Cultural Insights ~ Luke 15.11-12 ~ Answers
Gleaned from Kenneth Bailey by Lee Magness
Cultural Insights into Luke 15.11-12
1) What is the significance of the man having two sons?
Insight ~ The opening sentence immediately establishes a socio-cultural hierarchy--father...older son...younger
son. In that culture the oldest male child had a privileged status.
2) What were the cultural implications of the younger son's request for his inheritance?
Insight ~ Distribution of property took place at or near the father's death, so the request of the younger son is
tantamount to requesting/wishing for the father’s death.
3) Did Palestinian inheritance laws ever allow for inheritance before the father's death?
Insight ~ It was possible. Even then the son received the right of possession but not the right of
disposition. The father remained in control of expenditures.
4) How would the inheritance have been divided between the two sons?
Insight ~ The elder son normally received two-thirds of the inheritance, the younger son one-third.
5) What does the younger son's request reveal about him?
Insight ~ The younger son is...
a) eager for his father to die.
b) trapped in self-centered pride (notice all the I's and me's in his request).
c) not breaking a law, but he is breaking a relationship.
d) lacking in respect not only for his father but also his family, his village, and his culture.
d) lacking in gratitude and trust.
6) What do these verses reveal about the older son?
Insight ~ The older son is...
a) fully aware of the situation.
b) unwilling to act as a mediator to prevent this disrespectful and ultimately destructive behavior.
c) possibly part of the reason the younger son wants to leave home.
7) What do these verses reveal about the father?
Insights ~ The father...
a) gives his son the freedom to reject him and his love.
b) does not sever his relationship with the son, even though the son severs his relationship with the father.
c) does not strike his son and disowned him, the typical reaction.
“We know the younger son by what he asks, the father by what he does, and the older son by what he does not do.”
(Bailey, p. 47)
1) What is the significance of the man having two sons?
Insight ~ The opening sentence immediately establishes a socio-cultural hierarchy--father...older son...younger
son. In that culture the oldest male child had a privileged status.
2) What were the cultural implications of the younger son's request for his inheritance?
Insight ~ Distribution of property took place at or near the father's death, so the request of the younger son is
tantamount to requesting/wishing for the father’s death.
3) Did Palestinian inheritance laws ever allow for inheritance before the father's death?
Insight ~ It was possible. Even then the son received the right of possession but not the right of
disposition. The father remained in control of expenditures.
4) How would the inheritance have been divided between the two sons?
Insight ~ The elder son normally received two-thirds of the inheritance, the younger son one-third.
5) What does the younger son's request reveal about him?
Insight ~ The younger son is...
a) eager for his father to die.
b) trapped in self-centered pride (notice all the I's and me's in his request).
c) not breaking a law, but he is breaking a relationship.
d) lacking in respect not only for his father but also his family, his village, and his culture.
d) lacking in gratitude and trust.
6) What do these verses reveal about the older son?
Insight ~ The older son is...
a) fully aware of the situation.
b) unwilling to act as a mediator to prevent this disrespectful and ultimately destructive behavior.
c) possibly part of the reason the younger son wants to leave home.
7) What do these verses reveal about the father?
Insights ~ The father...
a) gives his son the freedom to reject him and his love.
b) does not sever his relationship with the son, even though the son severs his relationship with the father.
c) does not strike his son and disowned him, the typical reaction.
“We know the younger son by what he asks, the father by what he does, and the older son by what he does not do.”
(Bailey, p. 47)
