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).

Family problems are nothing new, as seen in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, a story about a father and his two sons (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son went to his father and asked for his share of the estate, and the father agreed. After a few days, the son packed his belongings and moved to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. A famine swept through the land, and a local farmer hired him and sent him to the fields to feed pigs. The needy son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods that the pigs were eating. Meanwhile, his father watched and waited for him to return. The son came to his senses and decided to return to his father, beg for his forgiveness, and offer to work as a hired 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).

Meanwhile, the older son was on the way home from working in the field and heard music and dancing in the house. He asked one of the servants what was going on, and the servant replied, “Your brother is back, and your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate his safe return.” The older son was angry and refused to go into the house; his gracious father went to him and begged him to go in.

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 15:29-32).

The Prodigal Son conveys a message of God’s love for the lost, portrayed by the father, who gladly receives his son back. If you have ever doubted God’s love, if you have sinned or strayed, or if you think He is mad at you, take a look at this story. See for yourself the love God has for you and His willingness to forgive you and welcome you back home. 

Heavenly Father, I am thankful for Your love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I am in awe of Your amazing grace that is so vividly seen in this parable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Notes:

Luke 15:20 Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Luke 15:30 Life Application Study Bible, NIV