What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son?

Answer

The Parable of the Prodigal Son can be found in Luke 15:11–32. The character of the forgiving father, who remains consistent throughout the narrative, serves as a representation of God. By narrating this tale, Jesus aligns Himself with God through His compassionate demeanor towards the lost, symbolized by the younger son, representing the tax collectors and sinners mentioned in Luke 15:1. On the other hand, the elder brother symbolizes the self-righteous individuals, akin to the Pharisees and teachers of the law referenced in Luke 15:2.

The central theme of this parable does not solely focus on the conversion of a sinner, unlike the preceding two parables in Luke 15, but rather emphasizes the reconciliation of a believer with the Father. In the initial two parables, the owner actively searched for what was lost (Luke 15:1-10), whereas in this particular account, the father patiently awaits and eagerly anticipates his son’s return. There is a progression evident across the three parables, moving from the significance of one out of a hundred (Luke 15:1-7), to one out of ten (Luke 15:8-10), and finally to the focus on the individual in this narrative (Luke 15:11-32), illustrating God’s love for each person and His personal care for all of humanity. Within this account, we witness the father’s grace overshadowing the son’s transgressions, as it is the recollection of the father’s kindness that leads the prodigal son to repentance «Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? », (Romans 2:4).

Jesus sets the stage for the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11: “There was a man who had two sons.”

The Younger Son

In Luke 15:12, the younger son asks his father for his share of the estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would receive (see Deuteronomy 21:17). In other words, the younger son asked for 1/3 of the estate. Though it was perfectly within his rights to ask, it was not a loving thing to do, as it implied that he wished his father dead. Instead of rebuking his son, the father patiently grants him his request. This is a picture of God letting a sinner go his own way: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Like the prodigal son, we all harbor a foolish ambition to be independent, which is at the core of the sinner persisting in sin (Genesis 3:6; Romans 1:28). A sinful state is a departure and distance from God: “because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (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.

In Luke 15:13, the younger son travels tIn a distant country, it is evident from his previous actions that he had already made that journey in his heart, and the physical departure was a display of his willful disobedience to all the goodness his father had offered (Proverbs 27:19; Matthew 6:21; Matthew 12:34). In the foreign land, the prodigal squanders all his inheritance on selfish, shallow fulfillment, losing everything. His financial disaster is followed by a natural disaster in the form of a famine, which he failed to plan for. At this point, he hires himself out to a Gentile and finds himself feeding pigs, a detestable job to the Jewish people “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.” (Leviticus 11:7). Needless to say, the prodigal must have been incredibly desperate to willingly take such a loathsome position. He was paid so little and grew so hungry that he longed to eat the pig’s food. To top it off, he could find no mercy among the people he had chosen as his own: “No one gave him anything” (verse 16). Apparently, once his wealth was gone, so were his friends. Even the unclean animals were better off than he was at that point.

The prodigal son toiling in the pigpen is a picture of the lost sinner or a rebellious Christian who has returned to a life of sin (2 Peter 2:19-21). The results of sin are never pretty (James 1:14-15).

The prodigal son begins to reflect on his miserable condition, and “he came to his senses” “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” (Luke 15:17).G-James-Version/Luke-15-17″>(Luke 15:17). He realizes that even his father’s servants have it better. His painful circumstances help him to see his father in a new light. Hope begins to dawn in his heart (Psalm 147:11; Isaiah 40:30-31; 1 Timothy 4:10).

The prodigal’s realization is reflective of the sinner’s discovery that, apart from God, there is no hope (Ephesians 2:12; 2 Timothy 2:25-26). When a sinner “comes to his senses,” repentance follows, along with a longing to return to fellowship with God.

The son devises a plan of action, and it shows that his repentance was genuine. He will admit his sin «I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, », (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. Returning home, the prodigal son is prepared to fall at his father’s feet and beg for mercy.

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. In fact, “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him” «And he arose, and came to his father. But whenHe was still a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20). He 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 runs to greet his son, breaking convention in his love and desire for restoration (verse 20). The returning son begins his prepared speech (verse 21), but his father cuts him off and begins issuing commands to honor his son—the best robe, the best ring, the best feast! The father does not question his son or lecture him; instead, he joyfully forgives him and receives him back into fellowship.

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 joyous celebration.

The prodigal son was satisfied to return home as a slave, but to his surprise and delight, he is restored back into the full privilege of being his father’s son. The weary, gaunt, filthy sinner who trudged home was transformed into the guest of honor in a rich man’s home. That is what God’s grace does for a penitent sinner (Psalm 40:2; Psalm 103:4). Not only are we forgiven in Christ, but we receive the Spirit of “adoption to sonship” “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15). We are His children, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (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 his not being a servant, as servants did not wear shoes. The father orders the fattened calf to be prepared, and a party is held in honor of the 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 these things represent what we receive in Christ upon salvation: the robe of the Redeemer’s righteousness “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”, (Isaiah 61:10), the privilege of partaking of the Spirit of adoption “having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”, (Ephesians 1:5), and feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, prepared to walk in the ways of holiness “and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”, (Ephesians 6:15). The actions of the father in the parable show us that “the Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children.In, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (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). Those words—dead and alive, lost and found—are terms that also apply to one’s state before and after conversion to Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). The feast is a picture of what occurs in heaven over one repentant sinner «I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. », (Luke 15:7,10) «Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. », (Luke 15:7,10).

The Older Son

The final, tragic character in the Parable of the Prodigal Son is the older son. As the older son comes in from the field, he hears music and dancing. He finds out from one of the servants that his younger brother has come home and that what he hears is the sound of jubilation over his brother’s safe return. The older brother becomes angry and refuses to go into the house. His father goes to his older son and pleads with him to come in. “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!’” (Luke 15:29-30). The father answers gently: “My son, . . . you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad” (verses 31–32).

The older son’s words and actions reveal several things about him: 1) His relationship with his father was based on works and merit. He points out to his father that he has always been obedient as he’s been “slaving away”; thus, he deserves a party—he has earned it. 2) He despises his younger brother as undeserving of the father’s favor. 3) He does not understand grace and has no room for forgiveness. In fact, the demonstration of grace toward his brother makes him angry. His brother does not deserve a party. 4) He has disowned the prodigal as a brother, referring to him as “this son of yours” (verse 30). 5) He thinks his father is stingy and unfair: “You never gave me even a young goat” (verse 29).

The father’s words are corrective in several ways: 1) His older son should know that their relationship is not based on performance: “My son, . . . you are always with me, and everything I have is yours” «And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. », (Luke 15:31). 2) His older son should accept his brother as part of the family. The father refers to the prodigal as “this brother of yours” (verse 32). 3) His older son could have enjoyed a party any time he wanted, but he never utilized the blessings at his disposal. 4) Grace is necessary and appropriate: “We had to celebrate” (verse 32).

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law, mentioned in Luke 15:1, are portrayed as the older brother in the parable. Outwardly, they lived blameless lives, but inwardly their attitudes were abominable (Matthew 23:25-28). They saw their relationship with God as based on their performance, andThey considered themselves worthy of God’s favor—unlike the undeserving sinners around them. They did not comprehend grace and were, in fact, incensed by it. They had no space for forgiveness. They perceived no connection between sinners and themselves. They regarded God as somewhat stingy in His blessings. And they believed that if God were to welcome tax collectors and sinners into His family, then God would be unjust.

The older brother’s focus was on himself and his own service; consequently, he found no joy in his brother’s return home. He was so preoccupied with justice and fairness (as he perceived them) that he failed to recognize the significance of his brother’s repentance and homecoming. The older brother had allowed bitterness to grow in his heart to the extent that he could not show compassion toward his brother. The bitterness also affected other relationships, making him unable to forgive his father’s perceived wrongs against him. Instead of relishing fellowship with his father, brother, and community, the older brother remained outside the house, nurturing his anger. How unfortunate to opt for misery and seclusion over restoration and reconciliation!

The older brother—and the religious leaders of Jesus’ era—failed to grasp that “anyone who professes to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness; he is lost and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him” (1 John 2:9-11).

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Scripture’s most exquisite illustrations of God’s grace. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23). We are all prodigals in that we have turned away from God, selfishly squandering His blessings.Undered our resources, and, to some degree, wallowed in sin. But God is ready to forgive. He will save the contrite, not by works but by His grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:9; Romans 9:16; Psalm 51:5). That is the core message of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.