The Parable of the Lost Son

(Luke 15:11-32)

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine 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 bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.

The request of the younger son (Lost Son) is like “wishing his father was dead” in order to receive his inheritance. In their time, the sons can get their inheritance/shares when their father was dead. The son’s longing to eat with the pigs is being being pictured as Pharisees accusing Jesus in eating with and getting along with the “dirty” sinners. When the son returned to his father, he never expected that his father will treat him graciously regardless of what he had done. This illustrates that God is willing to accepts us and welcomes us again in his presence joyfully.

The father’s joy in welcoming his son reflects God’s divine love, boundless mercy and refusal to limit the measure of his grace. Pharisees did not see Jesus as looking for the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) that He was much looking and concerned about the “sinners” rather than the righteous who was already with Him. In fact, the main reason why he came on earth is to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).

In contrast, the older son’s concern is all about law, reward & merit rather than love & graciousness. The older son’s concern is same as the Pharisees and in contrast with Jesus’.

God shows His unconditional love even we are sinners and not deserving for His love. He never hesitates to reach us out and embraces us in His arms when we return to Him. In fact, he is much concern and seeks for those sinners whom was lost in order to restore them and make them whole. His love and mercy is boundless that he rejoices when one of His son returned to Him.

#parable #prodigalson #Godslove #Father