The Return of The Return of the Prodigal Sonthe Prodigal Son c. 1669c. 1669

by Rembrandt Harmensz by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijnvan Rijn

Technique: Oil on canvasTechnique: Oil on canvasDimensions: 262 × 206 cmDimensions: 262 × 206 cmCurrent location: St. Current location: St. PetersburgPetersburg

More More Valuable Valuable

than than Sheep or Sheep or

CoinsCoinsLuke 15:11-

32

Audience & Audience & SettingSetting

Audience & Audience & SettingSetting

•Tax collectors Tax collectors & sinners& sinners•Pharisees & Pharisees & teachers of the teachers of the LawLaw

Audience & Audience & SettingSetting

22The Pharisees and The Pharisees and the teachers of the the teachers of the law muttered, “This law muttered, “This man welcomes man welcomes sinners and eats sinners and eats with them.”with them.”33Then Jesus told Then Jesus told them this parable…them this parable…

The Younger The Younger SonSon

Represents: tax

collectors and

sinners

The Younger The Younger SonSon

The FatherThe Father

The FatherThe Father

Represents: God

The Older The Older SonSon

Represents: Pharisees

and teachers of the Law

The Older The Older SonSon

More More Valuable Valuable

than Sheep than Sheep or Coinsor Coins

God wants Lost

People found

& hurting people helped

More Valuable than Sheep or More Valuable than Sheep or CoinsCoins

God wants Lost God wants Lost People foundPeople found

&& hurting people hurting people helpedhelped

So what?So what?

More Valuable than Sheep or More Valuable than Sheep or CoinsCoins

God wants Lost God wants Lost People foundPeople found

&& hurting people hurting people helpedhelped

Now Now what?what?

More Valuable than Sheep or More Valuable than Sheep or CoinsCoins