Sons, the sinners and tax collectors in our Scripture, are understanding how to be God's. Savior speaks of lambs, a lost coin, and now brothers. Differing dispositions and blending similarities flow through brothers. A brother is a brother for life. Jesus says a brother takes a big risk. He leaves home taking no cattle, grain, nor wife on his journey.
Tax collectors are more like elder brother in Savior's story. The older brother thinks of his brother the adventurer each day. There is work now for two which the elder brother must accomplish. 'Will I have time for enjoyment again? This work is overwhelming,' elder brother thinks to himself and keeps on working. Like so, many a time when a tax collector has been told to work his job and another tax collectors joy because of one reason or another.
Listening more closely they refocus on the one who abruptly leaves home. His father gave him his inheritance to take with him? yes, quickly. So he has a bulk of money and makes bad choices on how to spend monies. He's so poor and hungry he wants to eat the pig's slop? yes, famished. When he comes home his father runs to welcome him? yes, runs full out.
Father shows his joy openly to returning son. Not all fathers would react this way. Marvelous father. Then the father says to elder son, 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' Savior says God is like this father. God welcomes tax collectors and sinners back into His Home. Undoubtedly.
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the wealth that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that region, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”