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Bethlehem’s Adult Bible Study Class

Has resumed and will meet every Sunday at 9:00am. They are studying Confession and Absolution, & Communion. Feel free to come and attend whenever you can.

The Prodigal Son
"This brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." That sounds like a reason for thanksgiving, doesn't it?

You're probably familiar with this, one of Jesus' most famous parables: a young man squanders his inheritance in a life of debauchery--and when the money dries up, he's ashamed to return to the father he spurned. Little does he know that what awaits him in his father's house is not anger and condemnation, but love and forgiveness.

Read more about forgiveness as a biblical theme in the Dictionary of Bible Themes sidebar note.

There's a lot of room for thanksgiving in this parable. As you read it today, consider not just what it says about God's endless grace, but the place of gratitude in this story. Who in this story has cause to give thanks?

(If you're looking for a complete commentary on this important parable, consider looking into these Expositor's Bible Commentary notes available in the sidebar.)

Luke 15:11-32
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! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Think About It

Can you identify the points in this story at which somebody should have been thankful, but wasn't?
We usually read this story identifying with the prodigal son. But can you also identify with the father? Have you ever thought something--or someone--lost to you, only to have it returned? What was your response, emotionally and spiritually?
The older brother should have been thankful to see his long-lost sibling again. What do you think got in the way of his gratitude? Can you relate?
Is there anything in your life that you know you should be grateful for, but something is keeping you from acknowledging? What can you do this week to change that?