The Parables of Jesus - The Lost Son

Introduction

Today, we come to the third and final parable of Luke chapter 15. As we have already seen, this chapter presents one single message, unfolded through three different parables.

The first was the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the second was the Parable of the Lost Coin, and this time we will look at the Parable of the Lost Son.

Three parables, three different illustrations, yet one message: the grace and love of our heavenly Father toward lost souls, toward the one who turns from his sinful ways, repents, and places his faith in Jesus Christ, His only Son, who came not to condemn the world, but to save it.

This time, our attention is drawn to a man, a father who has two sons.

It is true that this parable is commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Yet, the word "prodigal" never appears in the passage itself. It is simply a title that tradition has given to it because the younger son wasted his inheritance.

The word prodigal, from the Latin prodigus, refers to someone who spends recklessly, throws away possessions, or wastes everything without restraint.

But although this title accurately describes what the younger son did, it does not describe the true focus of the parable. Jesus does not place the emphasis on the son who wasted his inheritance, but on the Father who graciously welcomes repentant sinners while lovingly appealing to the self-righteous.

Furthermore, this parable speaks of two sons: the younger, who leaves his father but returns with a genuinely repentant heart; and the elder, who remains with his father, yet whose heart is still far from him.

For this reason, it could just as well be called the Parable of the Father's Grace, or the Parable of the Loving Father, because the father is the central figure.

This parable brings us into the intimacy of a deep relationship between a father and his two sons. Although their characters are very different, they share the same family, the same roots, and the same inheritance.

Unlike the previous two parables, which spoke of a shepherd searching for a lost sheep and a woman searching for a lost coin, this one brings us into the heart of a family. 

This relationship is deep and personal, as though our Lord desired to conclude this beautiful trilogy by drawing us even closer to the One who loved us first—our heavenly Father.

Through these three parables, Jesus not only reveals the joy that fills heaven whenever a sinner repents; above all, He reveals the Father's heart, full of grace, compassion, and mercy toward those who were lost.

Because this parable is longer than the previous two, we will read it progressively and unfold the text as we move through it. As we do, we will discover even more of the depth of the Father's love, the greatness of His grace, and the joy He experiences whenever sinners return to Him.

Let us now read together the first section.

Teaching

"And He said, 'A man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me." So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything." v.11–16 (ESV)

The words "And He said" confirm the connection with the two previous parables. This is not a change of message, but simply a different illustration.

The central theme remains the same: someone possesses something precious, yet it becomes lost. This time, it is a man—a father who has two sons, both belonging to the house of Israel, to whom Jesus had first been sent.

One believes himself to be righteous and devout, representing the Pharisees and the scribes, yet he too is lost. 

The other represents the outcasts, the sick, the lost sheep, the lost coin, the tax collectors, and those living in immorality—people who are equally lost. One believes he is not lost, while the other knows that he is.

The words of Jesus captivated His audience through illustrations they knew well. First, the Pharisees and the scribes, carefully examining every word He spoke and everything He did; then the tax collectors, the sinners, and all the people who had gathered to hear Jesus proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Yet our Lord came to seek and to save them both. For one, however, repentance would be far more difficult because of his self-righteousness, while the other, fully aware of his misery, would be far more willing to recognize his need for forgiveness and grace.

The Younger Son (The Prodigal Son)

The younger son is the one who desires to make his own way without the help of his father—perhaps out of pride, a lack of purpose in life, disappointment, or simply rebellion. He is also the less experienced of the two, lacking the wisdom and maturity that come through life's experiences.

Yet the father, in his love, and certainly knowing that one day his son would return, allows him to leave and does not prevent him from making his own choices.

Requesting one's inheritance while the father was still living was permitted in those days.

Nevertheless, it must certainly have been very painful for a father to watch his son leave for a distant land before even being married, as though the pleasures of the world had become more valuable to him than his father's presence and the family inheritance.

The father carefully divided what could be shared between his two sons. According to the custom of the time, the elder son was to receive a double portion—that is, two-thirds of the inheritance—especially the land and everything connected with the family estate.

Since only a few days were needed to gather everything together and give the younger son his portion, this suggests immediate action, most likely converting part of the estate into money or other valuable possessions that could quickly be spent.

That is exactly what the younger son did. Without delay, he departed for a distant country, surrounded by different cultures and traditions, immersing himself in a world foreign to everything he had known. 

There he threw away his possessions on prostitutes, living in excess and immorality, turning away from the values of his family. Instead of building what his father desired for him, he gradually destroyed it.

The younger son eventually found himself in an extreme condition, living among pigs—animals that were considered unclean according to the Law. 

After leaving his father's house in search of happiness and freedom in the world, he now found himself in the mud, treated as one of them, far from everything—his country, his home, but above all, his father. What a miserable condition!

At the same time, the love of a father is not shown by forcing his child to obey, but by warning him, then allowing him to make his own choices, to grow, and to bear the consequences of those choices. 

The role of a father is to continue loving his child under every circumstance and to be ready to forgive him whenever he returns with a genuine heart of repentance.

Who but God Himself can foresee a famine or a season of slavery? In this case, the son's separation from his father through sin and rebellion led to a series of painful consequences.

Yet God knows every heart, and it is often through these wilderness experiences that He enlightens hearts, reveals Himself through the work of His Holy Spirit, and calls men and women to return to Him. 

As we shall soon see, this young man would eventually realize that he could no longer live apart from the help and love of his father.

The Path of Genuine Repentance

"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! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."" vv.17–19 (ESV)

The expression "when he came to himself" simply means that, in his own mind, he reached a decisive moment of realization concerning his miserable and hopeless condition. 

It was an awakening of both his mind and his heart. His heart began to long once again for his father, almost forgetting the suffering he was enduring. Already in his thoughts, he was making his way back to his father's house.

Having reached a point of great suffering, he became fully aware of his condition and realized how much his father loved him and cared even for his hired servants. Even those who were considered nothing more than hired servants—that is, ordinary laborers working for wages—were well provided for by his father.

This thought is both clear and profound. It gives us the beautiful picture of a son returning to his father, speaking words of love and expressing genuine repentance—a repentance that comes from the heart, from the very depths of his soul. 

As he entrusts himself once again to the one he loves, the one who will not condemn him but restore his soul, the burden of his suffering begins to fall away.

Yet this thought would soon become a deliberate and visible action.

"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. 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.' 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. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate." vv.20–24 (ESV)

The son got up, demonstrating his determination to ask for forgiveness—not only in his thoughts, but also through his actions. Immediately after this remarkable awakening, he went to his father. 

This reveals a sincere and deep conviction that he had offended his father, sinned against him, and most likely brought dishonor upon him and the entire family.

The father was moved with compassion. Seeing his son while he was still a long way off, he immediately recognized him returning home. He did not stop to wonder what his son might say or do before speaking to him. 

Instead, he took the initiative. Without waiting for his son to reach the house, he ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him, demonstrating his unconditional love.

As we listen to the younger son's first words, we see that the evidence of his repentance begins with his confession before heaven—that is, before God Himself. His greatest offense was, first and foremost, against God.

Then, turning to his father, he humbled himself before him, willing to return under any condition, even as a simple hired servant, giving up his position as a legitimate son.

But the father did not look upon his son as someone whose sin had stripped him of his place in the family. Instead, he saw him as a precious treasure. His heart overflowed with joy because of this wonderful reunion.

Several actions taken by the father deserve our attention. He clothes his son with the best robe, places a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet.

The Best Robe: In the days of Jesus, clothing often represented a person's dignity, honor, and position. By commanding that his son be clothed with the best robe, the father immediately restored both his dignity and his place within the family. This act showed that he was fully welcomed, completely forgiven, and restored as his son.

The Ring: The ring was a symbol of authority and belonging within the family. By placing it on his son's finger, the father fully restored him to his position as a son. He granted him his forgiveness, renewed his trust in him, and welcomed him once again into the family.

The Sandals: In those days, slaves commonly went barefoot, while free men wore sandals. By giving sandals to his son, the father made it clear that he was no servant, but truly his son. He regained his freedom, his dignity, and his rightful place in his father's house.

In summary, the robe, the ring, and the sandals all symbolize the son's complete restoration. The father restores his dignity, his authority, and his place within the family. It is a beautiful picture of the grace of God, fully restoring the repentant sinner, clothing him with a new dignity, and reestablishing him as His child through faith in Jesus Christ.

Now that the son has been restored to the family, the celebration must begin! The feast and the abundance are now before them. Yet the fattened calf must first be sacrificed for this feast of reconciliation. 

This sacrifice points us forward to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, offered for repentant sinners to save us and reconcile us to God.

"Let us eat."  This invitation to eat reminds us of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who calls us to place our complete faith in Him and in His finished work of redemption:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him." (John 6:53–56, ESV)

While this feast is not the direct meaning of the passage, it points us to Christ, who alone gives eternal life.

But the father then says something that deserves our attention. How can he say that his son was dead and is now alive again? That is not how the story has described the young man's journey.

The father speaks of his son as being dead, even though he was still physically alive. Is that not remarkable? Yes, because although he was physically alive, he was spiritually dead because of his sin and separated from his father.

The apostle Paul reminds us: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked..." (Ephesians 2:1–2, ESV). He also writes: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, ESV)

"Let us celebrate." The father and his younger son rejoice together, as does heaven itself, in reconciliation and restored fellowship. Once again, this reminds us of the joy in heaven whenever a sinner enters the Kingdom of God through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everyone is now present—except one very important person: the elder son. Let us now look together at what this second part of the parable teaches us.

The Elder Son

"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'" vv.25–27 (ESV)

The elder son, who was out in the fields, represents the Pharisees and the scribes. They possessed the knowledge of God's Scriptures and practiced the Law and the Prophets, yet in reality they did not reflect the character of God nor reveal the Father's heart to the world.

This is precisely what Jesus desired them to understand. The Pharisees and the scribes criticized Him for spending time with tax collectors and sinners, while He was actually fulfilling the Law and the Prophets by seeking and saving those who were lost.

The fields represent the works carried out for God, the place where laborers are busy at work. But where was the heart? They were in a privileged position, studying and teaching the Scriptures, possessing an intellectual knowledge of the God of the Scriptures.

Yet having an outward form of godliness while denying the very essence of God's perfect and holy Law—to love God and to love one's neighbor as oneself—is of no value in the sight of God.

Returning to the father's house also means returning to the place where the father rejoices with those who were once lost, those who have been saved, those who have returned to celebrate in His heavenly Kingdom, having been set free from the power of sin and death.

The servant serves here as a messenger between the father and the elder son, something that was common in wealthier households. 

This can also remind us of believers who are called to serve, following the example of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. As our Lord Himself said: "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

When the elder son learned that his brother had returned, his reaction was both immediate and surprising.

The Elder Son's Reaction

"But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and pleaded with him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'" vv.28–30 (ESV)

When the elder son learned what was happening, he should have run to join the celebration, sharing in the joy with shouts of gladness and tears of rejoicing. Instead, his response was centered on himself, revealing jealousy, resentment, and a heart filled with deep frustration.

If our service for God is marked by burden rather than joy, what is its true value? If it is motivated only by a desire to prove something or to complain before the Father after many years of faithful service—claiming that we have never received a celebration of our own, even though everything already belongs to us—then what is the true purpose of such service? 

The attitude of the elder son is far removed from a heart filled with joy and gratitude. Even his desire was not to celebrate with his father, but with his own friends, revealing once again that his heart was far from his father.

This is a clear picture of spiritual blindness. Through this parable, Jesus shows us that the elder son claims he has never disobeyed his father's commands, but that is true only in his own eyes. Did he ever stop to ask his father what his father thought of him? 

This is what it means to be righteous in one's own eyes. His claim of perfect obedience was clearly false. His very refusal to enter the house when his father pleaded with him showed that he was unwilling to listen to and obey him.

Yet his heart was filled with pride and rebellion toward his father. He failed to show him the honor and respect he deserved. Although he remained physically close to his father, his heart was, in reality, far from him.

The same is true of those who serve God with only an outward knowledge of the Scriptures. If the heart is absent, if the love of God is not displayed whenever a sinner returns to Him, then all of it amounts to nothing and has no value in the sight of God.

The father's response toward his elder son is remarkably similar to the compassion he had already shown to his younger son. He went out to meet him with love and sincerity. This is exactly what the father desires for each of his children. 

As the Lord declares: "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6, ESV)

The Father's Response

"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" vv.31–32 (ESV)

The father's response is marked by tenderness and love. He tells his son, "You are always with me," meaning that he has always remained within his sight and close to him. The father is fully aware of his son's presence and of the work he faithfully carries out on the family estate. 

Everything that belongs to the father also belongs to him, just as it belongs to his younger brother.

Yet the father calls his son to look beyond outward and temporary things, fixing his attention instead on what is inward and eternal, and to rejoice with him over the return of his brother, who has been brought back to life.

Here we clearly see the elder son's lack of love—not only toward his brother, but also toward his father. His refusal to share in this overwhelming joy reveals that he still does not understand his father's love for those who were lost.

This is precisely the main lesson Jesus desired to communicate to the religious leaders who criticized His closeness to tax collectors and sinners who had now been found.

The father's response reveals once again that what truly matters is the condition of the heart. One son needed to be restored, while the other still needed to understand his father's heart. 

The central issue of this parable is neither the younger son's departure nor the elder son's outward closeness to his father, but the Father's love, which seeks a genuine, sincere, and everlasting relationship with His children.

In this way, Jesus reveals the grace of God toward lost souls and toward repentant hearts that respond to His call, a grace displayed through His compassion, His mercy, and His infinite love.

Conclusion

The father invites both of his sons to enter into the same joy, yet we see two very different responses toward the father.

One is the return to the Father's house through a deep awareness of one's sin, rebellion, and misery. Such repentance leads to an attitude of humility and submission, opening the way to joyful fellowship, true reconciliation, and restored freedom.

The other is the refusal to enter the Father's house, remaining in an attitude of anger, pride, and rebellion. Although the elder son remained physically close to his father, his heart was still far from him, unable to share in his father's joy and love for the one who had been lost and had now returned.

It is true that the grace of our heavenly Father is the gift of God, and that no one can come to Jesus Christ unless the Father draws him. This is what the Word of God teaches us.

Therefore, if we belong to the Father, clothed with the best robe of righteousness, the ring of the covenant, and the sandals of sonship, let us go out in love to those who still need to hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us never forget where we once were, when we ourselves were still in the mud of our sin before receiving His wonderful grace.

On the other hand, if we are still living in an attitude of rebellion and anger toward our heavenly Father, let us open our hearts to understand His love, His compassion, and the joy He experiences whenever a sinner returns to His house.

Even today, the Father is still calling men and women to come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ, so that they may be fully forgiven, reconciled to God, and restored as His children.