What Makes You Happy?
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-30
Today’s Scripture reading (linked above), is the well-known parable of Jesus that is often referred to as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son.” It is the longest of three parables that are meant to be read together: “The Lost Sheep” and “The Lost Coin,” being the other two. Jesus told all three in response to “the Pharisees and the scribes grumbling,” (see 15:2). They were upset that Jesus “receives sinners and eats with them.”
These parables need to be read and interpreted in that context. The common thread that runs throughout is the idea that it is normal and natural for people to rejoice and be glad when someone finds something or someone they lost. When reading the three parables together, you notice that there is an increasing value of that which was lost and was found.
There was one sheep out of a flock of 100. There was one coin out of ten that was lost. Finally, the Prodigal Son was one of two sons. Just on a percentage basis, it goes from 1 to 10 to 50%. But value is not just a matter of percentages. A Son is of much more value than a sheep.
In a sense, Jesus is setting the Pharisees and scribes up. One could easily imagine them shaking their heads in agreement, unable to deny the logic of rejoicing with the shepherd who finds his lost sheep and the woman who finds her lost coin. Once they’ve conceded that point, how can they possibly deny the reasonableness of rejoicing with a father who finds a lost son?
Jesus is hammering home the question of why then, are they grumbling that He receives sinners and eats with them?
When Jesus describes the sullen, angry, jealous, resentful older brother, He is holding a mirror up in front of the Pharisees and scribes. He is showing them what they are like and demonstrating the unreasonableness and spiritual poverty of their hearts.
There is a thing called righteous anger. It is good and it is also very rare. Righteous anger is becoming angry about the things that make God angry. Most of our anger is unrighteous. It is borne out of jealousy and unjustified resentments. It is also very revealing. When we can see it for what it really is, it tells us a lot about ourselves, even as it did for the Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’ day.
They were angry over the thing that made heaven rejoice and would have rejoiced over the thing that would have made heaven weep. May it not be so with us.
