As you know already, the truth has a different ring to it, touching our spirit and clearing our mind. Sometimes bringing tears of happiness that God himself would speak to us by the voice of his holy son, Jesus. Not with words that the world can hear, but words of truth spoken within our spirit by the spirit of truth. Then comes to pass these words of Jesus, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27).

Clinton Arnold’s remark, “It is inappropriate to dig for second-level meanings in the parables” is typical of carnal understanding offered by self-made apostles who teach another gospel, subverting the word of God in their attempt to lower the standard of all that’s holy. “Rightly dividing the word of God” is the ability by the Holy Ghost within us to apply the natural words of the parables to the spiritual kingdom of God. The parables are ageless; they speak to all generations, past, present, and future.

Open your Bible to Luke 15:11 and let’s go over these verses together. “A certain man had two sons.” As we will see, the older son was steadfast in doing the will of the father because he said in verse 29 that he had never transgressed his commandments. Knowing the will of his father, the older son worked diligently toward that goal. It would be unfair to find fault with him for being offended with his younger brother’s lack of honor and responsibility toward their father.

The younger son, on the other hand, was impatient. He wanted all that his father had promised him immediately. But remember the eldest son also received an equal portion of his father’s goods. The difference is that he chose to remain with his father and continue his labor, while the younger son looked for pleasure and excitement in a far country. (Verse 13)

I want to offer you two views to consider. First, the older son can be seen as one born under the law and the prophets. Faithfully doing his father’s will all the years of his life. Bearing the heat of the day, keeping the things in order that were committed to his care. Never being free from the many ordinances and constraints of the law that were hard to carry out, still he remained in his father’s house.

The younger son received an equal portion of the things that his brother built, with little labor on his part. (Read Matthew 20:1-16 to better understand this.)

Many children of God before us labored in the kingdom without ever seeing and hearing the things we now receive by the spirit. The gospel had not been preached; the Holy Ghost had not been given to all the children. (Read Matthew 13:13-17.)

Being made heirs of the promises of the Father with them, how much more should we rejoice in that we have received the fruits of their labor. Freely we have received; let us not waste these things in the land of strangers (sinners) with careless living.

The younger son, having left his father’s house, had no source of renewal for the things he used with reckless abandon. There came a day that all was gone. When cut off from the nourishment of the root, the vine will wither and die. He found himself in a strange land that had nothing to offer. They also were without substance.

Remember, this son knew the many comforts in his father’s house. He was well aware of the sharp contrast between what he had then and what he faced now. Looking for a means of survival, he joined himself to a citizen of that country. He would have gladly filled his belly with the same food that the swine ate, but no man gave anything to him. We would think that since he labored for the citizen of that country, he would have been due some small reward. But even if he had money, there was a famine in the land. Those that had food kept it, “no man gave unto him.” And those that did not have food were in the same situation as the younger son.

Then the painful memories began to gnaw at his conscience. He remembered that even the least in his father’s house had more than enough. His sins against his father tormented him and he knew within himself that he was unworthy of being called a son. He didn’t expect to be received to the place of honor he once enjoyed, but would ask only that he could be as one of the hired servants. Truly humble and contrite.

He arose from the place of despair and began the journey back to his father’s house. Remember, he was in a far country, a great distance from home and the way back would be even more difficult than the first because he was weak and miserable from lack of food. For whatever period of time it took, he continued to struggle back to the place he had left. Rehearsing in his heart that he would not ask for his former position in the family.

The father saw his son long before he arrived; he was anxiously hoping and looking for his return. The father ran to meet his son and embraced him and kissed him, filled with joy because his son was home again. He had missed him continually; he loved him.

Rather than berate his son for what he had done, the father instead made a feast for him and dressed him in fine clothes. Because, he said, “for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

This son had not died a physical death, but a spiritual death. Being cut off from the source of his father’s goods by his own neglect and ambition, the spirit of this son withered and died. He no longer considered himself to be a son.

During all this time, the eldest son continued in the work set before him. He did not bring dishonor upon his father. He did not go into a far country and waste his portion of goods as his younger brother had done. So, why now, would the father reward him? The answer is because he truly repented from his heart even before seeing his father again, fully expecting to be rejected by him. Willing instead to be a servant if his father would allow him. Broken, contrite, guilty. (Read Matthew 18:12-14.)

The older son was angry for a number of reasons. The younger son had not labored in the hot sun and helped to produce the fruits of the land that his father now showered him with. He was angry because his younger brother had brought reproach upon the family name in the presence of strangers. He was angry that he felt slighted and would not go in to join the celebration. His father came out to him and entreated him. He loved him no less than the younger; they were both his sons. (Read Mark 10:31.)

As you already know, the word parable means a short, simple story teaching a moral lesson. Another way of saying this is, a common event in an earthly setting to teach us the parallel lesson in the kingdom of God. Some, such as Clinton Arnold, never see the parallel meaning as taught by the Holy Ghost.

The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke to the crowds in parables. He gave them a clear answer telling them that those of an honest repentant heart and being guided by the Holy Ghost would understand the parable and know that he spoke of heavenly things. The parables spoken by the Lord opens the eyes of understanding for those that see and hear, and they withhold understanding from those that are less than sincere. (Read Matthew 13:10-17.)

Jesus warned us, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” (Luke 8:18)

Two sons, both having received the spirit of life from God the Father. Both are loved, and both given the same consideration in the possessions of the Father. The older of the two spent his life in the daily routine of the Father’s kingdom. (Some have labored in religion all their lives without ever hearing the lessons of the parables.)

The younger son took the love and promises of the Father lightly and after having received these promises, he left the Fathers house. He was spiritually dead. The source, the word of God, was cut off. Being in a far country (far from God, in sin) he came to himself and realized that he wasted time and effort in a land without reward. Seeing his life for what it was, he didn’t feel worthy of being called a son, even though his life came from God. Thinking in himself that if he could only be as a servant, it would be enough.

So, he starts the journey toward the Kingdom of God. His heavenly Father sees him long before he arrives and runs to meet him. The manner in which this son approaches the Father is repentant and acceptable. (Read Luke 18:10-14 and see two other sons, one self-righteous and one repentant.) God is well pleased that we turn to him and to home, leaving sin in the far country of the unrighteous.

But when the younger son is given honor in the house of the Lord, the elder son, who has worked in religion and feels no need of repentance, becomes jealous and offended that this sinner has received so much attention. He refuses to partake of the word and rejoice in the feast that the Father has prepared. Rather than rejoice that his brother was found, he was angry. His Father came out and entreated him. (“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.“)

Nothing is said about whether the eldest son considered his father’s words and joined the feast with his brother, but the point to remember is, a door of love was opened to each of them. If they both loved the father, they should also love one another. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

An important lesson in the parable we have looked at is the spirit of repentance and forgiveness. “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” The younger son repented from his heart; it was the duty of the elder son to forgive him. Did he? Have we forgiven others that have asked? Have we asked forgiveness from our Father and our brothers and sisters? Do we love one another as our Father loves us?

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

One more thought to consider in the parable of the prodigal son. The oldest son did the physical works of the Father but lacked the mercy and forgiveness of the Father. The younger son neglected the physical works but had a repentant spirit. Both sons needed forgiveness and the Father offered a way for both of them, that they should love one another as he loved them. By loving one another, they fulfilled the love of the Father.

May God be with you and guide you toward that eternal light.