What was the father in the parable of the prodigal son?

Answer 1

The father represents God.

The oldest son represents the scribes and pharisees.

The youngest some represent the nation of Israel.

Many people say the youngest son represents repentant sinners turning to God. But if this were the case who is the oldest son?

Jesus told many of His parables for the nation of Israel, calling them to repent and turn to God. If Israel had done this then there would have been joy and celebration (as in the parable)

Answer

As above,

The father represents God the Father.

The youngest son represents sinners, outcasts, and gentiles (people from outside the nation of Israel) who were all to be part of the Father's Kingdom.

The oldest son represents the Scribes and the Pharisees. He served his father not out of love, but out of desire for reward: he saw himself in bondage to his father (God the Father). Jesus taught the 2 great Commandments: love God and love your neighbour, but the older son did not love God (the Father), and did not love his younger brother.

The Scribes and Pharisees absolutely hated who and what the younger son represented. They would have known very well that the oldest son represented them.

Luke 15:1-3, 11-->

1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

After all, they were the 'bad guys' in many other parables, such as the murderous Vineyard tenants:-

Mark 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: ...

Luke 20

19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.