Knowing The Word in Luke 15:11-24

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

15:11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Comments

Jesus began with a parable about sheep, proceeded to money, and now speaks of human beings. The younger son, in asking for his Father to give him his share of the inheritance, which would be half of what his older brother gets, is basically saying to his father, “I wish you were dead.” That the father gave him his share would have astonished Jesus’ listeners. They would have thought the father crazy. As the younger son goes off into a Gentile area, the “far country,” to live an extravagant life with his newfound wealth, he left nothing behind as an anchor to being him back home. He eventually ran out of money, and an economic disaster paired with a natural disaster left him desperate—desperate enough to take a menial job. For a Jew, no job could be more distasteful than feeding pigs. Worse, the hungry young man was held by others in less esteem than the pigs. No one saw value in him. He likely saw little value in himself after his tragic, self-induced fall.

Hardship, however, has a way of helping us face the facts when our minds are thinking correctly. The younger son remembered the generous heart of his father and then recognized that his sin was first against God (“heaven”) and then against his father (“before you”). Sin is always first against God. For example, when we hurt another person, we hurt one of God’s creatures, created in his image. Every time we sin, we sin against God. The repentant son knew this when he spoke to his father.

The father in this parable has no false pride but a well of humble, sacrificial love from which his character springs. That he was on the lookout for his son and ran to him, gives us a great insight into God. God is on the lookout for us. God is ready to forgive us and bring us back into full relationship with him. Giving his son a robe is a sign of the son’s position in the family. Giving his son a ring is a sign of his authority in the family. Giving his son shoes is the sign of a freedman and not of a slave. The son wanted to come home as a hired servant, but the father would have none of that. This is the good news of the gospel for all who come to Jesus.

Application

In the extravagant forgiving love of the father, did the younger son finally find what he was looking for when he left home? Often, we overlook the good things we have because we take them for granted. Have you ever made a list of the good things you have and given thanks to God for them?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for this parable. As I pray to you, I want to feel the extravagant love of the Father, that I might be grateful for all that you and he and the Spirit have done for me.