The Parable of the lost Son – Luke: 15:11b-32

The dregs of society (“tax collectors and sinners”) coming to Jesus causes the religious leaders (“the Pharisees and the scribes”, v.2) to wonder whether Jesus sees anyone as beyond God’s mercy. To explain, Jesus tells three parables: the lost sheep (vv.4-7), the Lost Coin (vv.8-10) and the Lost (or Prodigal) Son (vv.11-32). In all three, the recovery of what was lost is cause for rejoicing> There are no limits to God’s mercy.

Briefly, the story of the Lost Son is this: the younger son leaves home and squanders his inheritance (vv.12-16); finding himself a hungry outcast resorting to Gentile ways (feeding “pigs”, (v.15), he decides to return to his father (vv.17-19); his father who seeks him, welcomes him back (v.20); the son confesses, and his father celebrates his return (vv.21-24); the elder son returns (v.25); he learns the reason for the festivities (v.26-27); he accuses his father of favouritism (vv.28-30); the father explains the situation to him (vv.31-32). In the context of first-century Palestine, several things look out of the ordinary:

• for a son to ask his father for his share of the inheritance would be like a death wish;

• no older self-respecting Jew would run (v.20) to his son;

• a father would demand a full display of repentance, not the truncated one of v.21.

clearly Jesus tells a somewhat unrealistic story to make a point. Allegory is at work: each character stands for someone other than himself: the younger son for the “tax collectors and sinners” (v.1), the elder son for the religious authorities, and the father for God. Jesus makes three points:

• the younger son could return home – so all sinners may repent and turn to God:

• the father sought the son (he saw him while “still far off”, (v.20) and offered him reinstatement – so God seeks out people to restore them, and

• the good brother begrudges his father’s joy over his brother’s return – so those who are godly should welcome God’s extension of love to the undeserving.

The parable raises a question: at the end of the era, will godly people be ready to be joyous in sharing the Kingdom with reformed sinners and a God who loves them?

© 1996-2025 Chris Haslam

Prayer of the Day

God of compassion, you are slow to anger, and full of mercy, welcoming sinners who return to you with penitent hearts: receive in your loving embrace all who come home to you, and seat them at your bountiful table, that, with all your children, they may feast with delight on all that satisfies the hungry heart. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.