a (KEB) And he said to him, “Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he recovered him with peace.” Then he became angry and refused to go in.

Notes: Luke 15:27-28a Is there a long-standing tension between the brothers? Hebrew “Shalom” (peace) in NT Greek becomes hygiaino - we get hygiene

Kenneth E. Bailey The Cross & the Prodigal “Shalom includes good health, but it also means “reconciliation.” “If the father has already received the prodigal “with peace” then the two of them are reconciled – and the older son’s point of view is already lost”

Insight True reconciliation with God, and with others, both extends and receives shalom (peace). Was the elder son worried about his share of the property? If he went “in” he would have to reconcile with his brother by accepting his father’s love.

Luke 15:28b (KEB) So his father came out and began to plead with him.

Notes: Luke 15:28b The father once again humiliates himself, leaves the party, and goes to his son. He “pleads” with him! Before the community! (We’re not told what was said)

Insight The father is looking for sons (and daughters). He will pay (has paid) the price.

Luke 15:29-30 (KEB) But he answered his father, “Listen for all these years, I have been working like a slave for you and I never disobeyed your commandments, yet you never gave me even a young goat so I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours comes back, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him.

Notes: Luke 15:29-30 He chooses to be rude (no title “Father”) He refuses to participate in the reconciliation He is breaking a relationship, not a law

Kenneth E. Bailey Finding the Lost Cultural Keys to Luke 15 “Jesus offers a brilliant analysis of how a self- righteous spirit can dominate and poison a person.”

Notes: Luke 15:29-30 He accuses the father of favoritism He paints himself outside of the family He refuses partnership with his father He despises his brother

“The older son has clearly just come in from the field and knows nothing, yet he accuses his brother of living with harlots.” Kenneth E. Bailey Finding the Lost Cultural Keys to Luke 15

Notes: Luke 15:29-30 He sees himself in a slave relationship to his father The elder brother needs to receive father’s love to become a true son He falsifies the meaning of the banquet

“The party is not in honor of the prodigal. The party is taking place because the father recovered his son with shalom!” Kenneth E. Bailey Finding the Lost Cultural Keys to Luke 15

Insight The elder son is consumed with envy, pride, bitterness, sarcasm anger, resentment, self- centeredness, hate, stinginess, self-satisfaction and self- deception. Yet he appears to see his actions as a righteous search for honor.

Luke 15:31-32 (KEB) And the father said to him, “Beloved son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. And to celebrate and rejoice was necessary, for this your brother was dead and come to life, he was lost and has been found.”

Notes: Luke 15:31-32 Son is used 8 times – the father chooses a tender term – Beloved son The father satisfies the concern for money and puts the value on relationship

The Open Ending Repentance has been redefined and has now been restated “the acceptance of being found” Everyone (including the self- righteous) and the sinners must “accept being found” by the father to be at his table

The Elder Son Campaign: A Tale of Two sons