LUKE 15: 11 - 19 THE PRODIGAL SON PART1 OF 3

 THE PRODIGAL SON

PART 1 OF 3

LUKE 15:11-19

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11) And He (Jesus) said, A certain man had two sons:

12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.  And he divided unto them his living.

13) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:  and no man gave unto him.

17) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18) I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 

19) And am no more worthy to be called thy son:  make me as one of thy hired servants.

COMMENTARY

   We have to understand the time, place, and culture of when Jesus was telling this parable:  He was speaking to people who actually believed in The Ten Commandments.  These people did not lightly take God's Name in vain like our society does these days.  These people did not go shopping, go out to eat, go to entertainment events on the Sabbath.  These people actually took God seriously!  So, to show disrespect to your Father was a serious infraction.

  Verses 11, 12:  The man had two sons.  One was a "prodigal", meaning he was self-indulgent, a spendthrift, recklessly wasteful.  When he brazenly asked his father for what would eventually become his inheritance, which was disrespectful not only to his father but to his ancestors who had worked the property before him and his children if/when he married and had sons of his own.  His father was working to eventually leave all he owned to his sons, but he could use their help in the meantime.  The request showed lack of love and gratitude for the hard work of his father and his ancestors.  It was shameful and reprehensible.  Since his brother was the firstborn, this son (the prodigal) would have eventually inherited one third of the estate to raise his family on; his brother would eventually inherit two thirds.

   SHAME.  The son had brought shame to himself AND to his father by his request.  The Fifth Commandment tells us to honor our parents.  This is a COMMANDMENT, initially written in stone by God, Himself!  That's pretty serious stuff!

   Verse 13:  The father obviously gave the son material possessions that could be liquidated.  The property could be sold to someone who is willing to wait to take possession until the father died, which is when the younger son would be able to claim this inheritance.  Of course, the sale of the property would net a much smaller price than it would have had he waited to sell it.

   Verse 14:  We are just not in charge of what happens to us.  Here was The Prodigal, living it up, spending his money like there was no tomorrow; then, as he spends the last of his resources, disaster strikes.  He never gave a second thought of saving for the future.

   Verse 15:  The only job he could find was feeding swine, which no Jew would accept.  The rabbinic writings pronounced a curse on those involved with swine.  Basically, there was no job for the foreigner.

   Verse 16:  Nobody had pity on him; there was no charity.

   Verse 17 - 19:  Finally, hungry and broke, he realized how well he had it at home.  Even the day laborers who worked for his father had it better than he in this foreign land.  It became clearer to him that his father was abundantly merciful and loving.  He felt remorseful and decided to go home.

   As we continue this look into the prodigal son, you will see our relationship with God described here.  Do you have a relationship with God?  Click here to get started:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

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