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The Prodigal Son

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The Prodigal Son The Prodigal Son he parable of the prodigal son is an extremely well-known parable of Christ. Non-Christians and Christians love the T parable mainly because they do not know what Jesus was actually teaching. Some Christians do not know the mean- ing of the word “prodigal.” Some think the word refers to someone who leaves and returns, but the Merriam-Webster dictio- nary defines prodigal as “spendthrift,” “waster,” “spender” and a “squanderer” (dated 1976). In summary, a prodigal is one who is wasteful. That is, the parable of the prodigal son actually refers to a son who spends money wastefully. As we will soon discover this parable is about a son who is prodigal, yet, the parable is more than that. It is about one son who wan- dered away and squandered his inheritance and another son who was not happy that he returned. But why did Jesus give the parable? That is our adventure in this study. Our study is from Luke 15:11-32. Introduction To The Parable. Luke 15 contains nal life. We must become confused and think that the par- three parables of Christ: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and able is primarily about the youngest son. It is actually about a parable that is usually called the Prodigal Son. However, the God the Father and then the oldest son. Jesus uses the it could also be called the Lost Son. Th is parable is not just youngest son to prepare us for His message of the parable. about a son who is lost. It is also about two other individuals. After Jesus tells that the father had two sons, we are told that the youngest son demanded his share of the fathers’ And He said, inheritance. Th e “A man had Greek tense of two sons. the word “give” Th e younger is in the imper- of them said fect tense which to his father, means that son ‘Father, give commanded me the share of or demanded the estate that his part of the falls to me.’ So inheritance. he divided his Th at was a bold wealth between and aggressive them.” Luke request. He 15:11-12 could not wait (NASB) for his father to die. He wanted Jesus starts by introducing us to two sons and to their father. his portion of the inheritance now! According to Deuter- Th e father is symbolic of God the Father as we will soon onomy 21:17 the laws of inheritance that God established discover. Th e youngest son represents someone who is spiri- are diff erent than what one might expect because the inher- tually dead or lost, that is someone who is going to hell, but itance was not divided equally among the children. Deuter- will become a Christian. Th e older son represents a religious onomy 21:17 states that the oldest son was to receive a double person who is a false Christian. He meticulously keeps a list portion of the inheritance and the youngest one receive one of “spiritual” rules that are supposed to guarantee him eter- portion. Th e Hebrew expression for “double portion” is The Prodigal Son Copyright © Like The Master Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Study 147 www.neverthirsty.org pi shenayim. It is also used in Zechariah 13:8 and there it means two-thirds. Other ancient documents reveal that the Th e Greek word “took a journey” is apodemeo. It refers to expression means two-thirds.1 Numbers 27:6-11 and Deu- a long trip to a foreign land. Th at is, he wanted to get away teronomy 21:15-16 provide information about inheritances from his father. Th is is common for many a young man for daughters. Other signifi cant passages about inheritances and woman. Th ey want their freedom. Th ey are immature are Job 42:15; Proverbs 17:2; 20:21; Ecclesiastes 2:18. enough to think that they and their friends are wiser and So the father divided his wealth between the two sons. We their parents are just diffi cult people. Now he can enjoy life are not told what the oldest son did with his inheritance or and he has this large sum of money. However, as is usually the how the father continued to live. It is possible that the father situation with many young people, they spend it on things keep some money for that are foolish. As a himself and divided youth, I did the same lilee the balance. But we Ga thing. I had to learn Bethsaida are told what the Capernaum that it was easier to youngest did with spend the money his inheritance. He than it was to earn is ol squandered it! p the money. I could a c Prodigal Son e spend it faster in a D Squanders His ia few minutes that I ar m Wealth. After a could work for it in S Samaria the father divided one month. the inheritance, the Jesus ministers We are told that in cities in Perea youngest “gathered a this youth “squan- de all” together. Th at u dered” his wealth J Perea is, he sold any prop- Jerusalem on “reckless living.” erty that he obtained Th e Greek word in the inheritance for “squandered” is and converted other diaskorpizo and it items into money literally means “to and left the home. scatter.” Th is word Most likely the son appears nine times in had visions of free- the New Testament dom from his father and seven times is and endless pleasure and leisure. translated as “scatter.” Th is means that son scattered his money as a sower scatters seed (Matthew 25:24, 26, 31). He And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything foolishly spent it. Th e Greek for “reckless living” is astos and together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there it is the adverb “prodigally.” How reckless was he? We will be he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had told later in Luke 15:30 that at least some of the money was spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and spent on prostitutes. Th e foolish son enjoyed himself! he began to be impoverished. Luke 15:13-14 (NASB) He enjoyed himself so much that he scattered all of his money. He squandered his inheritance! Th e Wall Street 1. Jeff ery H Tigay. Deuteronomy. Th e JPS Torah Commentary. Jewish Journal reports that research has shown that seventy-percent Publication Society. 1996. pp. 195-196. The Prodigal Son 2 www.neverthirsty.org of fi rst children squander their inheritance within one year. pig’s food, but he did not. It would have been too disgusting for a Jew to eat pig’s food. According to the Mosaic law, pigs When wealth is passed down through generations in a family, were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 14:8). the long-term prognosis generally isn’t very good. Research Further, Rabbinic tradition said, shows that in most families, 70% of inherited wealth is lost by 2 3 the second generation and 90% by the third. Cursed is the man who rears swine. Other research states that within 19 days most children buy Th is young son was already helping to rear or raise swine by a new car. Th is tragedy reveals our greed and desire for plea- feeding them. Th is helps us understand the severity of this sure even today! Th e prodigal son was not any diff erent than son’s situation. It also helps understand this son was desper- our children today. We are like the prodigal son. If you had ate. We are also told that no one was giving this son food. his inheritance statistics state that most likely you would Th is suggests that his money went for housing and other spend it all too! necessary items. Sadly, Jesus He had a serious says that about problem. God the time the allowed this to youngest son happen to him squandered his and He allowed inheritance, a it for a reason. severe famine Do you why? occurred in Son Admits the country His Sin. Next in which he as we are told that staying. Now he the son “came to was in real trou- his senses.” ble. Now he was in real need. He But when he never expected came to his the famine. He assumed that life would always be positive. senses, he said, But since the famine hit, he went to work feeding pigs. “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against country, and he sent him into his fi elds to feed swine. And he heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called would have gladly fi lled his stomach with the pods that the your son; make me as one of your hired men.’” Luke 15:17-19 swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. Luke (NASB) 15:15-16 (NASB) Th e literal Greek for “came to his senses” means “into him- Wow, imagine a Jewish boy feeding pigs. Verse 14 reveals self he came.” Th is Hebrew expression, “came to his senses,” that he became so hungry that was even desired to eat the 2.
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