đ The Prodigal Son
A parable about forgiveness, repentance, and God's love.
âšī¸ Story Information
đ Key Verse
"Luke 15:20 - 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."
đ Story Background
The story of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus' most beloved parables, told in response to criticism from the Pharisees and teachers of the law who complained that Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them. The parable is part of a trilogy of stories about lost things (the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son) that Jesus tells to illustrate God's joy when sinners repent. The story takes place in a typical Jewish family setting where the father represents God, the younger son represents repentant sinners, and the older son represents self-righteous religious people. The younger son's request for his inheritance while his father is still alive was extremely disrespectful in Jewish culture, as it essentially said he wished his father were dead. The father's response of dividing the property and giving the younger son his share shows extraordinary grace and generosity. The story demonstrates the depth of God's love, the reality of sin's consequences, the power of repentance, and the joy of restoration. It also reveals the danger of self-righteousness and the need for both sons to understand the father's heart.
đĨ Characters
The Father
God figure, loving parent, gracious host
A wealthy landowner who represents God's character of love, grace, and forgiveness
Loving, gracious, forgiving, generous, patient, wise
To love his sons, restore the lost one, teach both sons about grace
The Younger Son (Prodigal)
Repentant sinner, waster, returning child
A son who demands his inheritance early, wastes it, and eventually returns home
Initially selfish, impulsive, wasteful, later repentant, humble
Initially to live independently and freely, later to return home and be restored
From selfish rebellion to humble repentance and restoration
The Older Son
Self-righteous, obedient, resentful
The elder son who stays home and works faithfully but becomes resentful
Obedient, hardworking, resentful, self-righteous, judgmental
To earn his father's love, maintain his position, avoid his brother's mistakes
The Servants
Helpers, witnesses, participants in celebration
Household servants who help prepare the celebration and serve the feast
Obedient, helpful, celebratory
To serve their master, participate in the family celebration
đ Story Plot
The Younger Son's Request
The younger son asks his father to give him his share of the estate, which the father divides between his two sons.
Shows the son's disrespect and the father's extraordinary grace
The Division of Property
The father divides his property between his two sons, giving the younger son his share.
Demonstrates the father's generosity and the son's inheritance
The Younger Son's Departure
Not long after, the younger son gets together all he had, sets off for a distant country, and there squanders his wealth in wild living.
Shows the son's rebellion and the consequences of his choices
The Wasteful Living
The younger son squanders his wealth in wild living, spending everything he has on sinful pleasures.
Demonstrates how sin wastes our resources and leads to emptiness
The Famine and Poverty
After spending everything, a severe famine strikes that country, and the son begins to be in need.
Shows how God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to bring us to repentance
The Son's Employment
The son goes and hires himself out to a citizen of that country, who sends him to his fields to feed pigs.
Shows the depth of the son's degradation, as pigs were unclean to Jews
The Son's Desperation
The son longs to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs are eating, but no one gives him anything.
Shows the complete desperation and hopelessness of his situation
The Son's Awakening
When the son comes to his senses, he realizes that his father's hired servants have food to spare.
Shows the beginning of repentance and the return to rational thinking
The Son's Repentance
The son decides to go back to his father and say, 'I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
Shows true repentance and humility
The Son's Return Journey
The son gets up and goes to his father, showing his determination to return home.
Demonstrates that repentance requires action, not just words
The Father's Compassion
While the son is still a long way off, his father sees him and is filled with compassion for him.
Shows God's constant watching and waiting for our return
The Father's Welcome
The father runs to his son, throws his arms around him, and kisses him, showing his overwhelming love.
Demonstrates God's eagerness to welcome us back and His unconditional love
The Son's Confession
The son says, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
Shows the son's continued humility and repentance
The Father's Restoration
The father orders his servants to bring the best robe, put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet.
Shows complete restoration and the father's desire to honor his son
The Celebration Feast
The father orders a fattened calf to be killed for a feast, saying, 'Let's have a feast and celebrate.'
Shows the joy of restoration and the community celebration
The Reason for Celebration
The father explains, 'For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'
Shows how God views our spiritual death and resurrection
The Older Son's Return
The older son returns from working in the field and hears music and dancing.
Shows the older son's separation from the family celebration
The Older Son's Inquiry
The older son asks a servant what is happening and learns about his brother's return.
Shows the older son's ignorance of what was happening at home
The Older Son's Anger
The older son becomes angry and refuses to go in, showing his resentment and self-righteousness.
Demonstrates how self-righteousness can keep us from God's grace
The Father's Plea
The father goes out and pleads with the older son to come in and join the celebration.
Shows God's desire for all His children to experience His grace
The Older Son's Complaint
The older son complains about his father's treatment of him and his brother.
Shows the older son's misunderstanding of grace and his self-righteousness
The Father's Response
The father reminds the older son that everything he has belongs to him and that they had to celebrate his brother's return.
Shows that God's grace is available to all and that celebration is appropriate for restoration
đĄ Key Lessons
God's love is unconditional and He is always ready to welcome us back
Sin leads to waste, emptiness, and desperation
True repentance involves both recognition of sin and action to return
God watches and waits for our return with compassion
Restoration involves complete forgiveness and celebration
Self-righteousness can keep us from experiencing God's grace
God's grace is available to all, regardless of their past
Celebration is appropriate when someone returns to God
đ Symbolism & Meaning
The Inheritance
God's gifts and blessings that we can waste or use wisely
The Distant Country
Separation from God and His ways
The Pigs
The depth of degradation and uncleanness that sin brings
The Father's Run
God's eagerness to welcome us back and His unconditional love
The Robe, Ring, and Sandals
Complete restoration and the honor God gives to His children
â° Historical Context
Cultural Setting
Around 30 AD, during Jesus' ministry
Family hierarchy, servant relationships, community celebrations
Religious Practices
Jewish inheritance laws, family honor, religious criticism
Roman-occupied Palestine, Jewish family culture
âī¸ Theological Themes
God's Unconditional Love
The father's love never changes, regardless of the son's behavior
Repentance and Restoration
The son's return leads to complete restoration and celebration
Grace vs. Works
The older son's self-righteousness contrasts with the father's grace
God's Joy in Repentance
The father's celebration shows God's joy when sinners repent
đ Modern Applications
Understanding that God always welcomes us back, no matter what we've done
Recognizing that sin leads to waste and emptiness in our lives
Seeing that true repentance requires both recognition and action
Understanding that God watches and waits for our return
Recognizing that restoration involves complete forgiveness
Understanding that self-righteousness can keep us from God's grace
Seeing that God's grace is available to everyone
Understanding that we should celebrate when people return to God
â Discussion Questions
Personal Reflection
When have you been like the prodigal son, wasting God's gifts?
How do you respond when God welcomes you back after failure?
When have you been like the older son, resentful of God's grace to others?
What does it mean to you that God runs to welcome you back?
Group Discussion
How does this parable show God's heart for sinners?
What can we learn about repentance from the younger son?
How does the older son's attitude keep him from God's grace?
What does this story teach us about celebrating restoration?
Family Discussion
How does God show His love for us in this story?
What does it mean to be sorry for our sins?
How should we treat people who have made mistakes?
Why is it important to celebrate when people change for the better?
đ A Prayer for Reflection
"Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the story of Cain and Abel, help us to examine our own hearts.
Teach us to bring our best offerings to You with a spirit of worship and gratitude.
Guard our hearts against jealousy and anger, and help us to rule over sin when it crouches at our door.
Remind us that we are indeed our brother's keeper, called to love and care for one another.
Thank You for Your warnings, Your mercy, and Your protection.
In Jesus' name, Amen."
Take a moment to reflect on this story and how it applies to your life today.