In: Psychology
Reading Analysis
Jesus taught people in parables or short stories. The story elements related to peoples’ lives and so people easily connected with the stories. He often did not explain his parables. He left people to meditate on the meaning behind these “teaching tales.” For part of your assignment, you will read parables and analyze their meaning.
Your first reading is a famous parable, often called the Prodigal Son or The Parable of the Lost Son (Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15, reading verse 11-32…written as Luke 15:11-32.)
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “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! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 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.’”
Analysis Questions:
What three teaching points or application points can you draw from the character of the prodigal son? In what three ways does he reflect an understanding of human nature?
How is the father in the story a reflection of “God our Father”? What three positive traits can be deduced from the father in this story to teach others about God?
How is the older brother a reflection on our attitude toward forgiving others who have done wrong things or done wrong to us? Why is it so hard for people to forgive others? Your paragraph answer should reflect your critical thinking on this subject.
The prodigal son reflects the very nature of man ,as the prodigal son was driven by his senses so is man,who is selfishly busy in fulfilling the desires of his body and lust.Second feature of the prodigal son t is recklessness,that is no care for others,as the prodigal never cared for his father's feelings when he asked for his share, similar is man's nature,he seldom cares for others,all that is the fulfillment of his mean desires.Third feature of prodigal son when faced with difficult situation acknowledges his fault and longs to be in his father's house.Similarly man when faces difficulties because of his faults remember the Almighty and wants to return to him.
The father in the parable,a compassionate,loving and forgiving father is similar to our eternal father,who send his begotten Son redeem the lost and strayed mankind.As the father in the story gives the son be who came to him with repentance everything that was needed for his restoration,so is God our Father merciful to us, when we return back to him gives all the providence necessary for this life and the eternal life.
Elder brother reflects the self righteous persons,who are proud and judgemental in nature.Its the self righteousness that makes them hard to forgive others.They lack sympathy and compassion for the weak and feeble.They do everything in wordly sense,that is they follow the word to word instructions of Bible ,this gives them the sense of pride and they feel they are the most dutiful.This hardens their heart and prevent them from forgiving others.