Daily Manna매일만나

The Parables of the Lost · Day 2

Luke 15:11-24 — a devotion

Luke 15

  1. 11또 가라사대 어떤 사람이 두 아들이 있는데And he said, A certain man had two sons:He said, “A certain man had two sons.
  2. 12그 둘째가 아비에게 말하되 아버지여 재산 중에서 내게 돌아올 분깃을 내게 주소서 하는지라 아비가 그 살림을 각각 나눠 주었더니And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.
  3. 13그 후 며칠이 못되어 둘째 아들이 재산을 다 모아 가지고 먼 나라에 가 거기서 허랑방탕하여 그 재산을 허비하더니And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
  4. 14다 없이한 후 그 나라에 크게 훙년이 들어 저가 비로소 궁핍한지라And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
  5. 15가서 그 나라 백성 중 하나에게 붙여 사니 그가 저를 들로 보내어 돼지를 치게 하였는데And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
  6. 16저가 돼지 먹는 쥐엄 열매로 배을 채우고자 하되 주는 자가 없는지라And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
  7. 17이에 스스로 돌이켜 가로되 내 아버지에게는 양식이 풍족한 품꾼이 얼마나 많은고 나는 여기서 주려 죽는구나And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
  8. 18내가 일어나 아버지께 가서 이르기를 아버지여 내가 하늘과 아버지께 죄를 얻었사오니I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
  9. 19지금부터는 아버지의 아들이라 일컬음을 감당치 못하겠나이다 나를 품꾼의 하나로 보소서 하리라 하고And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
  10. 20이에 일어나서 아버지께 돌아 가니라 아직도 상거가 먼데 아버지가 저를 보고 측은히 여겨 달려가 목을 안고 입을 맞추니And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.
  11. 21아들이 가로되 아버지여 내가 하늘과 아버지께 죄를 얻었사오니 지금부터는 아버지의 아들이라 일컬음을 감당치 못하겠나이다 하나And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.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.’
  12. 22아버지는 종들에게 이르되 제일 좋은 옷을 내어다가 입히고 손에 가락지를 끼우고 발에 신을 신기라But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
  13. 23그리고 살진 송아지를 끌어다가 잡으라 우리가 먹고 즐기자And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;
  14. 24이 내 아들은 죽었다가 다시 살아났으며 내가 잃었다가 다시 얻었노라 하니 저희가 즐거워하더라For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society

Background

This passage is commonly called the parable of the prodigal son, but it would really be more fitting to call it the parable of the father. It is the third and longest of the parables in Luke 15, following the lost sheep and the lost coin. The immediate occasion for Jesus telling this parable was the Pharisees' criticism that He kept company with sinners. In Jewish culture, demanding one's inheritance while the father was still alive was a grave act of dishonor — as good as wishing for the father's death. And tending pigs was the worst possible disgrace for a Jew, since pigs were unclean animals under the law. Knowing this cultural background helps us grasp more deeply how dramatic the son's fall was, and how radical the father's forgiveness.

Reflection questions: 1. If you have ever drifted away from the Father and then returned, how did you experience God's response at that time? 2. In the image of the father who runs to embrace his son, is there something new you realized about God? 3. Is there an area of your life right now where you want to return to God? What is it?

Today's reflection

This is the first half of the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son demands his share of the estate in advance, leaves for a distant country, squanders it in reckless living, and loses everything. Reduced to feeding pigs and longing to fill his stomach even with the carob pods the pigs ate, he finally comes to his senses and resolves to return to his father. The expression in verse 17, 'when he came to himself,' marks the beginning of repentance. Looking honestly at your actual condition is the first step of the journey home.

Then an astonishing scene unfolds. While the son is still a long way off, the father sees him, runs to him, throws his arms around his neck, and kisses him. In the Jewish culture of the time, for the elder of a household to hitch up his robes and run was a radical act that completely set aside his dignity. This is the key scene revealing the grace of God. Before the son can even finish the apology he had prepared, the father calls for the best robe, a ring, and sandals, and throws a feast.

The best robe symbolizes restored honor, the ring the authority of a son, and the sandals the status of a son rather than a servant. This parable teaches that repentance is not simply feeling sorry for our wrongs but a change of direction — turning back to the Father. And the Father's response to a returning child is not judgment but welcome and complete restoration. Whatever state you are in right now, the road back to the Father's house is always open.

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