The Bible Book

218

O

f all of the allegorical and

moral tales that Jesus told

during His ministry, the

parable of the prodigal son is one of

the most beloved and well-known.

Widely regarded as one of the

greatest short stories ever told, the

tale offers profound insights on the

human condition, and its essential

message of repentance, forgiveness,

and redemption has ensured its

timeless popularity.

Presumption and pigs

The parable concerns a farmer with

two sons, who will jointly inherit

his land. Rather than wait until

the death of his father, the younger

son asks for his share of the family

estate, and the father divides up

his property accordingly.

The son swaps the land he has

been given for cash and sets off for

an unnamed distant country It does

not take long for him to spend all of

his money—leading to the moniker

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Luke 15:32

THEME

God seeks out the lost

SETTING

c. 27–29 ce The road

to Jerusalem.

KEY FIGURES

Jesus The Messiah and Son

of God during His ministry

in Galilee.

The father A farmer.

The prodigal son The

farmer’s younger son.

The older son The farmer’s

older son.

THIS BROTHER

OF YOURS

WAS DEAD ...

HE WAS LOST

AND IS FOUND

LUKE 15:32, THE PRODIGAL SON

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219

of “prodigal,” meaning “recklessly

extravagant.” At the same time,

however, famine strikes the land.

The prodigal son, reduced to

penury, is forced to hire himself out

to a local farmer, who puts him to

work looking after his pigs. In his

miserable state, he longs to eat the

same food that the pigs are eating.

The choice of pigs is deliberate.

According to Mosaic Law, swine

are classed as unclean. Eating and

even touching them is forbidden

(Leviticus 11:7–8). The fact that the

prodigal son is contemplating

eating pig slops is therefore a highly

significant demonstration of his

hunger, desperation, and moral

depths to which he has fallen.

Faced with poverty, the prodigal

son is finally made to confront his

sinful actions. He recognizes how

greedy he has been and decides

to return to his father and beg for

forgiveness. He even rehearses the

plea of contrition that he will use

in order to win his father’s favor.

“Father, I have sinned against

heaven and you,” he says. “I am no

longer worthy to be called your son;

make me like one of your hired

servants” (Luke 15:18–19). Having

practiced his apology, he journeys

home to beg forgiveness from his

unwitting father and brother.

Healing the rift

When his father spots the prodigal

son in the distance, he does not feel

the urge to rebuke him for his

misdeeds. Instead, he is filled with

compassion for his long-lost child.

The father runs hastily to greet his

returning son, embraces him, and

seals the reconciliation with a kiss.

The prodigal son only gets as far

as the end of the second sentence

of his prepared speech before his

father interrupts him. He tells his

servants to bring him the best robe

they can find and clothe his son

with it. Similarly, they are told to

put a ring on one of his fingers and

sandals on his feet. Following ❯❯

THE GOSPELS

See also: Proverbs 148–51 ■ The Prophet Micah 168–71 ■ Call for Repentance 172 ■ The Good Samaritan 216–17

The Prodigal Son depicted as a

swineherd in 1608, by the Flemish

master David Vinckboons, and printed

by Claes Jansz Visscher. The protagonist

looks enviously at the pigs’ food.

The youngest son

leaves his family, an

act that symbolizes

a turning away

from God.

He lives a

profligate life of

sinful behavior.

Famine strikes the

nation, echoing his

spiritual drought.

He returns home,

like a sinner returning

to God.

His story shows

it is never too late

to repent and be

forgiven.

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