One Big Family

One Big Family

Luke 15:11-32

Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

Luke 15:11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 “The younger of them said to

his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he

divided his wealth between them. 13 “And not many days later, the younger son

gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there

he squandered his estate in wild living. 14 “Now when he had spent everything, a

severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15 “So he went

and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his

fields to feed pigs. 16 “And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs

were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17 “But when he came to his senses,

he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but

I am dying here from hunger! 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; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’ 20 “So he set

out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him

and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 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, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24

for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been

found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:25 “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 servants

and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your

brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has

received him back safe and sound.’ 28 “But he became angry and was not willing to

go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 “But he answered and

said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never

neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I

might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has

devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is

yours. 32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was

dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

The parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 15, verses 11–32.

For more than 1,900 years, the church has often interpreted this parable through the

lens of a Roman family dynamic. The early church desired to resemble Roman culture

so strongly that it adopted the Roman understanding of family life. Because the church

has long held to its traditions, it has been nearly impossible for theologians through the

centuries to approach the parable from the perspective of Jesus’ original listeners. As a

result, many interpretations have likely been inaccurate.

Let us instead consider how the original audience would have understood this story.

These listeners heard Jesus speak in Aramaic, and they were thoroughly familiar with

their family structures and customs.

Several misconceptions have shaped the interpretation of this parable over time. The

first is the belief that the younger son “demanded” his inheritance, thereby wishing his

father dead. In reality, males in the household shared ownership of family property. The

younger son was not out of line in asking for his portion. However, once he received

it, he was expected to leave the family home. The family would not allow him to take

part of the property—especially land—sell it, and then continue living with them. This

was simply the custom of the time.

The parable mentions that the young man longed to eat “pods.” In Aramaic, the word

translated as “pods” carries a root meaning connected to “loneliness.” When the young