One of, if not the most popular parables, in the history of the Bible is the parable of the prodigal son. We can say this story has become deeply ingrained in our culture.Every time anything valuable returns, we hear the word “prodigal.”
This anecdote is told throughout the church. It is recognised as both a source of hope for parents with errant children and a model of repentance. This well-known story has been the subject of numerous books and sermons.
The Prodigal Son is the third and final parable of a cycle of redemption, following the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. And in this article, we shall look deeply into this parable. So let’s get into it.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most powerful teachings of Jesus, which illustrates God’s boundless mercy and love for those who turn back to Him. It is the third in a series of parables found in Luke chapter 15.
But the parable of the prodigal son is a lot different from the other two. It talks about a Father and His Son. The Prodigal Son meaning revolves around repentance, forgiveness, and the unconditional love of a father welcoming back his lost child.
To fully grasp the meaning of this parable, let’s take a closer look at the Prodigal Son analysis and the story itself.
Complete Story Overview.
The parable begins with a wealthy, influential father and his two sons. It focuses on the younger son who requests his portion of the father’s fortune. In this parable, the son desired to receive his inheritance immediately rather than waiting for his father to pass away.
After reaching an agreement, the father gives his younger son what he asked for. And upon receiving his portion of the inheritance, the younger son travels to a distant country, where he squanders his wealth through reckless living.
He runs out of money just before a severe famine strikes the land, leaving him desperately poor and forced to take a filthy and low-paying job as a swineherd. He reaches the point of envying the food of the pigs he is feeding.
At this time, he finally comes to his senses. He decided to go back to his father and take the place of a servant. The son starts his rehearsed speech, admitting his sins and declaring himself unworthy of being his father’s son but does not even finish before his father accepts him back without hesitation.
The father calls for his servants to dress the son in the finest robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and slaughter the “fatted calf” for a celebratory meal.
While working in the fields, the older son hears cheering and is informed by a slave that his younger brother has returned. He becomes upset because he is not impressed.
He confronted his father. The father assured his older son that all He (the father) owns belongs to the older son. And he made the older son understand that a celebration was required because the younger son had, in a sense, returned from the dead.
Historical Context.
Luke Chapter 15 contains three parables: the Parable of the Lost Sheep (3-7), the Parable of the Lost Coin (8-10), and the Parable of the Loving Father (11-32). The entire context of Chapter 15 is concerned with the attitudes of the Pharisees and the Law teachers.
The Pharisees complained that Jesus receives and eats with sinners, which prompted Jesus to teach these three parables (v. 2). The religious elite said that Jesus performed His miracles using Satan’s power (Matthew 12:24).
They used Jesus’ association with sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors as evidence that he was of Satan. They claimed that if this man was the Messiah, he would avoid spending time with such individuals.
Jesus taught these three parables to correct their understanding of God’s character and nature, specifically His attitude towards the lost, poor, and broken of this world.
The religious leaders in attendance held positions of authority in the country at the time. They were looked up to as individuals who were carefully emulating God. “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.” So you must obey them and do everything they tell you.
When Jesus saw what the teachers of the law and Pharisees were modeling for the people, as well as their contempt for anyone who was not a member of their club, He decided to tell them three stories to demonstrate the Father’s heart for the lost. Of which the parable of the prodigal son was the last.
By telling this parable to the Pharisees, Jesus shined a bright light on God’s delight and pleasure in welcoming sinners. There is joy in heaven, joy before the angels of God—a party worthy of rings and robes and fattened calves—when even one sinner repents.
And for those who do not share the Father’s joy in welcoming sinners? Well, their focus on the law instead of the Father should make them re-examine what it means to be a child in the first place.
Understanding The Story.
To truly understand the lessons from the prodigal son, let’s take a closer look at the key characters and the main themes that shape the story.
Key Characters.
The Younger Son.
Like the prodigal son, we all possess a foolish ambition to be independent, which is at the root of the sinner persisting in his sin (Genesis 3:6; Romans 1:28). A sinful state is a departure and distance from God (Romans 1:21).
A sinful state is also a place of constant discontent. In Luke 12:15 Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
The younger son in the parable learned the hard way that covetousness leads to a life of dissatisfaction and disappointment. He also learned that the most valuable things in life are the things we cannot buy or replace.
The son later devises a plan of action, and it shows that his repentance was genuine. He will admit his sin (Luke 15:18), and he will give up his rights as a son and take on the position of a servant (verse 19). He realizes he has no right to a blessing from his father, and he has nothing to offer his father except a life of service.
In the same way, a repentant sinner coming to God is keenly aware of his own spiritual poverty. Laying aside all pride and feelings of entitlement, he brings nothing of value with him. The sinner’s only thought is to cast himself at the mercy of God and beg for a position of servitude (1 John 1:9; Romans 6:6–18; 12:1).
The Father.
The father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son was waiting for his son to return. And while the prodigal son was still a long way off, the father runs to his wayward son, embraces him, and kisses him.
In Jesus’ day, it was not customary for a grown man to run, yet the father ran to greet his son, breaking convention in his love and desire for restoration (verse 20).
What a picture of God’s love, condescension, and grace! God’s heart is full of compassion for His children; He stands ready to welcome the returning sinner back home with joy.
The prodigal son was given back the entire privilege of being his father’s son after being content to come home as a slave. That is what God’s grace does for a penitent sinner (Psalm 40:2; 103:4). Not only are we forgiven in Christ, but we receive the Spirit of “adoption to sonship” (Romans 8:15). We are His children, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
The father’s command to bring the best robe for the returned son is a sign of dignity and honor, proof of the prodigal’s acceptance back into the family. The ring for the son’s hand is a sign of authority and sonship. The sandals for his feet are a sign of him not being a servant.
The father also order that the fattened calf to be prepared for his returned son. Fatted calves in those times were saved for special occasions. This was not just any party; it was a rare and complete celebration.
All the things stated and highlighted above represent what we receive in Christ upon salvation: the robe of the Redeemer’s righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), the privilege of partaking of the Spirit of adoption (Ephesians 1:5), and feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, prepared to walk in the ways of holiness (Ephesians 6:15).
The actions of the father in the parable show just how much we are loved by the one true God (Psalm 103:10–13). Instead of condemnation, there is rejoicing for a son who “was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32; cf. Romans 8:1; John 5:24).
The Older Son.
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the older son is the tragic figure. When he heard dancing and music as he returned from the field. He hears the sound of celebration over his brother’s safe homecoming after learning that his younger brother has returned home from one of the maids. The older brother loses his temper and won’t enter the house.
The older son’s words and actions reveal several things about him:
- His relationship with his father was based on works and merit.
- He despises his younger brother as undeserving of the father’s favor.
- He does not understand grace and has no room for forgiveness. In fact, the demonstration of grace toward his brother makes him angry.
- He has disowned the prodigal as a brother, referring to him as “this son of yours” (verse 30).
- He thinks his father is unfair to him: “You never gave me even a young goat” (verse 29).
The older brother in the parable of the prodigaal son, represents the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They failed to realize that “anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him” (1 John 2:9–11).
The older brother just like the Pharisees and teachers of the law focused on their works.
The older brother allowed bitterness to take root in his heart to the point that he was unable to show compassion toward his brother. Rather than enjoy fellowship with his father, brother, and community, he stayed outside the house and nursed his anger. How sad to choose misery and isolation over restoration and reconciliation!
In contrast to the undeserving sinners around them, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law believed that their connection with God was determined by their performance and that they were worthy of God’s favor.
They were actually enraged by grace and did not comprehend it. They could not be forgiven. They did not see themselves as related to sinners. They believed that God’s benefits were quite sparse. They also reasoned that God would be unjust if He allowed sinners and tax collectors to become members of His family.
Also read: 38 Comprehensive Verses about forgiveness in the Bible.
Main Themes.
1. God’s Grace and Forgiveness.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Scripture’s most beautiful pictures of God’s grace. One of the lessons from the prodigal son is that god is always ready to forgive us.
He will save the contrite—not by works but by His grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:9; Romans 9:16; Psalm 51:5). This is the core message of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This parable reveals our heavenly Father’s mercy, grace, and desire for a relationship.
2. Different Forms of Lostness.
The parable shows two sons who were each lost in their own way. The yonger son acknowledges his sins and runs back to the Father who makes whole. But the older one, believes his works are enough to earn him salvation. He doesn’t see the sin of unforgiveness and bitterness in him.
3. The Universality of Sin.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are all prodigals in that we have ran from God, selfishly squandered our resources, and, to some degree, wallowed in sin.
4. Rebuke of legalism.
This is another important lesson from this parable. It does not matter how well someone obeys the Law—if they do so with a self-righteous attitude, it is a sin. Our love for the Lord should be what motivates our obedience.
Significance of The Parable
The Parable of the Prodigal Son holds deep significance in both its biblical and modern applications.
Ultimately, the parable teaches that God values a repentant heart over self-righteous deeds. And He invites everyone into His grace, whether they have strayed or have been faithfully following Him.
Biblical Context.
The biblical context is very simple. Every character is relatable to everyone. Like the youngest son, we have all allowed our pride and sinfulness to overcome us. We were a damaged mess as a result of our self-destructive practices and missed possibilities.
Among the deepest desires in our souls is the need for acceptance and atonement. The father represents the satisfaction of all these desires.
Additionally, we can all identify with the oldest son; we have all been underappreciated for our work in one way or another. This brilliant parable profoundly touches on the core of human nature.
May we strive to live in a relationship of loving obedience to God, which is the middle ground between the two extremes symbolized by the two sons.
Modern Application.
The modern day application is very clear. Present day Christians are like the two sons in the sense that, when we see sin we don’t just condemn it we also condemn the sinner and even go so far as to judge that same sinner.
Yes, we should be able to regonise sin and avoid a sinful lifestyle as this is wrong before God. But we also have to remember that God’s grace is unending. So you shouldn’t be quick to judge a sinner if you are not a sinner too.
There are also categories of christians who are so easily persuaded to leave God’s side and wallow in filth because of their sins. We have a loving father, ready to accept you regardless of what you did. he will wash us as white as snow and never remember them again.
FAQ Section:
– Where in the Bible is the story of the prodigal son?
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke 15:11-32.
– What is the significance of sandals in the story?
In biblical times, slaves went barefoot, only free men wore sandals. When the father gave his son sandals, it symbolized restoration to sonship, not servitude.
– Is the prodigal son a true story?
No, it is a parable meaning a story told to make a much larger point.
– Is the story of the prodigal son a parable?
Yes, it is one of Jesus’ parables, used to teach about God’s grace and forgiveness.
– What are the lessons of the story?
The parable teaches about God’s grace, forgiveness, repentance, and the dangers of self-righteousness.
– Is the story similar to other stories in the Bible?
Yes, it parallels other stories of God’s mercy, such as the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7) and the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10).
– The prodigal son story in Matthew: Am I worthy?
The story is not in Matthew but in Luke. And it answers the question: God’s grace makes us worthy, not our actions.
The Prodigal Son Summary.
The parable of the prodiga son is one of the best redemption stories ever told. The lessons from the prodigal son remind us of the transfor mative power of forgiveness and redemption.
While Jesus teaches us about God’s unconditional love through this story, He also emphasizes the need of believers to practise love in their own interactions with one another. This can be siblings, fellow believers, or anyone. When we acknowledge that everyone falls short and sins, we can show grace to one another.
