« Movie Review: What's Eating Gilbert Grape | Main | LOST Season 3 Spoilers Ahead »
The Prodigal Son - Some Extra Information
One of my favorite bible stories is the one of The Prodigal Son Luke 15: 11-32. It is a story of redemption and promise that pretty much everyone can relate to and find hope in.
I have been reading through The DK Illustrated Family Bible. I got this Bible years and years ago. The main reason I got it was to record births, marriages and deaths in. It is illustrated and I thought it would be good to read passages to the children. It does not contain every word of the Bible, but it does contain illuminations. There are sidebars which give the reader insight into the culture and more depth on what some of the passages mean.
Today, I read the parable of The Prodigal Son. And I learned several things that I didn't know before which make the story even more meaningful and enjoyable. So I wanted to share.
Luke 15:12 "Give me my share" - In Jesus' time, for a son to demand a share of his family's estate while his father was stil alive and well was to wish his death.
Luke 15:13 "Set off for a distant country" - By leaving the family estate with all his belongings, the younger son is saying that he has no intention of coming back. For the father, it is a sign of rejection and as if his son were dead.
Luke 15:15 "Sent him to his fields to feed pigs" - Jews never fed pigs and to do so was degrading. The Jewish people considered pig to be impure, unclean animals, and they were not supposed to approach them or to eat their meat.
Luke 15:20 "He ran to his son" - In biblical times it would have been considered humiliating for a wealthy man wearing heavy robes to run anywhere. In this story, the father runs to his errant son, welcoming him back despite his behavior.
Luke 15:22 "Bring the best robe" - The best robe traditionally belongs to the head of the family. The ring the father gives his son symbolizes his power over the servants, and the sandals indicate freedom. Sandalsare worn by the family, but not by servants. Even guests would take off their sandals when uinvited into a house. The young rebel is accepted back as a member of the family.
Luke 15:23 "Bring the fattened calf" - In wealthy families, a calf fattened on milk was killed for very special occasions or feasts - as is the custom today with turkeys and geese.
Luke 15:28 "The Older Brother became angry" - The father has forgiven the guilty son, but his elder son is jealous and feels unable to rejoice with the rest of the household. His slef-righteousness prevents him from accepting his younger brother.
Luke 15:28 "His father...pleaded with him" - In Middle Eastern tradition, a father would never normally discuss domestic matters with his children. By doing so, the father demonstrates his love for the unforgiving son.
May this bless you and your understanding of God's word.
