Then Jesus said in Luke 15:11–32:
“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that belongs to me.’ So the father divided his property between them.
A few days later, the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country. There, he squandered his wealth in reckless living.
When he had spent everything, a severe famine struck the land, and he began to be in need. He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was so hungry that he longed to eat the pods the pigs were eating; but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said: ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go back to my father and 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.”’
So he set off. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.
The son said, ‘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, ‘Quickly, 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 us eat and celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what was happening.
The servant replied, ‘Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. His father went out and pleaded with him.
But he answered, ‘Look! All these years I have 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 squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
The father said, ‘My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Of all the parables Jesus told, none is more famous than that of the Prodigal Son. It is a story that reveals God’s boundless love and mercy while also serving as a mirror to human nature—our flaws, our struggles, and our longing for redemption.
It weaves together themes of arrogance, wastefulness, self-righteousness, repentance, compassion, and forgiveness through three central figures: a loving father, a wayward younger son, and a resentful older brother.
Younger son
The younger son’s story begins with arrogance. Believing he knows better than his father, he demands his share of the inheritance and sets out to make a life of his own. To ask for his portion while his father was still alive was scandalous—it was like wishing his father dead. Yet the father grants his request.
He travels to a distant country, symbolising a complete break from family and moral foundation. There he “squanders his wealth in wild living.” The word prodigal means “wasteful,” and he embodies it fully. For a time, pleasure blinds him—until famine comes and the money runs out.
Desperate, he takes the lowest job imaginable for a Jew: feeding pigs. Under Jewish law, pigs were unclean animals, making this work not only humiliating but spiritually degrading. He becomes so hungry that he longs to eat the pigs’ food.
What began with pride ends in humiliation. The son who thought himself too wise for his father’s house now envies pigs. Yet his misery becomes the turning point of his life.
Coming to himself
Luke 15:17 says, “He came to himself.” This phrase is profound. It suggests that in his rebellion, he had lost his very identity. Only in brokenness does he rediscover who he truly is.
The first step towards repentance is self-realisation: an honest recognition of sin and the need for help. The prodigal son acknowledges not only his suffering but also his guilt: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”
True repentance goes beyond regret; it requires humility. He does not ask to be reinstated as a son but only to be treated as a servant. His prepared confession shows a heart ready to change.
This is a lesson for us all. Salvation is difficult for those who defend or excuse their sin. Like the prodigal, we must reflect honestly on who we are and admit our need for grace.
The Elder son
If the younger son represents reckless sin, the elder son represents self-righteousness. When he hears the music and dancing, he refuses to celebrate. His complaint to his father reveals his bitterness:
“All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a goat to celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours returns, who squandered your property with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
His words expose his heart:
- Resentment – He views his service as slavery, not love.
- Pride – He boasts of his moral superiority.
- Lack of compassion – He refuses even to call the prodigal his brother, saying instead, “this son of yours.”
The father responds gently but firmly: “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate because your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
The elder son’s error is subtle but dangerous. He had the father’s presence and inheritance all along, yet he failed to appreciate it. His self-righteousness blinded him to the joy of grace.
Many of us resemble this elder brother. We judge harshly when others fall, forgetting our own need for mercy. We think our good deeds earn us standing before God, but salvation is never about what we do, it is about the Father’s love.
The Father
The father is the heart of this parable. He does not resist his younger son’s shocking request but grants it, respecting his free will. This decision reflects God’s willingness to let us choose—even when our choices lead us astray.
But while the son is away, the father never stops watching. The moment the boy returns, still ragged and dirty, the father runs to him. In a culture where dignified men never ran in public, this act is striking. He embraces his child before the son even speaks his confession.
Instead of judgement, he offers restoration: the robe of honour, the family ring, sandals for his feet, and a feast of celebration. The boy who expected rejection is welcomed as a son once more.
To the elder son, the father also shows love, gently reminding him of his constant inheritance and inviting him into the joy of forgiveness.
This is a picture of God. He is not a distant judge waiting to condemn but a loving Father who runs to embrace us. His love defies social expectation, cultural norms, and human logic. It is love that restores the unworthy and celebrates the lost who come home.
Message for today
The parable of the Prodigal Son is more than a story of two brothers; it is a story of us all. At times we are like the younger son, rebellious, proud, and reckless. At other times we are like the elder son, dutiful but resentful, blind to grace.
Above all, we need the Father’s love. His arms remain open, whether we return from wild living or from cold self-righteousness. His message is the same: “You are mine. You were lost, but now you are found”.
In a world scarred by broken relationships, pride, and unforgiveness, this parable continues to shine as a ray of hope. It tells us that no one is beyond redemption. It reminds us that true joy is found not in possessions or pride but in reconciliation—with God and with one another.
This is the heart of the Christian gospel: a God who forgives, a Father who runs to meet us, and a love that restores the lost.
