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In this lesson:
In the last lesson, we read about lost sheep and coins. Now we meet the lost son. The "Prodigal Son" is perhaps the most famous of Jesus' parables and appears exclusively in the Gospel of Luke. Early Christians referred to Luke as a painter. The verbal image Luke paints of God's love for lost souls shows why. This is an excellent passage to read when dispirited by our sins. Study Tip: Find the truth in each passage of the Bible. Ponder how that truth is relevant to you. Decide how you can apply that truth into your life. |
The prodigal son returns.
By the Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669). |
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 15:11-32
Parable of the lost son 11 And 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 falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And 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 fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, 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 elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. |
Margin notes:
"Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." (15:12) - Means "Give me my inheritance." To ask for his inheritance while his father was still alive was a great insult. "He divided unto them his living." (15:12) - This means that both sons received their inheritance. "Joined himself." (15:15) - "Hired himself out." "Feed swine." (15:15) - According to Mosaic Law, pigs were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8; Deuteronomy 14:8). Feeding, or even touching a pig was degrading and sinful for Jewish men. Jesus' story about the prodigal son would have shocked His audience. "He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat." (15:16) - "He would gladly have eaten the husks that the pigs ate." "When he came to himself." (15:17) - "When he came to his senses." "Ran." (15:20) - In Jesus' time, it was considered unseemly for a man to run and greet a visitor. The person with the higher status waited for the other person to come to them. "Fatted calf." (15:23) - Only prepared for special occasions. "My son was dead, and is alive again." (15:24) - The father readily forgave his son, just as God forgives us (Ephesians 2:1; 2:5). "Drew nigh to the house." (15:25) - "Drew near to the house." "Because he hath received him safe and sound." (15:27) - "Because he has returned safe and sound." "Intreated him." (15:28) - "Begged him." "Lo." (15:29) - "Look." "Kid." (15:29) - "Goat." "Thy son." (15:30) - The elder son, so filled with contempt, won't call the younger son by name or even refer to him as his brother. "Devoured thy living." (15:30) - "Wasted your money." "It was meet that we should make merry." (15:32) - "It was right that we celebrate." |
New Living Translation
Luke 15:11-32
Parable of the Lost Son
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 "When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."'
20 "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'
22 "But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.'
28 "The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!'
31 "His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Parable of the Lost Son
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 "When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."'
20 "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'
22 "But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began.
25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.'
28 "The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!'
31 "His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living." (15:11-13)
"And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want." (15:14)
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet." (15:20-22)
"Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing." (15:25)
"And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want." (15:14)
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet." (15:20-22)
"Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing." (15:25)
Today's Question:
1. What is the meaning of the prodigal son parable?
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1. What is the meaning of the prodigal son parable?
Let us know if your email address changes.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Like the parables of the lost sheep and misplaced coin, the Prodigal son is a story of recovery. In the Prodigal Son parable, the "father" (15:12) represents God. The "younger son" (15:13) symbolizes us, sinners. With his newfound wealth, the young son thinks he no longer needs his father (God). To be independent, he severs all ties and leaves home to live as he pleases. He soon realizes he made a mistake. The "elder son" (15:25) symbolizes the Pharisees and their indifference toward those who repent. Like the sanctimonious Pharisees, the older brother believes he is better than his sibling. In his mind, he's the one who served the father (15:29). He is the one who worked and sacrificed and he believes he alone deserves his father's love. He's angry that the younger son (sinner) is welcomed by the father with loving arms (15:20) into the family (heaven), no questions asked. He feels no joy that the sinner has repented, and he refuses to join in the celebration. But the father is always ready to forgive, exults when his wayward child repents, runs to him (15:20), and dresses him in his finest robe and jewelry (15:22). This parable is a reminder that God loves us and is willing to pardon us regardless of what we've done.
Application thought for the day:
We've all been lost at some time in our lives. Like the son whose life choices led to his demise (15:14-16) many of us made choices that hurt and degraded us. But God loved us enough to send his son Jesus to make it right. Come home and repent of the sins that separate you from your Father. He is waiting!
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke