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| | [[File:1024px-Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn - Return of the Prodigal Son - Google Art Project.jpg|thumbnail|250px|[[Rembrandt]]'s painting Return of the Prodigal Son - called by art historian Kenneth Clark "a picture which those who have seen the original in [[St. Petersburg]] may be forgiven for claiming as the greatest picture ever painted]] | | [[File:1024px-Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn - Return of the Prodigal Son - Google Art Project.jpg|thumbnail|250px|[[Rembrandt]]'s painting Return of the Prodigal Son - called by art historian Kenneth Clark "a picture which those who have seen the original in [[St. Petersburg]] may be forgiven for claiming as the greatest picture ever painted]] |
| − | The [[Parable]] of the '''Prodigal Son''' is a parable which appears only once, at [[Luke 9-16 (Translated)#15:11|Luke 15:11-32]]. The origin of the name "prodigal" is a mystery: it does not appear in most English translations, and does not have any [[Greek]] root. The Greek term for "reckless living," sometimes but rarely translated as "prodigally", appears only once in the entire [[Bible]]. Mathematical insights in this parable include [[infinity]] (the father's wealth) and [[set theory]] (lack of order in a set). | + | The [[Parable]] of the '''Prodigal Son''' is one of the most famous parables and appears only once, at [[Luke 9-16 (Translated)#15:11|Luke 15:11-32]]. The origin of the name "prodigal" is a mystery: it does not appear in most English translations, and does not have any [[Greek]] root. The Greek term for "reckless living," sometimes but rarely translated as "prodigally", appears only once in the entire [[Bible]]. Mathematical insights in this parable include [[infinity]] (the father's wealth) and [[set theory]] (lack of order in a set). |
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| | In the story, a man had two sons. The younger demanded his share of his future inheritance immediately, whereupon the father divided it between his two sons.<ref>Under Jewish custom, an inheritance was divided into X + 1 shares, where X is the number of male heirs greater than one; the oldest male heir is given an extra share, as he would be responsible for the care of his now widowed mother.</ref> | | In the story, a man had two sons. The younger demanded his share of his future inheritance immediately, whereupon the father divided it between his two sons.<ref>Under Jewish custom, an inheritance was divided into X + 1 shares, where X is the number of male heirs greater than one; the oldest male heir is given an extra share, as he would be responsible for the care of his now widowed mother.</ref> |
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| | The interpretation is fairly simple: the father in this story is God, the eldest son represents those who believe good works earn God's favor (specifically the Jewish leaders, who meticulously kept the Law) while the younger son represents those in humanity who (realizing the error of their ways) return to God, who forgives them for their sins because they asked to be. | | The interpretation is fairly simple: the father in this story is God, the eldest son represents those who believe good works earn God's favor (specifically the Jewish leaders, who meticulously kept the Law) while the younger son represents those in humanity who (realizing the error of their ways) return to God, who forgives them for their sins because they asked to be. |
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| | + | == Old Testament == |
| | + | While this parable is strikingly original, some cite to {{bibleref|Isaiah|30}} for an [[Old Testament]] foundation in how [[God]] loved a wayward people.<ref>https://www.knowableword.com/2023/10/09/the-prodigal-son-in-isaiah/</ref> |
| | == See also == | | == See also == |
| | *[[Math and the Bible]] | | *[[Math and the Bible]] |