Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) What is the context of this passage?
2) What are the sins of the younger son? What is his attitude toward his father?
3) What are the sins of the older son? What is his attitude toward his father?
4) What is the attitude of the father toward each of his sons?
Luke 15:20-32
So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Original Intent
1) What is the context of this passage?
These verses are the conclusion to the parable of the Prodigal Son. Jesus tells a story about a man with two sons, the younger of whom asks for his inheritance, then goes away and squanders all of it. Once the son realizes he has made a huge mistake, he decides to return to his father to apologize and ask to be treated as one of his father’s servants.
There is also a broader context to this verse. At the beginning of Luke 15, the Pharisees were grumbling against Jesus because they thought it was improper for him to “welcome sinners and eat with them” (verse 2). In response, Jesus tells three parables about finding something that was lost: the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son.
2) What are the sins of the younger son? What is his attitude toward his father?
The younger son was overt in his disobedience and selfishness. He sinned by asking for his inheritance early, which is basically telling the father he valued his father’s stuff more than he valued his father. He sinned by being foolish with his money and wasting all of it, which involved some sinful practices (v. 30). In the beginning, his attitude toward the father was sinful and selfish. But in the end, his attitude toward his father was humble and repentant. He had decided he would rather work as a servant in the presence of his father than struggle to make his own life apart from him.
3) What are the sins of the older son? What is his attitude toward his father?
At first, the younger son appears to be the “good” son, since he stayed and served his father when his brother went away. But these verses give clues to the attitude of his heart. In verses 29-30, we see that he, too, was more interested in his father’s stuff than his father’s heart. He didn’t want the fattened calf to be given for his brother, because that calf was part of his inheritance. He felt more deserving, since he obeyed his father and his brother didn’t. If he really valued his father, he would have rejoiced with his father. But since selfishness was in his heart, he could not rejoice at his brother’s return.
4) What is the attitude of the father toward each of his sons?
The father in this story shows great compassion to each of his sons, in different ways. The younger son had overtly sinned, yet the father forgave him and celebrated his return. He rejoiced that his son, who had not been a part of his life, had returned to him. He also showed compassion to his older son. The older son was also sinful, although less overtly, because of his attitude toward his brother and his father. Yet the father did not withdraw from him, but gently reminded him of his value and inheritance, and ultimately, of the value of his brother.
Everyday Application
1) What is the context of this passage?
Jesus used this parable to show the Pharisees that we should rejoice when a sinner repents, when a lost person is found! We can often have the attitude of the older brother, thinking it is unfair that the father’s riches are shared with the overtly sinful. In reality, it’s unfair of God to share His riches with any of us! It’s good for us to remember that we don’t really want what we deserve, which is death. We want, and need, God’s mercy and grace.
2) What are the sins of the younger son? What is his attitude toward his father?
In the context of Chapter 15, the younger son represents the sinners that the Pharisees didn’t think Jesus should eat with. They were guilty of the sin of licentiousness; that is, doing whatever they want without regard for God. Do you tend toward the sin of licentiousness? By your actions, do you tend to tell God you don’t believe His word? Do you tend to believe you will find more satisfaction in going your own way, rather than loving God, listening to Him, and obeying Him? Repent, sister, and be free!
3) What are the sins of the older son? What is his attitude toward his father?
The older son in this parable represents the Pharisees, people who trusted in their rule-following to make them right with God. This is the sin of legalism. Do you tend toward the sin of legalism? In what ways are you tempted to trust in your good-girl status to make you right with God? Perhaps you add rules and standards, beyond what the Bible says, and look down on those who don’t follow them? Repent, sister, and be free!
4) What is the attitude of the father toward each of his sons?
The father in this parable represents our Heavenly Father. Oh praise You, God, for doing all the work of salvation for us, so that we can’t boast about our works! Praise You for offering the same salvation and inheritance to all of us, whether we tend towards legalism or license. Praise You for gently rebuking us and reminding us of our value and shared inheritance! Praise You for emphasizing relationship over performance!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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