Jesus told this parable: There was a man who had two sons. The younger one asked his father to give him his share of the estate. So he divided his property between the two sons. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, went to a distant land, and squandered his wealth on wild lives. After he had used up everything, there was a severe famine throughout the land, 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 ate, but no one gave him any. When he came to his senses, he remembered how many of his father’s hired servants had food to spare, and here he was starving to death. He decided to go back to his father and tell him that he had sinned against Heaven and against him. And that he was no longer worthy to be called his son. And he would ask his father to make him like one of his hired servants. 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 told him that he had sinned against Heaven and against him, and that he was no longer worthy to be called his son. But the father told his servants to bring the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. They should bring the fattened calf and kill it and feast and celebrate. For his son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. So they started celebrating. Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. As he got close to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. They answered that his brother had come, and that his father had killed the fattened calf because he had received him back safe and sound. The elder brother became angry and refused to enter. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father that he all these years had been slaving for him and never failed to obey his orders. Yet he never even gave him a young goat so he could celebrate with his friends. But when this second son, having squandered his property with prostitutes, comes home, he had killed the fattened calf for him. The father replied: "My son, 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." (Luk 15:11–32).
This parable conveys the same message as
The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.
In Jewish society the eldest son always received a double share of the inheritance. This means that in this case the eldest son received two-thirds of the inheritance and the younger son one-third.
The younger son, who wanted his inheritance right away, is a picture of a person who wants to go his own way. He wanted to run after the desires of his flesh. The father, who is a representative of God the Father gave him what he wanted, he divided his property between the two sons. Similarly, God allows us to make bad decisions. One reason is that it's our free will that makes us uniquely human. That we are created in God's image means, among other things, that since God is free to do what he wants, he gave us a free will. Abuse of this freedom
doesn't end well, and that was the case for this younger son. In this case he left Israel and entered a pagan nation where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
He left his own country so that his wicked lifestyle wouldn't be exposed (John 3:20).
He came in distress and hunger and had to feed pigs. Pigs are unclean animals for the Jews. This younger son represents a lost sinner. Sin ends up in slavery
(John 8:34). Nowadays, we call it addiction. The son then came to his senses and decided to go back to his father and ask for help. This is a picture of returning to God. He was willing to leave his old way of life, this is repentance. He was freed from sin (Rom 6:6–7, 17–18). Difficulties and suffering can make us to think clearly, see the first part of The Book of James.
The father was waiting for him to come back. He hadn't given up on him. He celebrated his return by having a feast with the fattened calf. For his son had been lost as a dead person is, but had returned and was alive again (Eph 2:1–9).
This shows God's heart for sinners who return to God. He was restored
as his child and it shows God's grace and mercy (Rom 8:15–17).
The eldest son who had been faithful to his father became angry and didn't want to participate in the celebration. He felt insulted because his father had never done anything like this for him. Pride and selfishness said he deserved better than that. The eldest son is a picture of self-life. He was with his father but so far from his father's heart. We can go to services but still be disconnected from God's heart and not understand how God feels about people when they repent
and return to him, see Salvation.
Apostle Paul arrested Christians before he became a follower of Jesus. He tried to destroy the Christian church. He went from house to house and dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. (Acts 8:3). However, his whole lifestyle changed when the resurrected Jesus appeared to him (Acts 9:3–9), and he was truly used by God. However, Paul was met with skepticism first from the other disciples before he was accepted (Acts 9:26–28). Jesus changes people's lives. He can turn any person with a bad lifestyle into a Christian. Jesus saves sinners
and turns them into his children.
Note also what the father answered his eldest son: "My son, 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."
The father wanted him to be happy for his brother who had left his old lifestyle and returned to them.
See time 21:27–24:47 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │ July 2023.
For information on other parables, see Jesus' Parables.
