Interpreting the Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15,11-32) tells the story of a father, who shows surprising compassion to his two sons. The well-known and beloved parable has encouraged people to believe in a merciful God, yet also called the self-righteous to repentance. In this talk, we will focus on three areas: (1) the parable's context in the Gospel of Luke, (2) the parable's details, which bear a particular impact on its interpretation, and (3) the parable's contribution to Jesus' proclamation of the kingdom of God.