CHAP, iv A twofold lesson. 35 



The parable of the Prodigal has probably im- 

 pressed mankind more than anything else in Christ's 

 teaching, and in its most impressive feature is 

 perfectly clear; while that of the Labourers has 

 impressed mankind comparatively little, and appears 

 to be generally thought a perplexing parable. 

 Nevertheless it can be shown that the lessons of the 

 two are closely similar. 



The lesson of both parables is twofold. In the 

 one we have the cases of the two sons, in the other 

 those of the first hired and the last hired labourers ; 

 and in both, equal emphasis is laid on the two 

 cases; though this is not generally seen. It is 

 perhaps for this reason to be regretted that the 

 former has received the name of the parable of the 

 Prodigal Son : it would be better to call it the 

 parable of the Two Sons, were not this title already 

 appropriated to another parable, also spoken to the 

 Pharisees and rulers. 1 



The three parables in Luke xv., the Lost Sheep, 

 the Lost Piece of Money, and the Lost Son, or 

 the Prodigal, were evidently spoken about the 

 same time, and form a series. But the words 

 " and He said," at the commencement of the third, 

 indicate a transition of some kind; and perhaps 

 Our Lord, at this point of His discourse, meant, 

 and was understood by His audience to mean, " I 

 have till now been addressing the Pharisees in 

 defence of my action in receiving sinners and eating 

 1 Matt. xxi. 28. 



