Luke 15,11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him,
29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Hello everyone, I am Kiki. The Chinese name of our second phase of the program is “读经大讲堂”. The English name is “Bible Study.”
We will adopt a relaxed and enjoyable learning style to take you into a new world of learning. Each time, I will make a personal summary and analysis from the perspective of a learner, and then Sister Ingrid will help me conduct in-depth study and discussions with everyone.
I hope that this interesting and interactive process can bring a new learning experience to all of you. The following is my interview with Sister Ingrid on related topics. Today is the 44th lecture on the Gospel of Luke.
Everyone is welcome to leave a message in the comment section for discussion!
2. My Summary of the 44th Study of Luke
Well, everybody! First of all, here is my personal study summary for today.
A man had two sons. The younger son asked for his inheritance early and wasted it all on wild living in a far country. Then a famine came. He had no money or food, so he fed pigs and envied their food.
He realized: “My father’s hired workers have plenty, but I’m starving here.” So he decided to go home and say, “Father, I have sinned. Treat me as a hired worker.”
While he was still far away, his father saw him, ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. He said, “Bring the best robe, a ring, and shoes. Kill the fattened calf. Let’s celebrate! My son was dead but is alive again; he was lost but is found.”
The older son came home from the field, heard music, and became angry. He refused to go in. He said, “I’ve served you for years and never disobeyed you, but you never gave me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Yet for this son who wasted your money with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf!”
The father replied, “Son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours. But we had to celebrate, because your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
I think this story shows that no matter how badly we mess up, coming home is always possible. And those who stay faithful should also learn to forgive.
Now let Sister Ingrid give a further summary.
3. Sister Ingrid’s Comment on My Study Summary
The first thing that stood out to me was that the father gave the property to the younger son. The son had the right to receive it when the father died, but the father held nothing back. He gave him what he wished for.
Then the younger son went abroad. He changed the kingdom and government of his land. Something I would be curious about is what the younger son thought when he arrived there. Did he think, “Finally, there is no control, no law, and no father to hold me back from reckless living”?
Certainly, he thought, “Finally, I can do what I want without any control.”
But the money did not last forever, and a great famine arose. He worked as a servant for a citizen of that land, but he did not receive any salary. The pigs got food, but he did not. He was not even given pig food.
When he was starving, he remembered that his father also had servants, but that he treated them well. So he decided to go home and beg his father to let him be a servant in his house.
It is interesting that we do not know how much time passed or what his father and brother did in the meantime. From the text we know that the father saw him while he was still far away, so it seems that he had been waiting for him, even if a long time had passed.
The father ran out to receive him and was happy to have his son back. Maybe he was simply glad that his son was still alive. He gave him new clothes, a ring, and killed a calf to prepare a great feast for him.
Meanwhile, the elder brother came and became angry because of jealousy. He rebuked the father, saying that he had never even received a goat to celebrate with his friends.
But the father corrected him, saying that he had always been in his house and that everything belonging to the father also belonged to him.
But on the day the younger son returned, there was reason to celebrate.
The most important point in this story is, that they both did not have a relationship with the father. The elder son claimed, that he never could have a party with his friends, but he did not claim about being with his father. He just was there in the house serving, without loving the father. Maybe that was the reason the younger one left, that there were no relationships and no love in that house.
4. Question List Based on the 44th Study of Luke
Okay. Based on the Bible study above, let me now ask Sister Ingrid some related questions.
We hope the following questions can be helpful to our brothers and sisters.
1. Why did the younger son ask his father for his share of the inheritance early?
We do not know. Maybe he wanted to explore other countries or did not want to submit himself to his father and elder brother.
2. What did the younger son do with all his money in the far country?
He wasted it on reckless living.
3. What happened to the younger son after he ran out of money?
A great famine came, and he attached himself to a citizen of that country to work for him.
4. Why did the younger son want to eat the food that the pigs were eating?
The citizen of that land represents the devil, and the devil never rewards what you do for him.
5. What made the younger son decide to go back home?
He remembered that his father also had servants, and that he treated them well.
6. What did the younger son plan to say to his father when he returned?
He planned to say, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
7. How did the father react when he saw his younger son coming from far away?
He ran toward him, gave him new clothes and a ring, and killed a calf to prepare a feast.
8. What did the father give his younger son to show he was still loved?
He gave him a ring, which represents commitment and acceptance.
9. Why was the older son angry, and what did he say to his father?
He was jealous that his younger brother was treated so well after everything he had done.
10. What did the father say to the older son to explain why they were celebrating?
The father explained that his son had been lost and was found, and that he had been dead but was alive again.
