The Parable of the Lost Son
11 He also said, “A man had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.
13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.
14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing.
15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.
17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.
19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’
20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast,
24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant.
27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’
31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
My thoughts
This parable can be divided into 3 parts, each based on the perspective of a different character in the story. Luke 15:11-16 tells of the son who thinks only of himself and uses every penny of his share of the inheritance to live a sinful and worldly life. At the end of his money and time living away, he has a realization that his former life with his father was actually quite a good life, and he decides to return home.
Although Luke 15:17-24 concerns the son's return home, the main takeaway is the father's great compassion (or love). The father loves his offspring, his flesh and blood, so much that he overlooks the prior transgressions of the son and welcomes him home with joy and gladness.
Part 3 of the parable, Luke 15:25-32 centers around the other son and his stubbornness/unwillingness to be joyful along with the father over the found sheep (previous parable of the Lost Sheep).
As a parable, this story is really about us and what it means to be in relationship with the Heavenly Father. We may see ourselves in either or both of the sons. We may find ourselves desiring the things of the world so greatly that we are tempted to make God smaller in our lives and the world larger. Our Father knows what is truly best for our souls and will provide what we need to continue to grow in relationship with Him. But we are prideful and lean toward wanting to do things our own way (Frank Sinatra - I Did It My Way). Without the Father at the helm of our ship, we often lead ourselves down paths of destruction. And the Father allows this. It's part of the free will He has given each one of us. Despite this, our Father loves us more than we can know, and always provides a pathway back into relationship with Him.
Not only does the Father celebrate our and others' return, but He asks that we all celebrate along with Him. When even our enemies return to God, we are to celebrate, for this is a "win" for the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:44, Jesus commands us to love and pray for our enemies. Our Father in Heaven loves our enemies as much as He loves us. As our Father wants our "prodigal" enemies to return to the fold, so should we, as we all work to increase the Kingdom of Heaven. Today, let us commit to praying for those who have hurt, belittled, or in some way maligned us.
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