Difference between revisions of "Prodigal Son"
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| − | The Prodigal Son is | + | [[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 one of the most famous [[parable]]s 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 translations, and does not have any [[Greek]] root. The Greek term for "reckless living," sometimes translated as "prodigally", appears only once in the entire [[Bible]]. [[Math]]ematical insights in this parable include [[infinity]] (the father's wealth) and [[set theory]] (lack of order in a set). | ||
| − | + | In this story (see [[Luke, Chapter 15|KJV rendition]]), 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> | |
| − | + | The younger son leaves the estate and goes into a far country, wasting his entire inheritance on sinful pleasures,<ref>Sometimes, but rarely, translated as "prodigally" consistent with the name of this [[parable]].</ref> and immediately thereafter a famine hits the land. The son is forced into working for a man, feeding pigs<ref>Pigs are unclean animals in Jewish law; thus making his profession equivalent to "hitting rock bottom".</ref> yet still so famished that he wanted to eat what the pigs were eating. | |
| − | + | Eventually coming to his senses, he decides on a final, desperate act: he would return to his father, admit his wrong and his unworthiness to be called his son, and beg to be hired as a servant. But '''''while he was still a long way from home''''', his father sees him and runs to him<ref>In Jewish culture, fathers did not run to their children.</ref> and before the son can finish his prepared speech, the father embraces him and calls for a celebration with the "fatted calf" as the main course (saying his son was dead, and has come back to life). | |
| − | + | The eldest son (who stayed with the father) heard the noise and was told of the events. Angry, he refused to attend. When his father pleads with him to come, he replies that he kept all of his father's commandments, yet never got any animal where he could have a party (even though he now owned 2/3 of the inheritance, which he likely increased during his ownership), yet "this son" (refusing to acknowledge him as his brother) gets rewarded after wasting his share of the inheritance. His father replies that all he has is the elder son's, but still believes a celebration is in order as his brother has (metaphorically) returned from the dead. | |
| − | : | + | The interpretation is straightforward: the father in this story is [[God]], the eldest son represents those who believe [[Works (theology)|good works]] earn God's favor (specifically 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 then forgives them for their sins because they asked to be. |
| − | == | + | == 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 == | |
| − | + | *[[Math and the Bible]] | |
| − | + | <br /> | |
| − | + | <br /> | |
| − | + | [[File:Murillo, The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1667 1670.jpg|thumbnail|center|400px|Return of the Prodigal Son by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]] | |
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Bible]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Biblical Parables]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:55, April 12, 2026
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous parables and appears only once, at Luke 15:11-32. The origin of the name "prodigal" is a mystery: it does not appear in most translations, and does not have any Greek root. The Greek term for "reckless living," sometimes 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).
In this story (see KJV rendition), a man had two sons. The younger demanded his share of his future inheritance immediately, whereupon the father divided it between his two sons.[1]
The younger son leaves the estate and goes into a far country, wasting his entire inheritance on sinful pleasures,[2] and immediately thereafter a famine hits the land. The son is forced into working for a man, feeding pigs[3] yet still so famished that he wanted to eat what the pigs were eating.
Eventually coming to his senses, he decides on a final, desperate act: he would return to his father, admit his wrong and his unworthiness to be called his son, and beg to be hired as a servant. But while he was still a long way from home, his father sees him and runs to him[4] and before the son can finish his prepared speech, the father embraces him and calls for a celebration with the "fatted calf" as the main course (saying his son was dead, and has come back to life).
The eldest son (who stayed with the father) heard the noise and was told of the events. Angry, he refused to attend. When his father pleads with him to come, he replies that he kept all of his father's commandments, yet never got any animal where he could have a party (even though he now owned 2/3 of the inheritance, which he likely increased during his ownership), yet "this son" (refusing to acknowledge him as his brother) gets rewarded after wasting his share of the inheritance. His father replies that all he has is the elder son's, but still believes a celebration is in order as his brother has (metaphorically) returned from the dead.
The interpretation is straightforward: the father in this story is God, the eldest son represents those who believe good works earn God's favor (specifically 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 then forgives them for their sins because they asked to be.
Old Testament
While this parable is strikingly original, some cite to Isaiah 30 for an Old Testament foundation in how God loved a wayward people.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Sometimes, but rarely, translated as "prodigally" consistent with the name of this parable.
- ↑ Pigs are unclean animals in Jewish law; thus making his profession equivalent to "hitting rock bottom".
- ↑ In Jewish culture, fathers did not run to their children.
- ↑ https://www.knowableword.com/2023/10/09/the-prodigal-son-in-isaiah/