In this parable, there are two kinds of people listening to Jesus as he is teaching.  You have the Israelites, represented by the younger son in the parable, children of the Father who by their own reckless choices have strayed, and the Pharisees, represented by the older son in the parable, who have done everything right and expect the Father’s love and grace to automatically be poured out on them.  Ironically, both ‘sons’ are seen in the Christian world today and the world around us doesn’t like either one… The reckless son who doesn’t live the life a Christian should, and the hypocritical son who has done no wrong.  Neither son is commended… Rather, both sons are pursued by the father.