Luke 15 - The Lost Sons

 If by any chance you are following one of the Lectionary options for Sunday and looking at the parable of the prodigal son, may I recommend what Dr Peter J. Williams has to say about it. In The Surprising Genius of Jesus: What the Gospels Reveal about the Greatest Teacher (Crossway, 2023) Williams treats the parable, first, we might say, in itself, and then in terms of allusions to Genesis, then more briefly to the wider Old Testament. I was completely convinced and struck afresh by the profundity of Jesus’ 400 word / two and a half minute story. The parallels with Jacob and Esau, Jacob and Laban, Joseph, Judah, Ishmael and Isaac, Cain and Abel are laid out and Williams suggests the rhetorical impact of each. He is particularly at pains to discuss how the parable makes sense in Luke and to the audience described in Luke 15:1-2, “the tax collectors and sinners… drawing near to hear” Jesus “and the Pharisees and the scribes” grumbling. It is wonderful to see new things in a passage one thought one knew so well. In addition to Luke 15, which is the only other Bible text to mention a friend, a goat and a supposed or imagined prostitute? And how does that relate to the meaning of Jesus’ tale?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNyzxMOWNe4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ISnElryuQ

A few jottings stolen from the above:

 

The parable of the prodigal (wasteful) son

The parable of the two sons

Or the lost sons

Or the loving father

 

Luke 15 introduction vv1-2 – two groups of two sets of people

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 

The coin is lost at home, the sheep is lost away.

The older son is lost at home and the youngest son is lost away!

 

The older son given everything?

Not breaking up the family farm.

The younger son goes off with movable wealth.

The older son might get twice what the younger brother gets.

Likely the older brother now own the whole farm and has done very well out of the younger son’s request

 

A man had two sons

Who in the Bible had two sons?

 

Adam – Cain and Abel – an angry envious older brother who is associated with the field / ground – a younger brother who looks after animals

 

Abraham – the Bible’s ultimate father figure – the first man in the Bible who runs (an old man who runs) – Genesis 18:6 – his first word is “quick!”, just like the father – Abraham he gave away his inheritance while alive – Abraham as host of a meal

 

Isaac – only two sons: Jacob and Easau - younger son cheats the older son out of the inheritance – older son angry – younger son goes off into a far country

Similarity and contrast

Jacob goes away with nothing and becomes rich (the opposite of the younger brother)

The older brother out in the field; Easau is a man of the field; Isaac is the stay at home type!

Esau is hungry in the field and about to die – cf. younger son starving in the far off country

Esau sells his birthright for food; the younger son comes to his senses whilst hungry

The whole story is turned on it’s head

The only time anyone in the OT anyone runs, embraces and kisses is in Genesis 33:4 when Esau runs to meet the returning Jacob and forgives him

Cf. the unforgiving older brother

If Esau (a bady!) can forgive, can you?

 

Young goats – Jacob and Esau – goat skin

The best robe – the older brother’s robe

 

The father who can see far away and the father who can’t even see up close (Isaac)

 

Gen 27:41 – Esau the angry brother waiting at home for his father to die!

 

Near and far – physical and emotionally near or far

The older brother at home but outside emotionally far away from his father (and his brother)

 

Younger son – “Father…, Father…, Father…” – older brother doesn’t call him father

 

A younger son who moves away and wastes his property

 

Lk 16:1 – another story about a waster

 

The younger son is not only a prodigal, wasteful son – he is sinful, but he is also unlucky – the victim of famine

 

“citizen” – the younger brother is not a citizen

 

The older brother hasn’t been a vegetarian all this time!

 

V29 – “celebrate” a key word in this chapter – the shepherd and the woman celebrate – the older brother wants to celebrate with his friends, not with his father

 

The missing ending is an invitation – will the older son come in? How does it end? Will you come in and accept your brothers and sisters?

 

Pigs an unclean animal – a very lowly job a good Jewish boy wouldn’t want

 

The younger son only gets part of his pre-prepared speech out

 

The generosity of the father – he pays more than the minimum wage – even the workers have food to spare

 

Genesis 41 – Joseph brought out of prison and given a ring and a robe

 

A son dead and alive again (from the Father’s perspectives) – famine – Joseph, whom his father thought dead

 

Jesus is riffing off Genesis’ Greatest Hits!

 

My son – your brother – relationships emphasised – if you want to claim relationship with the father, you have to welcome the repentant younger brother

 

The younger son’s repentance speah sounds like Pharoh in Ex 10:16

Music and dancing – anger – calf – The older brother sounds like Moses

Turned on it’s head

Cf. Rabbinic stories – Moses going to find a lost sheep – losing a coin like losing the Law

The scribes and pharisees turn out not to be the good guys!

 

The older son working late whilst others are partying

 

Likely the older son has been working on his own farm, building up the wealth he owns (or will own) not slaving for his father!

 

The older son refuses to go in to the party and complains about the lack of parties!

 

A young goat is less good than calf; partying with your friends is less good than feasting with your family (and the wider community)

 

Where does the older brother get this prostitute stuff from? Is that the older son’s fantasy? Presumably he hasn’t been getting postcards from the brothel!

 

What the older son says is exaggerated / implausible – he reveals his angry, resentful, complaining, ungrateful mindset

 

It’s not as if the younger brother is actually going to eat 400 portions of meat all on his own – this is a big party with many invited

 

If the older brother came in, there would be joy.

He needs to repent / change: get over his anger and accept his brother

Cf. the rich man and Lazarus in the next chapter – if you are going to have Abraham as your father you have to treat the poor man as your brother

 

Jesus rather like the father – he welcomes sinners and eats with them whilst the pharisees etc are angry and excluded

Someone can be a son and a father – as I am!

Is 9 – Christ the everlasting father

Heb 2:13 – Christ’s children – Christ as father to those he saves (as well as brother)

Jesus is the shepherd who has come to seek the lost

Christ came into a far country for us, he came and embraced us, he never disobeyed his father’s commands

 

Should the older brother not be the one who runs and embraces his little brother (as Esau did)?

 

(cf. B B Warfield on this parable)

 

We can often find things to complain about (as the Pharisees in a land occupied by the Romans could etc.) as the older brother does, when in fact we have been given so much and we have it good!

Gratitude and grace

Parish Magazine Item for April 2025

 

From The Rectory

 

This Lent some of us have been reading Matt Searles’ devotional reflections on The Beatitudes[1], with which Jesus began his famous Sermon on The Mount (Matthew 5:1-10).

 

These sayings of Jesus, “Blessed are… for…”, with their much-treasured poetry, will be at least vaguely familiar to many of us. But we might be tempted to overlook just how truly extraordinary  and revolutionary they are. They present a counter-cultural vision of The Good Life and of the pathway to human flourishing. It turns out that the values of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus proclaims, are radically at variance with the ways of the world, both in Jesus’ day and ours. Although Jesus’ ethic (e.g. of humility and mercy) has shaped the West, there is something in the human heart which defaults to a love of power or prestige and which needs to be called back to this better vision which Jesus is presenting. Jesus says the way up is down.

 

Particularly interesting for me has been to try to think about these statements of Jesus with an eye to Easter. Perhaps they are more properly called promises and whilst they await their full consummation in heaven and the New Creation, the pattern of cross and resurrection seems a partial fulfilment of the trajectory and hope embedded in The Beatitudes.

 

“Blessed” seems like a very religious term. Perhaps it can sound a little twee in our ears. Some have even suggested that it might be translated something like “fortunate”. “Happy” might be a straightforward way of putting it. And to do so brings out the surprising nature of these sayings.

 

“Happy are the poor in spirit”. Well, poverty is normally a source of pain and difficulty, not of rejoicing. But the poor in spirit are offered real and lasting treasure – the kingdom of heaven.

 

Or even more strangely: “Blessed are those who mourn.” If we translate it “Happy are the sad” we can see that it almost a contradiction. But tears are not the end of the story.

 

What can Jesus be on about? Part of being poor in spirit is to acknowledge our spiritual need. It is the opposite of pride: to admit frankly our lack of moral and spiritual resources. In the words of The Prayer Book, Jesus would have us admit that we are “miserable sinners” and that left to ourselves there is “no health in us”.

 

It is appropriate, sometimes, to mourn over the broken and aching state of our world, and the darkness we can find in our own hearts.

 

Jesus said it is the sick who need a doctor, and to admit our heart-condition is the beginning of the road to health: a step towards coming to Jesus the great physician of souls.

 

Jesus taught that if we sorrow over our sin such that we repent and come to him, we shall be comforted.   

 

We have so many disordered desires. We often look for real lasting satisfaction in all the wrong places. If we hunger and thirst for righteousness, Jesus says, we will be filled.

 

The crucified Messiah is meek and merciful. He is supremely pure in heart and when he has paid the price for sin he is welcomed in to glory. Trusting in him, we too will receive mercy and see God. A very happy and blessed Easter to you!

The Revd Marc Lloyd

---

[1] In Quietness & Trust (10 Publishing) ISBN: 9781837280278 available from https://uk.10ofthose.com/ and elsewhere. You can also find some hymns and songs which Searles recommends on this Spotify playlist: ‘In Quietness and Trust – Lent Playlist’ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4fgnpWmZ21qrZp8JOSJLZC?si=74e130f74bbe42b0

 

Lent Course - Nicene Creed Session 2

 My jottings in case they are of any interest or use:

Nicene Creed

Lent Course 2025 – Session 2 (19/3/25)

 

Anything bugging you from last week?

 

Recap?

 

Possible Bible readings:

John 1:1-14

Hebrews 1-2

 

Today, the second of three main sections: Trinitarian structure – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

This long central section of the creed

What does that tell us?

 

Also this was the controversial section at Nicaea, especially on the nature of God the Son

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

 

We’re not going to manage an exhaustive Bible study on everything mentioned here tonight!

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

 

Lord

Jesus – (an ordinary name!) – Joshua – The Lord Saves – He will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)

Christ (Greek); Hebrew (Messiah) = Anointed one; prophets, priests and kings were anointed with olive oil in the Old Testament – set apart as holy for a special purpose – the long-promised rescuer king

 

the only Son of God,

 

Who else are sons of God?

How would you distinguish the way we are sons of God from the way Jesus is Son of God?

Men and women sons and daughters of God by adoption through faith

(sons also implied heirs)

Jesus The Son of God – Son of God by nature / essence / being 

(sons of God – angels)

(son of God – the OT King)

 

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

 

O Come All Ye Faithful:

“God of God, Light of Light,
lo, He abhors not the virgin's womb;
very God, begotten not created;”

 

begotten, not made,

 

Did Father Christmas (St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra) slap / punch an Arian / the heretic Arius?!

(There is doubt over whether St Nicholas was there!)

Petrus de Natalibus – 1370 bishop of Equilio (Jesolo) near Venice, and died around 1400.

“It happened that saint Nicholas, now an old man, was present at the Council of Nicaea,  and out of jealousy of faith struck a certain Arian in the jaw, on account of which it is recorded that he was deprived of his mitre and pallium; on account of which he is often depicted without a mitre.”

https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2015/02/28/did-st-nicholas-of-myra-santa-claus-punch-arius-at-the-council-of-nicaea/

 

Obviously not physically begotten as God is Spirit without body or parts (Article 1 of the 39 Articles of Religion of the C of E - https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/articles-religion#I – see also Article 2 on God the Son as very God and very man)

 

I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

There is but one living and true God, ever- lasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

 

II. Of the Word or Son of God, which was made very Man

The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took Man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect Natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very Man; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of men.

 

Eternally begotten – timelessly

“subsisting eternal relations of origin” – they are always related as Father and Son

The Son is never without the Father and the Father is never without the Son (in the bond of the Holy Spirit)

Ordered relationship, but all three persons equally one God

 

(Remember what we said last time as the Fatherhood of God as original and human fatherhood a created reflection of that, rather than the other way round – Ephesians 3:15 – perhaps God made fathers and sons to be a picture of his life)

 

(See also Athanasian Creed - https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/creed-s-athanasius - not actually written by St Athanasius!)

 

The Son is all that the Father is except Father and so on

 

(For us, sons come into being!)

The son not a creature – as the heretic Arius seemed to teach

Arius said of the Son “there was when he was not” – which is heresy!

 

of one Being with the Father;

 

homousios (Greek) – homo - same – ousia - substance / essence / being / nature

consubstantial (Latin)

Not that the Father and the Son are made out of some third stuff which we call divine being!

Contrast homoiousios – like essence – similar essence - only one “i”, one iota difference

Edward Gibbon:  “The difference between the Homoousion and the Homoiousion is almost invisible to the nicest theological eye.” (Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (New York: Random House), vol. 1, ch. xxi, n.155.)

 

Using a non-biblical or extra biblical (technical) term – what do you think of that?

The thing is that the heretics quoted Bible verses too and said they believed them

So the issue was how to put all the Bible verses together

Everyone said they were committed to the authority of the Bible

The debate was about what the Bible taught

This word aimed to rule out some interpretations of Scripture as outside the Christian faith

Creeds are a summary of and therefore a guide to reading Scripture – thought it is Scripture which is the ultimate authority

Creeds get their authority from being true and faithful summaries of Scripture (which are ancient and widely shared). They are in principle reformable by Scripture.

 

The Son really is God – as much as the Father is God

The Son is God in the same way that the Father is God – fully truly God – thought the Son is not the Father and the Father is not the Son

 

The shield of the Trinity – trinity diagram - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

 

 

Why does it matter that Jesus really really is God?

Only as God could be perfectly reveal God

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one.

John 14:9 - Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. 

 

Only God could save

(Perhaps we might say the divine nature of the Son gives infinite value to his atoning sacrifice?)

 

through him all things were made.

John 1:3

Colossians 1:15-17

 

Cf. The Father as creator

All creation through the Son

The Son as the agent of creation

A bit technical! “inseparable operation” / “the external works of the Trinity are undivided” – “Because God is one, God’s wisdom, love, and power are one. Therefore, the distinctions between the persons of the Trinity in their external works are not distinctions of agency. They are distinctions in mode of agency. The Father acts through the Son by the Spirit. The Son acts from the Father through the Spirit. The Spirit acts from the Father and the Son. But in each instance we are talking about one singular divine agency because we are talking about three persons who are one undivided God.” Scott R. Swain

-          https://credomag.com/article/the-undivided-trinity/

 

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

 

Salvation – a rescue mission – not just an educational project or a few tips etc.

 

Hymn worthy!

From heaven you came helpless babe… (who was also the eternal God!)

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;

Thou who wast rich beyond all measure…

 

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

 

Incarnate – made flesh – Latin for flesh / meat

 

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

 

For us – in our place, on our behalf

 

Try to imagine you’d never heard a Christian creed before.
Might you find it surprising that it mentions Pontius Pilate?

What might the point of that be?

 

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

 

he ascended into heaven

 

Come to the ascension day service at Dallington on 29^th May!

 

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

Christ’s ongoing intercession and mediation for us

 

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

 

and his kingdom will have no end.

 

(cf. 1 Cor 15:28)

This final line specifically combats the teaching of Marcellus of Ancyra who seems to have thought that when his mission was finally accomplishes the Son would somehow be reabsorbed into God.

 

Do you think there is important stuff the creed misses out?

 

* * *

Session (3) 9/4 – the remainder of the creed – Holy Spirit to end!

Lent Course - The Nicene Creed - Session 1

 Here are my jottings just in case they are of any interest or use:

Nicene Creed

Lent Course 2025 – Session 1 (12/3/25)

 

I haven’t listened to / looked at all of these so this isn’t an endorsement but you might find some of this of interest or use:

 

Diocesan Lent Course - https://www.chichester.anglican.org/lent/

 

Lent Talks Radio 4 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028tnv

 

Lord I Believe - A 12 part series defending the Nicene Creed in its 1700th anniversary year with John Twisleton - https://twisleton.co.uk/broadcasts/

 

The Society (of St Wilfrid and St Hilda) – (traditional Anglo-Catholic group) - Year of Faith 2025 Lent Course - https://www.sswsh.com/fullposts.php?id=380

 

Grove Booklet – Discipleship Series – Richard Steel, The Nicene Creed and the Bible: A Workbook for Disciples iD15

 

Recent Nicaea / Nicene Creed related books

Phillip Cary, The Nicene Creed: An Introduction (Lexham Press, 2023)

Nicene Creed, The: A Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Commentary, Jared Ortiz and Daniel A. Keating (Baker Academic) – June 2024

On Classical Trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God

Edited by Matthew Barrett (IVP Academic)

 

Outline

 

Wednesday evenings:

 

(1) 12/3

 

(2) 19/ 3

 

(3) 9/4

 

See how we go? We could maybe arrange to meet some other time (after Easter if necessary)? Or we may feel we could have three useful sessions and that would be okay!

 

 

The Nicene Creed

 

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

 

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

 

 

 

Session 1 (12/3):

 

Bible reading: Matthew 11:25-end

 

What is a creed?

Latin – credo – I believe

 

What do you think the purposes / value of a creed might be?

·       Saying the creed as an act of worship / pledge of allegiance not just academic exercise

·       A summary of the teaching of the Bible – clarifying what the Bible teaches

·       Emphasises the main / central truths of the Bible and so helps us to see the big picture / keep the main thing the main thing / not get distracted into other perhaps important and interesting truths which are less central – seeing ourselves as related to the big story of God and his purposes

·       A useful focus on God the Holy Trinity and his saving acts

·       Promoting unity and refuting error – excluding teaching that is beyond the bounds

·       A sense of history / continuity / fellowship / solidarity with Christians around the world and down the centuries – it emphasises what we have in common even if we might disagree about other secondary matters

 

Cf. The Apostles’ Creed (Google is good for historical background etc.)

 

The Nicene Creed

Originally written in Greek – translated in to Latin

 

The Council of Nicaea 325

 

The Arian controversy, which provoked the creed (more on this in session 2)

 

The Council of Constantinople 381

 

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed!

 

BCP p240: “I believe” / original and Common Worship version, “We believe…”

 

What are the pros and cons of “We believe” or “I believe”? 

 

What do you think is meant by “believe” here? What is Christian faith?

Cf. James 2:19

More than intellectual assent (though not less!) – also personal trust / dependence

 

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

 

Perhaps we take the idea of “one God” for granted? Why do you think it matters? (What are the alternatives?)

(How might this statement have seemed in context for the original writers of the creed?)

(Is this still relevant / necessary today?)

 

What does the creed tell us about the uniqueness of God?

 

And his relationship to creation?

 

God as uncreated creator – the Creator / creation distinction

 

What does it mean to call God Father?

Of whom is God the Father?

 

What might the bible suggest a good father might do / be like?

 

What do you make of the combination of “Father” and “Almighty”?

What does it mean to remember that God is both the Father and the Almighty?

 

Gerald Bray - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/god-as-father/

 

The OT on God as father (or like a father) to Israel - Isa. 63:16–17; 64:8-9

Deut. 14:1–2

Psalm 103:13

Ps. 103:13

Jer 31:20

 

The teaching of Jesus

“He who has seen me has seen the Father,” he said (John 14:9).

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). 

John 5:17

John 8:37–59

The Lord’s Prayer – Our Father…  

Father – John 20:17

 

Paul – abba – Aramaic – Dad - Father - Gal. 4:6–7

 

Ephesians 3:15 see NIV footnote – God as the original / paradigm of Fatherhood – all human fathers as derivative fallible pictures of fatherhood (cf. Freud – God as a projection of Father)

 

https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2022/07/is-god-male.html

https://www.churchsociety.org/resource/is-the-holy-spirit-to-be-referred-to-as-she/

https://www.churchsociety.org/resource/topical-tuesday-is-god-a-she/

 

What might a Christian say about what is “unseen”?

 

What should Christian attitudes to creation be?

 

How does the creed change our perspective on life, the universe and everything?

(A big comprehensive vision which also includes us)

The creed could be said to begin on a cosmic scale – but also to be personal and intimate (Steel)

 

* * *

 

Session 2 (19/3):

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.