44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Book on a Great Parable, March 17, 2008
This review is from: A Tale of Two Sons: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder (Hardcover)
The story of the Prodigal Son is undoubtedly among the best-known and most highly-favored tales of all time. Even those who do not know the story itself are familiar with its outline or some of the words and phrases that arose from its King James translation. A powerful and heart-rending story, it is unforgettable to all who hear it. John MacArthur, with no hyperbole, says it is "hands down, the greatest five minutes of storytelling ever." His most recent book, A Tale of Two Sons, is an examination of this, Jesus' most memorable and most powerful parable.
Though most people know something of this parable, very few really understand it. We see this even in the name assigned to it--the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The story, after all, was not meant to be primarily a feel-good tale of a father's love for his son, though certainly it is that, too. Rather, "it is a powerful wake-up call with a very earnest warning." The purpose of the parable, as Jesus delivered it, centered on the elder brother--the very character who is so often overlooked in popular re-tellings of the tale.
In the book's opening chapter MacArthur makes clear the central and culminating lesson of the parable: "Jesus is pointing out the stark contrast between God's own delight in the redemption of sinners and the Pharisees' inflexible hostility toward those same sinners." Though the younger son is important to the story, his redemption is not the main point. Rather, this parable is to serve as "a mirror for every human heart and conscience" that will reflect either God's love for fallen sinners or a human hardness and arrogance that would deny that such hardened sinners could ever know His love.
A Tale of Two Sons is classic John MacArthur. If you have read his other books, you'll know what to expect here. It is consistent, methodical exposition of the passage and one that never misses an opportunity to provoke application. It looks to the past to provide historical context and setting that explain many of the story's elements that would otherwise be obscure to people reading 2,000 years later. The book looks first at the parable in its context and then at the story through a wide lens. It then turns to the younger brother, to the father, and finally to the elder brother. It concludes with an Epilogue that describes the shocking real-life ending to this parable--the very conclusion that is so often overlooked in modern adaptations and explanations of the story. Though the story itself has an open ending and Jesus never told whether or not the elder brother repented and discovered the joy of his father, the wider biblical context makes the ending clear. The elder brother, represented by the Pharisees, was hardened in his sin and turned on his father (who represents Christ). The son, in his unrepentant hardness, put the father to death. It is a tragic and sobering ending.
This book is a fine examination of the tale and an powerful explanation of its importance to each of us today. It is suitable for any reader--believer or skeptic, laity or clergy. Read it and you will be blessed!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gives full understanding of Jesus' most-known parable, March 19, 2008
This review is from: A Tale of Two Sons: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder (Hardcover)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known of Jesus' parables. However, a lot of the theological depth of the parable goes undiscovered as preachers assume the lesson ends with the return of the younger son. MacArthur brings the full meaning of this important parable to light by showing the two-possible ways someone can be apart from a love-relationship with the Father. Excellent material.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly a Gem, April 12, 2008
This review is from: A Tale of Two Sons: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder (Hardcover)
It is doubtful that many would argue that a large emphasis within the mission of disciples of Christ is to put the truth of Scripture before ourselves and others that God would be glorified. This is fundamental to who we are as Christians. However, within this lifelong mission, we too often become familiar with the narratives and have a functional understanding of the text and so we move on without true life transformation. John MacArthur endeavors to change that. In his newest book, A Tale of Two Sons, MacArthur unpacks the parable of the prodigal son in the pattern of clear, biblical, convicting teaching that many of us have come to love from his ministry.
I appreciate the `angle' that they took in writing and publishing this book. The whole feel of the book comes across as a story. Everything from the font on the cover, the image of a burly figure, to the subtitle of (The inside story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder), all reflect the type of drama we would expect in a masterful story. And it is helpful to remember that this is, after all, a story told by Jesus himself, to communicate spiritual truth.
The book is broken neatly into four main parts:
The Parable, which provides a wide-angeled preview;
The Prodigal, which deals with the rebellious son
The Father, which obviously deals with the gracious and forgiving father
The Elder Brother, which identifies his own rebellious heart
The basic summary of the book and the parable is that the prodigal son is the rebellious sinner who has squandered the good gifts of God and in his own heart truly wished death upon God. The elder brother is identified as the Pharisees who, while staying close to the Father outwardly, were actually inwardly themselves in a distant land. The Father, of course, is God. Who loves his children and rejoices in their salvation. Nowhere is this more picturesque than in the description of the Father, with his robe hiked up, ankles exposed, without regard for shame, is seen pursuing and welcoming his estranged son.
"The Prodigal had come home prepared to kiss his Father's feet. Instead, the father was kissing the Prodigal's pig-stinking head. Such an embrace with repeated kisses was a gesture that signified not only the Father's delirious joy but also his full acceptance, friendship, love, forgiveness, restoration, and total reconciliation."
One of the strengths of this book is its historical and cultural detail. MacArthur blends many hours in the study reading with what appears to be many hours in the text meditating upon its truth. What results is really the aim of expository preaching, a wonderful blend of historical, cultural understanding, armed with the powerful truth of the Scripture, through the medium of a man of God who has been utterly transformed by it. From this perspective, A Tale of Two Sons is a gem.
I would love to comment about the way the book ended, however, it is not the typical way in which a teaching on this verses is punctuated. Instead, I'll save the ending for you and commend the book to you. This book is heart-stirring, pride-humbling, Pharisee-exposing, and Christ-exalting. You will no doubt be blessed in reading it.
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