The Parables of Jesus

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32 ^{Amplified Bible}

Luke 15:11-12

Then He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them.

                  Here we find the well-known Parable of the Prodigal Son. The Prodigal was the younger son. He came to his father and asked him for his share of the property...in other words his inheritance. This was inappropriate to say the least because his father was still alive, but the father divided up the estate and gave his younger his portion. Upon the death of his father the younger son would have received a third of the estate, while the older son would receive two thirds or a “double portion” (Deuteronomy 21:17).

                  The parable goes on to say that the younger son traveled of to a distant land and “wasted his fortune on reckless and immoral living” (v.13). Well he spent all his money and lo and behold a famine hit the land. His resources depleted, he basically begged for work to sustain himself. A man hired the younger son to feed his pigs. “This would have seemed especially disgusting to Jesus’ Jewish listeners because pigs were ceremonially unclean animals, forbidden to them as food.”⁽¹⁾

                  The word of God states that the younger son “finally came to his senses”, which seems to mean he repented in his own heart and left for home. He was planning to acknowledge to his father that he had “sinned against heaven and in your sight”. He declared that he was no longer worthy to be one of his sons, but rather simply one of the hired workers. His repentant heart provided for his forgiveness, for no sooner had he acknowledged his sinful behavior his father embraced him and called for the servants to get his son a fine robe, a ring (a symbol of his standing as a son) and prepare a great feast for his son was dead, but now he is alive again.

                  The story could have easily ended there, but it doesn’t. The elder son caught wind of what was taking place and griped to his father about what he considered to be grossly unfair treatment. He apparently didn’t have the same penchant for readily offering forgiveness. He lashed out regarding the actions of his father and his brother. His comments reveal his possible long smoldering discontent with his father. He wouldn’t even call the younger son his brother but instead called him “this son of yours”. The elder son was showing marked disrespect for both his father and his brother. The parable ends with the father saying “He (the younger son) was lost and has been found.” There is no other dialogue with the elder son, but it doesn’t seem that there was any resolution from the elder son’s perspective. The lesson to be learned here is that “God is rich in mercy and always ready to forgive”. ⁽²⁾

                  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

⁽¹⁾ - www.biblegateway.com, note for Luke 15:15.

⁽²⁾ - https://safehubcollective.org/blog/what-is-the-main-message-of-the-prodigal-son/