August 31, 2025
Luke 15:11–32 ESV
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “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.” ’ 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. “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.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated 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!’ 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.’ ”
Discussion Questions:
1) What is the lesson of this parable to the audience that heard it at the first advent?
2) What is the lesson of this parable throughout the Gospel Age?
Discussion Summary:
In this parable Jesus was able to bring the lesson of “finding what was lost” to an emotional level. It speaks to the importance of heart attitude when dealing with those who stray from God’s household and when they repent and return to God.
The religious leaders who were the intended audience of this parable were unable to rejoice when the publicans and sinners came to hear Jesus and to be healed by him. The end of the parable becomes a commentary on the heart of these leaders who showed less mercy than God. They could not even acknowledge their own brothers.
This story reveals its truth as the reader puts themselves in the position of each of the characters. The father represents the Heavenly Father who is always eager for repentence. The older brother represents the religious rulers of Jesus’ day who denied Jesus’ messiahship and prevented the unlearned people from accepting his message. The younger brother represents those who had strayed from the practice of the mosaic law. They were the “sinners” Jesus preached to.
Applying this parable to ourselves we see that we want to have the same attitude towards those who stray as the Heavenly Father does. We want to look for their return. We want to show mercy. We want to rejoice. 1 John 4:9,10 describes this God-like love, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son….”
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