Luke 15:11-32

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”¹

This parable is found only in the gospel of Luke. We are told in the beginning of chapter 15 who Jesus was talking to when he told the parable. There was a group of tax collectors and sinner. But there was also a group of Pharisees and teachers of the law. This second group is also important as one of the aspects of the parable relates to them.

The parable is one of the more complex in terms of the fullness of the meaning. There are 3 principal people: the prodigal son, the father, and the older brother.

The prodigal son can be seen as representing the lost people in the world. Which the tax collectors and sinners would have understood.

• The younger son has the arrogance to ask the father for his inheritance while the father is still alive. Then when he gets it, he takes off immediately to go out and spend it on sinful pleasures. But after the money runs out, he is reduced to working for gentiles in a pig pen (very distasteful for a Jewish boy, as pigs were considered an unclean animal). Finally he comes to himself and realizes that even his fathers servants have a better life than he. So he returns to the father ready to confess his sin and work for him as a servant (unworthy of being part of the family).

The father can be seen as God the Father. Who is willing to forgive those who turn from their sin and come to Him through Jesus His Son.

• The father is full of compassion and love. He does not try and force the son to stay with him. Nor does he withhold the inheritance from him. But is patient and loving toward his son. Next we see that the father sees his son far off coming back home. The father is very pleased. He runs to the son and embraces him and kisses him. Then he calls a servant and has him bring a robe, ring, sandles, and to kill the fatted calf for a celebration. What the father says after that is very significant: this is my son who was dead and is alive again, who was lost and is found. This is how God the Father feels about any of us to return to Him.

The older brother can be seen as the more righteous in the world. Who look down on the more sinful in the world.

• The older brother comes in from the field where he has been working (as a righteous person has not strayed from the father). When he gets there he asks a servant what is going on. He is angry that his sinful younger brother is back. Not only that but they are having a celebration for him. He refuses to attend the celebration. The father comes to him and reasons with him. And assures him that all he has belongs to him. That he should be joyful, since his younger brother who was dead is alive and who was lost is found.

• We need to let all the prodigal sons and daughters know that our Father and their Father wants them to turn from their sin and turn to their Father. He will forgive their sins and welcome them home! Jesus tells us: I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.² Just as the Father celebrated the prodigal son, so He and the angels celebrate when each sinner repents and returns.



• Now as the older brother was angry, so might some of the religious who already know Jesus. We should always be joyful when a sinner is saved. We should be celebrating with God and the angels for this son/daughter who was lost and now is found, who was dead and now is alive. This is the heart of Jesus who died for you and for them. Let us praise Jesus for saving even the foulest of sinners. And remember we to were once there.



• Jesus gives us a wonderful picture of God’s love for each of us. His will is that none should be lost. Let’s spread the word that all prodigal sons/daughters can be alive and live life to the fullest when they come to Jesus.