Cross and the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants by Kenneth E. Bailey

Author:Kenneth E. Bailey [Bailey, Kenneth E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian
ISBN: 9780830832811
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2005-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. (Verse 16)

The prodigal desperately wanted to eat the pods that he was throwing to the pigs, but his stomach could not digest them. The Greek word behind "would gladly" is a strong word. Its meanings include "desire," "lust," "craving" and "longing." It also refers to sexual desire. This word appears when Jesus says, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover" (Luke 22:15).

Furthermore, as a Jew the prodigal probably could not bring himself to eat the scraps of pig meat that were left for the shepherds when an animal from the herd was butchered by the citizen master. To feed pigs was revolting enough! To eat their entrails was unthinkable!

The verse does not say that the son ate the pods but merely indicates that he earnestly desired to do so. He longed to be a pig so that he could digest the coarse pods the pigs were eating.'o The pigs were better off than he. Their bellies were full while his was empty.

Clearly he tried begging. Carts and people use the roads as well as herds. He probably followed each passing party as far as he dared and, with hand outstretched, emitted a pitiful, pleading whine to no avail in that "no one gave him anything."

His despair reached a new depth. He was not at the end of his rope-not yet. But his utter want finally overcame the shame he would feel before his father, his brother and the village. The brutal gauntlet through which he must pass in the village was now unavoidable. He was starving, and a man has to eat somehow!

He did not seriously consider returning home, in any capacity, until after all other alternatives were tried and found hopeless. As he would soon be too weak to walk home, he must return while he still had strength enough to make the journey.

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