The Prodigal Son
Let's look at how the literary form of the story. See what new meanings may jump out about the point of the story.
Repeated Words
Sometimes words that get repeated a lot have an important meaning in Bible stories. Look at how the word "lost" (the Greek word apollymi, which can also mean perish) gets repeated:
Context in the story (Luke 15:4): "“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?"
Context in the story (Luke 15:6): "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Context in the story (Luke 15:8-9): “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she lose one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’"
Context in the story (Luke 15:17) [Prodigal realizes he is starving]: "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Context in the story (Luke 15:32): "It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Discussion Questions
Jesus is being criticized by the pharisees for hanging out with people who are lost, in other words, sinners. How does Jesus weave the word "lost" through all the stories? What point is he trying to tell the pharisees about being lost and being found?
Story Outline
Let's look deeper at the organization of the prodigal son. Let's look at the younger son first:
- Younger son gets lost (in the world)
- Son lacks food and possessions
- Works for citizen
- Has moment of realization
- Will go work for father
- Works for citizen
- Father gives food and possessions
- Son lacks food and possessions
- Younger son was lost and is found
Then look at the older son:
- Older son learns of celebration and will not go in to celebrate
- Father comes out to comfort him
- Son tells Father he did not get celebration
- Son tells Father he did not lose possessions
- Father tells son he has all his possessions
- Father tells son he should celebrate
Discussion Questions
Let's look at the outline for the younger son first. The key moment for the character is between deciding to work for the citizen and deciding to work for the father. What does he realize in that key moment? How does he see a contrast between working for these two individuals?
How is the younger son's lack of food and possessions immediately supplied by the father?
Does anything else about the organization of the story of the first son strike you?
Look at the organization of the story of the older son. What parts of the story are similar or contrast each other?
Let's see where this story falls in the larger context of the story of Luke. Starting in Luke 13:22, Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem, teaching people along the way. A lot of these teaching were a directed towards the Pharisees and their teaching. Luke 15, is one of the chapters that is a direct criticism of the Pharisees.
Take a look at some of the stories that proceed and follow this chapter. (This outline is just to give the briefest sense of each story and is by no means any substitute for reading the story in its full meanings.)
Luke 13:22 - Jesus heads to Jerusalem
Luke 13:24 - Jesus contrasts true workers vs workers of sin, even though both think they are doing the right thing.
Luke 13:31 - Pharisees say Herod will kill Jesus. Jesus says Jerusalem always kills prophets
Luke 14:1 - Jesus heals in front of Pharisees on sabbath (when work is forbidden according to the rules of Moses).
Luke 14:7 - Parable about not choosing the nicest rooms
Luke 14:12 - Teaching to invite the outcasts, not the rich, to supper
Luke 14:15 - Parable of making a supper and the invited guests refuse to come so the outcasts come instead
Luke 14:25 - Weighing the cost of being a true disciple
Luke 15 - Pharisees criticize Jesus for the company he keeps and he tell three stories, including the prodigal son.
Luke 16:1 - Parable and teachings about money
Luke 16:13 - Tells Pharisees that you can’t serve God and money
Luke 16:19 - Parable about the exaltation of a beggar and misery of a rich man
Discussion Questions
Do you feel like the stories above that talk about rich men and those accepted by society might be criticisms of the Pharisees?
Reading about the stories that come both before and after Luke 15, how do feel that this story might fit into a large narrative of Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees and their criticism of him in return?