Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable:
‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’
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Most of us have heard the story of the prodigal son many times and probably heard a sermon or two on it as well. The audience listening to Jesus would remember from the Old Testament numerous stories of two brothers, the most memorable being the stories of Jacob and Esau, and Isaac and Ishmael. In both stories the younger son, receives his father's blessing. His audience would have heard the story in its cultural context, a context that is mostly lost to us today.
Perhaps we can get a better understanding of the story by stepping into it, and walking a mile in one, or more, of the character's moccasins. To help you get into character and understand a little of the cultural context of the story take a few minutes to read this commentary on the text.
What do you know of the inner drama of the prodigal son who disrespects his father and wastes his inheritance in dissolute living? Who, when he reaches bottom, cooks up a scheme to get back in his father's good graces. Did you notice what he left out of the little speech he had practiced for his father? What are his thoughts as he celebrates his good fortune at being accepted back by his father? Has he learned his lesson?
What do you know of the inner drama of the elder son who stayed home, worked like a slave, kept all the rules, and is now resentful of the attention given his younger brother? Will he join the party? Would he be welcome at that party?
What do you know of the inner drama of the father who is torn between the love of his two sons? Imagine him as the story ends standing between the two sons, one in the fields angry and jealous and the other celebrating in his father's best robes. What would you like to happen next? What do you think actually happens next?
Does this story resonate in our cultural context for people like us?
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