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Greek Prep Index

Exegetical Considerations
Luke 15:1-3,11b-32
4th Sunday in Lent
March 21, 2004

1. What is the literary context of this text?

2. How does that context provide an interpretive framework for this passage?

3. What is the broad flow of this text, and how does that impact a title for this text?

4. How are the son’s actions shameful in v. 12?

5. In light of Sirach 33:19-23, how are the father’s actions in v. 12 shameful?

6. How are the son’s actions in v. 13 shameful?

7. In what ways would the younger son be the mirror opposite of the Old Testament characterization of Joseph?

8. How are the son’s actions in vv. 15-16 shameful?

9. What are the younger son’s sociological and theological assessments in vv. 18-19?

10. How are the father’s actions in vv. 20-23 shameful?

11. What are the father’s sociological and theological assessments in vv. 22-24?

12. What are the older son’s sociological and theological assessments in vv. 29-30?

13. What are the father’s sociological and theological assessments in vv. 31-32?

14. How does edei in v. 32 become the theological key to this parable?

a. How is that word used in Luke’s gospel?

15. Why is the parable of the prodigal son an inadequate title to capture the full thrust and scope of this parable?

a. What would be a more apt title?