The third parable (Luke15.11-32) is also about what Jesus is doing. But in this story he is appealing most directly to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. The son who goes away is like the tax collectors and sinners. The son who stays at home is like the Pharisees. The father in the story acts like Jesus. In his relations with both his sons he humbles himself. When the son who went away comes home the father runs out to meet him – an action that would be seen as very humiliating for a father. When the elder son complains and won’t join the celebration, the father goes outside and pleads with him – an action that was also humiliating for the father.
The parable ends without telling us whether the older son came in and joined the celebration. It is a story that asks the hearers to respond themselves. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law have to hear the story and understand that they are like the older brother. Will they join in with Jesus and what he is doing?
We may not complain about who Jesus is calling to himself. But we may just ignore what he is doing and not get involved in his mission of calling the lost to repentance.
Dale