"God Doesn't Play By Our Rules"

In verse 20 we see a beautiful picture of God.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

“…this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

This is the Love that God has for each and every one of us.

What does the father in the parable mean when he says, “this son of mine was dead…”?

Weren’t all of us dead at one time?

In this parable, death does not mean physical death.

Look at what Paul says to the Christians in Ephesians Chapter 2: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…All of us also lived among them at one time…But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead…it is by grace you have been saved.”

Our God is like a Lovesick Father, Who does not hold our sins against us, but throws a party when we come to Him for salvation and forgiveness!

And while we are still a long way off, he runs to us!

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear [Jesus]. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So Jesus told them this parable in order to let them know what God is really about.

But did the Pharisees and the teachers of the law get it?

Do we get it?

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are represented by the older son in this parable who “became angry and refused to go in” to the party.

They didn’t like the fact that God doesn’t play by their rules.

They didn’t like the fact that God rejoices and welcomes ‘sinners’.

The parable leaves the older brother fuming outside the party.

What will he do?

Well, the rest of the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides us with the ending of the parable.

Far from rejoicing at the return of Israel’s “lost sheep” who have gathered around Jesus, the Pharisees and teachers of the law conspired to have Jesus killed.

But, like the prodigal, Jesus Who was dead came to life again; and those He came to save have found new life in God’s loving presence.

So where are we in this parable?

Are we inside the party celebrating?

Or are we standing outside with our arms folded, refusing to come in because God doesn’t play by our rules?

Who is the real prodigal in this parable?

It’s not the one with the shady past.

It’s the one who stays outside.

The one who couldn’t bring himself to forgive.

The dead one, the lost one, is the one who stubbornly chooses to remain outside the Father’s party.

“…we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”