One of the most well known Bible stories, I have to believe, is the one found only in Luke’s gospel which is entitled The Parable of the Lost Son or The Prodigal Son. I was recently reading some thoughts about the story and agree that it almost seems like a better title for the story would be “The Loving Father.”
In case you want to read the Bible story in its entirety or in case you want to reference parts of it, here it is.
Or, if you prefer, you can skip to the part below the verses.
Luke 15:11-31
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in the whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 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.’” (NIV)
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Whenever I hear this parable, my main attention is always drawn to the Prodigal Son and thinking most about him but come along with me as we delve deeper and look at all three people in the parable.
First, let us look at the facts about the people and then consider some lessons to reflect on from each of the three people.
FACTS: YOUNGER SON
++He wanted out of his father’s house and life.
++He asked for his portion of his father’s inheritance which, back in that day, basically meant he wished his father was dead.
++The younger son took his inheritance, left the house, and lived a wild, carefree life in a distant country.
++He squandered his whole inheritance quickly and was left with nothing.
++When famine hit the country where he was living, he had to resort to feed pigs but he was not given anything in return.
++He was starving to death so he decided to return to his father’s house to see if he could be one of his father’s hired servants.
++As soon as he returned home, he admitted to his father the error of his ways, even recognizing he was not worthy to even be called his son anymore.
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FACTS: OLDER SON
++He had been slaving for years for his father.
++He was always faithful to his father’s work.
++The older son always obeyed his father’s orders.
FACTS: THE FATHER
++He gave the younger son his inheritance when he asked though usually it was reserved for when the father was deceased.
++He welcomed the estranged younger son home with arms outstretched, no questions asked when he saw him from a long distance.
++His heart was full of compassion for both of his sons.
++The father threw a big celebration for the younger son when he came back home. He put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and killed the fattened calf to celebrate with.
++He let the older son know he appreciated him always being with him.
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LESSONS TO REFLECT ON:
From THE YOUNGER SON:
++When he was in a place of total despair and hopelessness, the only place he could turn to was back to his father.
++Upon returning home, he admitted right away the error of his ways, even to the point of feeling unworthy to be called his son anymore.
++He was willing to reap the consequences of his prior actions.
++The younger son’s heart was transformed so that he changed his ways. His heart was softened.
From THE OLDER SON:
++He was very angry and bitter toward both the Father and his younger brother.
++He thought he was righteous and deserved only the finest because he was always slaving for his father and never disobeyed.
++He was very condemning of his younger brother and did not want anything to do with him when he returned.
++The older son was more focused on the Law rather than a heart of love. His heart was hard.
Photo courtesy of BK under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)
From THE FATHER:
++He was GENEROUS in giving the younger son his inheritance when he asked for it as well as sharing all he had with the older son.
++He let the younger son FIND HIS OWN WAY in his own time. He did not try to force him to stay.
++He was WELCOMING his estranged son home with open arms as soon as he spotted him from a distance.
++He had great COMPASSION and LOVE–wanting the best for both of his sons.
++He knew it was important to CELEBRATE his son coming to his senses….from deadness to life!
++He FORGAVE the younger son right away. The past did not matter anymore! He was ready to celebrate and move forward.
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What a powerful story; the father in the parable mirroring many of the attributes of God, our Father.
Do you view your Heavenly Father as generous, letting you find our own way to Him, always welcoming you with great compassion and love? He is always ready to celebrate you and forgive you! That is exactly why He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to earth to die for you! So you might be His son or daughter!
Which son do you relate more to? The younger or the older?
Please feel free, in the comment section below, to share any answers to the questions above or thoughts that this reflection brought to mind for you. Is there something you can share to help us see other things about this parable?
May your heart remain softened and open to the Father who loves and cares for you!
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. –Psalm 145:8-9 (NIV)
The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. –Psalm 145:17 (NIV)
It’s one of my favorite pictures of God’s mercy and how crazy and big His love is for us sinners. Although I must admit, I’ve always felt like the older brother more in the story than anyone else. 😛
Thank you for sharing, Lux, and I guess I also identify more with the older brother! 🙂 I agree it really does show God’s great mercy and love for us sinners!! What a wonderful Father! Blessings to you, my friend!