Christians, in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, what's up with the second son?

Question

Shouldn't he have been celebrated, too?

Answer 1

This is one of the most complex parables IMO. When the first son asked for his birthright so that he could leave home with some money, he was in essence declaring his father dead, as that's normally the only way to get one's birthright. He only comes home when he's hit rock bottom, when his fathers SERVANTS have it better than he does. For him to return is truly cause for celebration, even if it's only that he felt he had no other reasonable course. (And not to miss the point of the parable, that's how God the father rejoices when any one of his flock who has strayed returns.)

The second son...whew! Those of us with a strong sense of justice and fairness HATE this story, because it tells us too much about ourselves. We want that first brother to PAY somehow. Why should he not only get off scot-free, but be celebrated with the biggest party just for coming back? But the fact is that his father loved him no less, and he'd been blessed just to have been with his father while his brother was out away from them. It really points out how, no matter how much we have, we are all vulnerable to feelings of jealousy, or the feeling that somehow something's not fair here. We have to look in our hearts and ask ourselves, Aren't we glad the brother is home, back in the family, back with the father again? And realize that it doesn't hurt US in any way. We haven't LOST anything by the brother's return, so why should we resent it?

A hard lesson no matter which brother YOU are, but one that can have a happy ending for all if we repent of our sins: sins of gluttony, foolishness, worldliness like the first brother, or jealousy and resentment like the second.

Man, is God good, or what?

Answer 2

You would think so! The way it was interpreted to me in a church service was that there are always inequalities and injustices in life. His was to feel overlooked when it came to his good behavior and obedience. It was just expected of him. He kinda flew under his father's radar. The son who demanded his fortune, squandered it and came back for forgiveness propably had his father's full attention if only for negative reasons and sheer worry for his son's well being. (A good many parents unwittingly do the same between their offspring.) All of us have our crosses to bear. Maybe the one brother's cross was his bad choices and the other's was his resentment and jealousy over the situation. We all have a chance to be redeemed no matter what we've done as long as we have a repentant attitude and sincerely try to change. God wants ALL to be saved and we shouldn't try to judge who is worth the effort and who is not. Jealousy and resentment are also sins that we need to find forgiveness from even though we may well feel justified in feeling them. I suspect that was his cross to bear and work through and disentangle from. There are a lot of examples of this parable being played out all over the place in many families today, thus the saying "Ah! The prodigal son returns!" (Most often stated by the judgemental party.) Makes ya want to really look at all facets of a situation and not make any rash judgements! So hard to do!!!

Answer 3

There's an internal meaning to that story. The father celebrated the prodigal son returning because he was "lost" and then he's found again. It's also like the story where a shepard went looking for one lost sheep but wasn't watching over the other 99 that was safe meaning, if one person is lost and need help seeing the grace of God, then the shepard (elders in the church) is there to help them come to salvation. the shepard will try much harder for the lost one than the ones who are already saved.

Answer 4

He was probably thinking "Why in the world would our father let him come back after what he did?" I believe that he was jealous of the attention that the "bad" son was getting. The prodigal son is an example of sinners returning to Christ. Some of us would tend to think the same thing as the brother (seeing as we are human sinners ourselves). But God rejoices when we come back to Him as the prodigal son did. See Luke 15:4-7

Answer 5

"The Second son would be like the Chrisitans that saw the member leave from church realized how much he suffered and would love to see him come back to the Father."

But what if someone leaves the church and DOESN'T suffer? Someone like...oh, say...me, for example. My life is better now than it ever was when I was going to church. I don't miss it one bit. I am free from believing fairy-tale nonsense about talking donkeys and guys walking on water and pagan man-gods dying on a cross, free from the guilt and shame associated with worrying whether or not I'm thinking, saying, and doing the right things so that God will let me into heaven. Now, I can lead my life the best way I know how and not fear some imaginary hellfire. Leaving the church is liberating, not oppressive.

Answer 6

He should have been celebrating. The Bible declares that the angels rejoice and celebrate just one person coming in to the kingdom of God. But some Christians do not join in the rejoicing, they are selfish and want God only to themselves. I believe that the brother was upset with the Father for rejoicing at the return of his son. He thought that he should be the one celebrated since he never left home.

Answer 7

It doesn’t really matter what the older son was doing. The parable is intended to explain that God (our Father) is always ready to love us if we will just let him. It is intended to explain that the idea of a judgmental God is just foolishness. A fantasy created by insecure men to get control of the thoughts and lives of others. Sadly the story is seldom used the way it was intended to be used. The parable has been hijacked by the same insecure controlling little fellows and is being misinterpreted and used to support their control agenda.

Answer 8

The bible says that the Heavens rejoice for ONE sinner that repents than for 99 rightous Chrisitans.

the parable is about those Christian who decide not to follow Jesus. It teaches us that God is always with his arms open waiting for us to come back repented of our sins. In this case the son left the home and spent all his inheritence, but then found him self wanting what the pigs ate from his poverty. That happens to man when he leaves Christianity, he is hammered by Satan and Satan tries to destroy him/her when they are not in God's steps anymore.

The Second son would be like the Chrisitans that saw the member leave from church realized how much he suffered and would love to see him come back to the Father.

When reading the bible we have to think spiritual and not with our Flesh, our flesh is greedy but our spirit rejoices when other overcome the adversities.

Answer 9

don't you see? he is celebrated, everyday. He recieves his father's love, he is provided for by his father, he is with his father. His father adores the crap out of him. The point of the story is that the Prodigal is home, he will now be with the father celebrating each day. The sad part is the older son can't see this, he is jealous of this party, he can't see that he is with the father and being celebrated everyday

Answer 10

the parables could be taken many techniques and not the terrific place for doctrinal debate. The bible does instruct we won't be able to lose our salvation; the bible teaches that folk who're ruled be certain sins won't inherit the dominion of God. so as I extremely have seen over the years people who've lived a superb Christian existence with a brilliant number of fruit could be overtaken in gross and incessant sin. the thought that they've been never stored comes up yet additionally which you will choose for to circulate away or no longer abide with the Lord anymore. we ought to continually attempt to be like the father waiting and observing for people who're misplaced to restoration them to the relatives; we ought to continually be like the greater youthful son who recognizes our sin and is composed of the father as grace and prepared to serve; we ought to continually recognize our hearts can strengthen chilly and self righteous like the elder brother..plenty to gleen in right here.