Introduction to the Parable
The parable of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15:11-32, is one of the most well-known stories in the Holy Bible. It offers profound lessons applicable to our lives today, depicting the journey of a young man who leaves his father’s house, squanders his inheritance, and returns repentant after facing hardships. This story speaks of loss, redemption, and God’s unconditional love.
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:11-12, NIV)
The Meaning of “Prodigal Son”
The term “prodigal son” refers to someone who, after living a reckless, extravagant life filled with wastefulness, returns to their family or home. The parable of the Prodigal Son is part of a trio of parables about loss and redemption, emphasizing the son’s return to his father’s house.
The Prodigal Son’s Decision
In the parable, the younger son asks his father for his share of the inheritance. The father, respecting his choice, divides the estate between his sons. This impulsive decision by the young man reflects a desire for independence but lacks the maturity needed to manage what he received.
The Danger of Blessings Out of Season
The story teaches us the importance of waiting for God’s timing. Receiving blessings before the right time can turn them into curses, as it did for the young man.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV)
An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. (Proverbs 20:21, NIV)
When the young man received his inheritance, he was unprepared to manage it. What should have been a blessing became a source of trouble due to his poor stewardship. This principle applies to us: asking God for something without being ready can lead to serious problems.
For instance, imagine asking God for a car but not having a driver’s license. Even if the car is granted, the lack of preparation could cause accidents, harming oneself and others. Thus, we must seek blessings with the understanding that God knows the perfect time to grant them.
The Consequences of Disobedience
After receiving his inheritance, the prodigal son left his father’s house and went to a distant land, where he squandered everything in reckless living. His choice led to great hardships.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, 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. (Luke 15:14-15, NIV)
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:16, NIV)
Far from his father, the young man reached a state of extreme need, even desiring to eat the pigs’ food. This situation reflects what happens when we stray from God: we lose His provision, care, and intimacy, facing spiritual death and scarcity.
The Role of Negative Influences
Often, the decision to leave God’s presence is influenced by bad company or false friends who lead us astray from the Lord’s path.
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV)
While in his father’s house, the young man had everything he needed. When he left, he discovered that the “friends” who surrounded him vanished once his inheritance was gone. This reminds us that our true friend is God, our Father, who never abandons us.
Repentance and Return
In the midst of adversity, the prodigal son remembered life in his father’s house. He acknowledged his mistake and decided to return, willing to be just a servant.
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 said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24, NIV)
The father, moved by love and compassion, not only welcomed his son back but restored him as a son, celebrating his return. This reflects God’s heart, which rejoices when a sinner repents.
The Reaction of the Older Son
The parable also introduces the older son, who remained in the father’s house but reacted with indignation upon seeing the celebration for his brother’s return.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘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.’ (Luke 15:25-32, NIV)
The older son, though physically in the father’s house, showed a hardened heart, unable to forgive or rejoice in his brother’s restoration.
Lessons from the Parable
The parable of the Prodigal Son teaches three distinct roles:
- The Prodigal Son: Represents those who, due to immaturity or wrong choices, stray from God but have the opportunity to repent and return.
- The Older Son: Symbolizes those who, despite being in God’s presence, may fall into the trap of judgment and unforgiveness.
- The Father: Reflects God’s heart, welcoming, forgiving, and celebrating the return of the lost.
God calls us to be like the father: forgiving, compassionate, and joyful at the restoration of our brothers. He looks not at past mistakes but at the repentant heart.
A Call to Return
If you have ever strayed from the Father’s house, know that returning is not shameful. Acknowledging your mistake and coming back is an act of courage and faith. The parable reminds us that the time to return is now, for tomorrow belongs to God.
Do not wait to value God’s presence only in His absence. Cry out today: “Father, forgive me, restore me, and dwell in my life!” God is waiting with open arms, ready to receive you as His beloved child.
