Making Heaven Happy

Jesus associated with the untouchables

Joy is greater among the

God gets the last word

All three parables are direct responses to the Pharisees who grumbled because Jesus received and ate with sinners.

All three parables describe the joy of restoring what was lost. First, the joy is located in heaven Lk 15.7. Second, the joy is attributed to the angelic hosts ministering before the throne of God Lk 15.10. Finally, the joy is attributed to the Father of the lost son, who has been straining to see the day of reconciliation. By escalating degrees, Jesus shows that the receiving of sinners is a delight that emanates from God’s own parental heart, and emanates throughout the entire heavenly realm.

The first two parables describe the joy of discovering what was lost. The third bifurcates and contrasts the response of the longing Father with the jealous older son. In this, Jesus turns the lesson into a chastisement of the Pharisaic attitude, which is reflected in the response of the older son.

Pharisaic religion and the older son include the fact that it was the son that never left (like the Gentiles who prostituted themselves with all things profane). The sour temperament that disapproved of merry-making shines light on the Pharisees’ disapproval of Jesus’ feasting with sinners. The anger and refusal to enter mirrors’ Pharisees’ refusal to participate in what Jesus was doing, and to just angrily condemn it instead.

The last word goes to the loving father, not the jealous son. The son’s response is irrelevant; the concluding refrain is that it is right and fitting to celebrate the restoration of the lost.