580 - The Rights of the Firstborn Son …and Dealing with a Rebellious Son

The Rights of the Firstborn Son …and Dealing with a Rebellious Son

Deuteronomy 21:15–21 (NLT)

“Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons. 

And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love. 

When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son. 

He must recognize the rights of his oldest son, the son of the wife he does not love, by giving him a double portion. 

He is the first son of his father’s virility, and the rights of the firstborn belong to him. 

Now, “Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him. 

In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders, as they hold court, at the town gate. 

The parents must say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious …and refuses to obey. 

He is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 

Then, all the men of his town must stone him to death. 

In this way, you will purge this evil from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid. 

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However, remember what Paul told us in his letter to the Ephesians in Chapter 6: verse 4.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Perhaps, before a father has his son stoned to death, he should examine himself first.

After all, what did Jesus tell us the father does with His prodigal son?

We see the story in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15: verses 11-24… in the Parable of the Prodigal Son

Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 

‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ 

And so, the father divided his property between his two sons. 

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, …and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 

So he hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 

He (was so hungry that he) was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 

Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 

And he arose and came to his father. 

But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him …and kissed him. 

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants,

‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ 

And they began to celebrate.

Praise be to God!