February 2017

To understand the Bible, consult the Bible. Commentaries, dictionaries, books, and sermons (and blog posts!) all have their place, but to help you make sense of a passage, nothing substitutes for other verses.

This happened to me during one of my daily Bible readings. As I was going through Deuteronomy 21, I came to this section (verses 18-21):

“If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.”

God takes the social impact of sin seriously. Rebellion, when unchecked, spreads and the community suffers. This law may strike us as harsh but it stresses how thorough the Lord’s standards are.

Sometimes when I read the Bible, I contemplate alternatives to what I’ve read. I’m not arguing with the Lord; rather, I’m digging into the truth so to discover its deep meaning.

The Deuteronomy passage reminded me of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Recall the story. A father has two sons, the younger of whom is a malcontent. He asks for his share of the inheritance even though his father is still living. Quite an insult, but the man overlooks the slight and accedes to his son’s request. The older son remains at home and serves his father with honor.

In the meantime, the younger son, flush with cash, takes off to the city and parties it all away. He loses everything. To make matters worse, the economy crashes, and the resulting famine forces him to take a job slopping pigs. Although employed, the boy can’t afford to feed himself and envies the pigs their food.

That’s when it hits him: “Why should I stay here? As long as I have to labor, why not work for my father? He treats his help great. It’ll be embarrassing to return, but it sure beats this mess!”

After rehearsing an apology and a job request, the son takes off. Almost home, he’s spotted by his father. What would the old man do? What would you do?

The father has several options.

He could prosecute his son.

The rebel deserves to be arrested, tried, convicted, and executed. Sounds extreme? According to Deuteronomy 21:18-21, the father would have been within his rights, even his duty, to do so.

Would you imprison your child?

He could ignore him.

Have you ever seen a movie or TV show where a father disowns a disgraceful daughter? She’s cut out of the will and denied an inheritance. If the family speaks of her at all, they do so only in the past.

This decision, though tough, seems fair. As the parable shows, the son treated his father as though he were dead; the dad would return the favor.

Would you disown your errant child?

He could hire his son.

Realizing that he had no hope of rejoining the family, the prodigal attempts to work for his father. He knows that his dad treats the employees well, so why not try that? It’s better than feeding swine.

This decision would have been reasonable. The boss and the crew don’t have to like each other; they just have to get along well enough to get the job done. They can keep their professional and private lives separate.

Would you hire your kid?

He could restore him.

This action demonstrates grace because the son has no grounds for redemption. If he’s to be reinstated, it’s all up to the dad. Does he want his son back?

This decision would have been merciful, exhibiting the biblical principle that “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

But the father didn’t choose this option. It looks like he did; he hugs his son and welcomes him back. However, the father had one more option.

He could celebrate his return.

And that’s what he did. What we have here is more than restoration; it’s restoration plus. The father threw a party! Marvelous, excessive grace!

Would you celebrate your son?

How do you believe God deals with you when you’ve messed up? Does He aim to punish you? Ignore you? Hire you? Restore you? Or celebrate you?

According to Jesus, God rejoices over your decision to return to Him. That’s the heart of the Father!

So come home. The Lord is looking for you. And if straying loved ones show up at your front door, embrace them. That’s what love does. It’s another option.