The Parable of the Prodigal Son

This is actually two parables combined in one - the parable of the

younger son and the parable of the older son.

In this parable the younger son represents people who are lost in sin and the father represents God.

The younger son's demand to take his share of the inheritance early showed his youthful arrogance and disrespect for his father. Only the harsh reality of life away from his father's protection brought him to his senses. Just as the immature young son found by hard experience that his life of wild living led to desperation, we may find by hard experience that the lures of wealth and pleasure lead us to a life of emptiness separated from God. But the father's love is the main topic of this parable. Just as the father loved his disrespectful son and longed for his return, God loves all sinners and waits patiently for them to repent and return to His love and protection.

Just as the father rejoiced when his son repented, God rejoices when a lost sinner repents.

Just as the father forgave his son and welcomed him back with full status in the family, God will forgive sinners and welcome them back with full status in the kingdom of God.

The older son represents people who are self-righteous and critical of others.

Unlike the disrespectful and foolish younger son, the older son had been loyal to his father his entire life. It is easy to understand why he felt angry and jealous about the attention his father lavished on the returning younger son. But he was also disrespectful to his father and resented the mercy his father extended to his brother.

Jesus may have originally directed this parable at the Pharisees, a self-righteous religious group that would rather see a sinner punished than saved. But we have to be aware of the "Pharisee" in ourselves when we are tempted to criticize, shun, exclude or punish people we think of as sinners. That is God's privilege alone (Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 14:10-13, 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, James 4:11-12).

Related Verses

 * Ezekiel 34:16
 * Matthew 18:10-14
 * Luke 6:32-36
 * John 3:16
 * Romans 5:8, 10:12
 * 2 Corinthians 1:3
 * 1 John 4:8-10