An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Gospels The Parable Of The Prodigal Son

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Luke 15:11–32 is the only source of one of the longest and best known parables. In an apparently wealthy family, the younger of two sons persuades his father to let him have his inheritance right away rather than after his father dies. The youth then goes off on his travels squandering the money on rich Bohemian living, and prostitutes. When a famine kicks in, the young man has no money left with which to preserve food and provisions. He finds himself desperate enough to work as a swineherd (tending pigs being a job that would be offensive to anyone Jewish) and he is so desperately hungry that he considers eating even the pigswill he gives to the pigs but realizing that he has no choice, he goes home to his father and older brother to apologize for his mistakes and beg their forgiveness. The brother is not too welcoming but the father I delighted the younger son has come home, showering him in gifts, tearful kisses and throwing a feast for him. The older brother is shocked, and initially refuses to welcome the wayward (prodigal) on back, but the father convinces him that in returning, the lost boy should be treated specially to discourage him from straying again and now being safe once more. Jesus, in similar territory to his earlier parable about a shepherd favouritizing a lamb that ran away, compares the prodigal son to a Christian who sins but then comes back for forgiveness. While many parents (the mother of the boys is never mentioned) will welcome back family who have left home, got into trouble, (financially, legally, socially or religiously) but come home, making a religion of such forgiveness can sadly lead many to stray intentionally knowing they can come grovelling back later though. We see how giving in to someone who goes bad too often simply make their behaviour habitual. Donald Trump being bailed out of numerous bankruptcies being a case in point. It becomes routine to take forgiveness and a second chance for granted. Arthur Chappell