Book Review: A Tale of Two Sons

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

John MacArthur’s A Tale of Two Sons is provocative and somewhat soap-operatic. It is essentially an exegetical work on the Parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32 which MacArthur describes as “The Greatest Short Story. Ever” (3). At the onset of the book, he paints the picture of a parable that is not simply a good story or a good read but rather an intricate, complex and profound literary work.

MacArthur exposes the Parable in its context and as part of the greater Lucan narrative that pointed towards the eventual and climactic death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He also unravels the role of each of the character mentioned in the story, that is, the Prodigal son, the father and the elderly brother. He does this in such a way as to make the reader personalize the events that occurred in each of the character’s lives.

By reading the book, I was yet again reminded of my own sins and iniquities and the grace and mercy of Christ who took upon Himself my shame, my guilt and my sins on the Cross of Calvary. His death made me live again!

Furthermore, I was reassured of the true meaning of heaven’s joy in heaven. In Luke 15, Jesus was recorded telling three parables and in them the message was the same—that there is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. But, what I did not realize was that the rejoicing in heaven was not rejoicing over the repentance of the sinner, but rejoicing over the grace and mercy that God gives to Him that repents. God does not need to be merciful to anyone and as a matter of fact we all have sinned and deserve the full extent of God’s wrath. However, in God’s infinite wisdom, He provided a way by which his grace and mercy may be glorified through the sacrifice of His own Beloved Son. Indeed, as Fanny Crosby has said:

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done! 1

But, that was not the end of the story. MacArthur's real focus was to be the elderly brother. This often neglected portion of the story was actually the real intention for why the parable was even said in the first place. To find out more about how and why, go read the book!

Click here for more info.

I saw this video on YouTube. Hear it from the man himself.

Footnotes:
1. http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh098.sht and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CeBoSQsBR0

Bibliography
MacArthur, John. A Tale of Two Sons. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson), 2008.