John MacArthur on The Prodigal Son (Crosstalk America)

Host:Vic Eliason
Guest:John MacArthur

John MacArthur is the author of more than 150 books, including many bestsellers such as: The Truth War, The Gospel According to Jesus, The MacArthur Study Bible, and his latest effort entitled, A Tale of Two Sons: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder. Dr. MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, he hosts the "Grace to You" radio program, and is also the president of The Master's College and Seminary located in southern California.

Everyone can understand a wayward child as well as the concept of a forgiving, reconciling father that seeks to embrace and love that child again. This is what makes the parable of the prodigal son so beautiful. As Dr. MacArthur notes, however, this is not the whole story.

According to Dr. MacArthur, the Bible always means what it meant when it was written. In A Tale of Two Sons, he looks at this story from the context of the shame that permeated the culture that Jesus lived in. A father who had a son who made the choice the prodigal did, would be shamed. The fact that the father gave him the inheritance would appear to make him even more shameful. Adding to the father's shame was the fact that he took the prodigal back and restored him, because in that culture, a son that did what the prodigal did would most likely be required to earn back the fortune he had wasted, and then perhaps his father would accept him.

Jesus was telling this parable to Jews who lived by this code of shame. This code fit their lifestyle of legalism, and the story Jesus was telling just didn't fit that paradigm because it said nothing of the son working his way back into the good graces of his father. As Dr. MacArthur points out, the Pharisees had no category for grace.

You'll learn how this parable shows why it's important that a sinner recognize his sinful state before coming to Christ, as well as how the abrupt end of this parable connects directly to Calvary's cross.

Other news stories presented during the second half of this broadcast:

-The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles approves "Choose Life" license plate for state motorists.

-The London Times reports that the Swiss have passed a law specifying the treatment of social animals.

-Habitat for Humanity draws criticism from pro-life groups over its joint partnership with Planned Parenthood.

More Information

To obtain a copy of A Tale of Two Sons for a donation of $25 that includes both the book and a CD, call 1-800-729-9829.