A Legalistic Prodigal Son Story 

Can you imagine the parable of the prodigal son if given by a legalistic Jesus? Would the father in the story first demand an apology from his son? Would he turn his back and say that he is no longer a son? Would he perhaps demand he wash the pig dirt off his body so as not to defile himself with the filth from an unclean animal? Would he have demanded proof of a change in his life before he allowed him to come back? Would the father have given the son a probation period instead of a party? Would he accuse the wasteful son of embarrassing the family and hurting its name? If the story was formulated by the Pharisees, it could have easily contained some of those ingredients. How do we treat those who are taking cautious, awkward steps out of the stench of life's tragically bad decisions?