The Lost Son Part 1

Luke 15:11-17 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

Keywords: inheritance, travel, famine, pigs, running, robe, ring, sandals, fattened calf

Inheritance is a legal transmission of the property after death. The oldest living son would inherit a double portion.[1]

Travel was by foot, averaging seventeen to twenty-three miles. Donkeys, mules, camels, oxen, and horses were used for travel. There were also seagoing vessels to increase travel to over one hundred miles.[2]

Famine is an extreme shortage of food, and drought is excessive dryness of the land.[3]

Swine (Pigs) under Mosaic law are considered unclean because they do not chew their cud.[4]

The parable is much longer than the sheep and coin. Jesus begins with the younger son asking for his share of the estate. It is not normal to make such a request, especially in a Jewish family. This request is equal to saying Father, you are dead to me; give my share now because I am waiting for your death. Jesus adds more insults by saying the younger son left for faraway lands. The younger son is assumed to have moved to the Gentile locations. The famine in the area required him to take a job feeding pig. At this time, he comes to his senses and returns home. He prepares a speech of repentance.

Have you left the safety of God? Have you come to your senses and want to go home? Pray to our Heavenly Father and confess your sins. He wants to greet you back home.

Bibliography

Ellis, Bob R. "Famine and Drought" in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 557. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Horton, Jr., Fred L. "Inheritance" in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 799-800. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Matthews, Victor H. and Stephen Humphreys. "Transportation and Travel" in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1595-1599. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

"Swine" in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1514. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] Fred L. Horton, Jr., “Inheritance,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 799-800. [2]Victor H. Matthews and Stephen Humphreys, “Transportation and Travel,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1595-1599. [3]Bob R. Ellis, “Famine and Drought,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 557. [4] “Swine,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1514.