Introduction
"Christians have perverted the message of Christ," says the Muslim to his Christian friend. "The story of the prodigal son proves that the cross is unnecessary to forgiveness. The boy comes home. His father welcomes him. There is no cross and no incarnation. Islam with no cross or savior preserves the true message of Christ."
Kenneth Bailey1
Questions
11 And he [Jesus] said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ So, he divided the assets between them.
This is an ANE story. The inheritance went to the sons. Land and wealth stayed in the family. The sisters are not mentioned. They married outside of the family and did not take wealth, just a dowry with them.
Notice that in the original text there is no “his father” just “the father”.
What is strange about the father’s behaviour? This flags up the story as special from the outset.
13 And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth living wastefully. 14 And after he had spent everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 And he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to tend pigs. 16 And he was longing to fill his stomach with the carob pods [κεράτια] that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 “But he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have an abundance of bread, and I am dying here from hunger!
The carob pods are not pig swill. They are sweet and good to eat. The seeds were used as a standard for measuring precious stones and the unit carat is used to this day.
What is humiliating for the younger son looking at the pigs eating?
18 I will set out and go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight! 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Make me like one of your hired workers.’
How has the son sinned against heaven? How would you describe the son’s intended posture before the father?
20 And he set out and came to his own father. But while he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
This is the ancient near east. The context is also Jewish as pigs are mentioned. The significance of father’s actions is missed by the modern western reader.
Do middle eastern men, or women for that matter, run along the street? The father is a wealthy aga, the “big man”, of the town running in front of everyone, even his servants, and a long run as he saw his son “a long way away”.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight! I am no longer worthy to be called your son!’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! 23 And bring the fattened calf—kill it and let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
What is the father’s attitude toward the son? Are you reminded of any other parables?
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the slaves 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 gotten him back healthy.’ 28 But he became angry and did not want to go in. So, his father came out and began to implore him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’
According to Bailey2, in Middle Eastern it is more important for a son to show respect to his father even than to obey. Jesus is challenging the cultural norm.
31 But he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all my things are yours. 32 But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found!’ ”
This parable is traditionally called the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Which son is right with the father and which son continues to sin?
How would you answer the objection of Bailey’s Muslim friend in the introduction?
Bailey, Kenneth E. The Cross and the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants. Revised edition. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP, 2005, 9.
ibid, 10.