The Parables of the Lost · Day 3
Luke 15:25-32 — a devotion
Luke 15
- 25맏아들은 밭에 있다가 돌아와 집에 가까웠을 때에 풍류와 춤추는 소리를 듣고Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
- 26한 종을 불러 이 무슨 일인가 물은대And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.
- 27대답하되 당신의 동생이 돌아왔으매 당신의 아버지가 그의 건강한 몸을 다시 맞아 들이게 됨을 인하여 살진 송아지를 잡았나이다 하니And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’
- 28저가 노하여 들어가기를 즐겨 아니하거늘 아버지가 나와서 권한대And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.
- 29아버지께 대답하여 가로되 내가 여러 해 아버지를 섬겨 명을 어김이 없거늘 내게는 염소 새끼라도 주어 나와 내 벗으로 즐기게 하신 일이 없더니And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
- 30아버지의 살림을 창기와 함께 먹어버린 이 아들이 돌아오매 이를 위하여 살진 송아지를 잡으셨나이다But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
- 31아버지가 이르되 얘 너는 항상 나와 함께 있으니 내 것이 다 네 것이로되And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
- 32이 네 동생은 죽었다가 살았으며 내가 잃었다가 얻었기로 우리가 즐거워하고 기뻐하는 것이 마땅하다 하니라It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
This passage is the conclusion of the parable of the prodigal son, and it is the part aimed directly at the parable's original audience — the Pharisees and scribes. Within the overall structure of Luke 15, the three parables — the lost sheep (the shepherd's joy), the lost coin (the woman's joy), and the prodigal son (the father's joy) — move into ever deeper relational dimensions. What is interesting is that this parable has an open ending: whether the older son finally went in to the feast is never recorded. This is a device that calls for a choice from the Pharisees — and from us who read this passage today. Will we join in the father's heart, or stand outside the door complaining?
Reflection questions: 1. Have you ever seen something of yourself in the older son's attitude? 2. Have I ever treated my relationship with God like a transaction? 3. If it has ever been hard for you to rejoice when someone else received grace, what was the reason?
Today's reflection
The second half of the parable of the prodigal son is the story of the older son. Coming in from the field, the older son hears the sounds of the feast, becomes angry, and refuses to go inside. He complains to his father that all these years he has served him and never disobeyed his command, yet the father never gave him even a young goat to celebrate with his friends. Meanwhile, he is indignant that when the son who devoured the father's property came home, the father killed the fattened calf for him.
This older son points directly to the Pharisees and scribes who were condemning sinners right in front of Jesus. Outwardly they faithfully carried out their religious duties, but in their hearts there was no understanding of the Father's love. The older son's problem was that he saw his relationship with his father not as love but as a transaction — the thinking that says, 'I have done this much, so I deserve this much in return.' He also refuses to call the prodigal his brother, calling him 'this son of yours,' denying the relationship.
Yet the father goes out to the older son as well, gently pleading with him: 'Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.' God's grace does not keep score of merit. It is worth asking whether I too have been treating my life of faith like a transaction with God, or envying the grace someone else receives. God is not an employer who pays wages for work done but a Father who loves His children without measure.
In the app
Reading is where it starts, not where it stops.
Today's passage and devotional are yours to read here on the web. The app takes it from there — a place to write what stayed with you, receive a reflection on top of it, and watch the days add up.
A reflection arrives on what you wrote
Write what stayed with you, and a paragraph comes back — read against the passage you just finished. It does not lecture, and it does not grade you.
Your devotions gather into a record
What you write and what comes back stay on the calendar. Your streak is counted for you, and any past devotion opens again whenever you want it.
Today's verse on your lock screen
The widget puts the day's passage up each morning, so you read it once more in passing without opening anything.
160 topical series and a reading plan
Start wherever you are — 'weakness', 'waiting'. The one-year Bible reading plan, a Proverb a day, and the anonymous prayer box are all in there too.