The word prodigal means reckless. Jesus tells a parable about a reckless son. A parable is a short story or statement that has a hidden spiritual meaning. Jesus often spoke in parables to separate those who were spiritually attentive from those who were spiritually dull. After hearing a parable, those who were spiritually interested would inquire of Jesus for an explanation. Others, who were spiritually dull, would hear the parable and think, “That was meaningless,” and then walk away. This highlights what is said in Isaiah 6:9-10, that people have spiritual blindness, deafness, and dullness of heart, otherwise, they would see, hear, and turn in their heart to the Lord.
The Scripture says this spiritual dullness is caused by turning toward idols, works, empty religion, and other ungodly spiritual pursuits, all which rob men of true spiritual awareness. The book of Isaiah says, “They do not know, nor do they understand, for He (the Lord) has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend…a deceived heart has turned him aside,” (Isaiah 44:9-20). And the Psalmist says that idols “have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear…Those who make them will become like them,” (Psalm 115:3-8).
Therefore, Jesus teaches in parables as a way to expose one’s spiritual condition. Some, whom the Holy Spirit had made spiritually sensible, were able to detect that Jesus’ parable pointed to a critical truth that needed to be understood. So, parables demonstrate the need for spiritual discernment, which comes when we pray for eyes that can see; Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I can see the beautiful things in Your law.”
Here is the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32, spoken by Jesus. “And He said, ‘A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
Let’s start by drawing out a few key insights. First, the prodigal son approaches his father and said, “Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.” Inheritance wasn’t generally distributed until the father was dead. The son here is basically saying, “I’d be better off if you were dead. Just give me my money now.” The son valued inheritance over relationship. What a terrible way to view those that love you. Would you trade family for wealth?
It should be understood that the parable is spoken to Jews, and is about Jews. Here, the prodigal son, a Jew, traveled to “a distant country” (vs. 13) and after squandering his wealth, “hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country,” (vs.15). Now, he finds himself a servant to a Gentile, a pig farmer. We can see how far he had been reduced; son of a wealthy prominent Jew, now resolved to a task that is despicable for Jews, tending to swine. We can be like the prodigal son, sometimes thinking being governed by another is so bad that independence is far better.
Fast forward, after the son “came to his senses” (vs. 17), he decides to return to his father’s house. I love how the actions of the father are described, “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him,” (vs. 20). Notice that the father didn’t stand at the doorway with his arms crossed, watching and waiting, not willing to move an inch toward the son until the son had made it all the way home. No, the opposite is true. As soon as the prodigal son turned back toward the father, the father saw him from afar and went out to meet his son and usher him back to the house. This is a great picture of God’s graciousness. God doesn’t say to us, “First get yourself cleaned up; stop cussing, drinking, smoking, and then I’ll take you back.” No, God comes to us where we are, takes us as we are, and by His assistance He ushers us back into a right communion with Him.
Skipping ahead, let’s focus on the fattened calf. This was a meal fit for the community, not just the son and immediate family. Everyone was welcome to attend and encouraged to forgive; an expectation for all as led by the example of the father. With this beautiful imagery in view, reflect on the following questions – “How do I respond when God extends mercy and grace to those I consider unworthy?” “Do I have a hard time welcoming in people that are not like me?”
The parable goes on to reveal the heart condition of the older brother towards his younger brother. If you’re familiar with Jewish tradition, the older brother received a double portion of the inheritance. Remember, the older son got his inheritance at that same time the younger sibling received his, as the father, “divided his wealth between them,” (vs. 12). In fact, the older brother was put over the whole estate, as is normally the case in Jewish culture; as seen by the father reminding the eldest son, “all that is mine is yours,” (vs. 31). In all this, we see the older son complain about the banquet being thrown for the returned brother. Keep in mind, if the older brother wanted a banquet with his friends, he could have done so at any point. This leads me to think that the oldest son was never really interested in sharing his things with anyone, not even his friends, and certainly not sharing the fattened calf with his younger brother. In fact, the older brother doesn’t even acknowledge the younger brother as a real brother at all, but instead, when complaining to his father, refers to him as “this son of yours,” (vs. 30). Upon hearing this, the father graciously reminds the older son of the true nature of his relationship to his sibling, “this brother of yours,” (vs. 32).
The parable also reveals the heart condition of the older brother towards his father. First, he wouldn’t enter into the feast even though he was invited; he was “not willing to go in” (vs. 28) to celebrate the return of his brother. “His father came out and began pleading with him,” (vs. 28). This shows a high level of disrespect toward the dad. The way he spoke to his father showed that he didn’t think of himself as his father’s son, but as his father’s servant; “For so many years I have been serving you,” (vs. 29). This manner of speaking reflects no internal value, only external adherence.
This older son models the heart of the Jews, who had a vague knowledge of the Lord, honoring the Lord by way of commands and laws, but having no internal relationship; no love, no intimacy. So, when the older brother, who’s lived a life of adherence, sees the younger sibling being honored, after having lived a life of disobedience, it causes resentment in the heart of the older brother. Ultimately, the older sibling thought honor came through “doing”, “I have never neglected a command of yours,” (vs. 29), and not through a relationship.
The meaning in all of this is that the older son was blind to his own sin, and hadn’t learned that works aren’t what gets the father’s approval. The older son represents the hardened Jews and Pharisees that thought law-keeping was what made one fit for God’s kingdom. The father delights in a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), as demonstrated by the prodigal son’s humility; not seeing himself worthy of sonship. Humility and a lack of self-righteousness is what God is looking for. When self-righteous people see that God’s favor is poured out on those that have been prodigal, the self-righteous are naturally jealous.
So many more insights can be drawn from this parable, but lastly, I’ll point out that this parable reflects God’s mercy toward the older son, correcting his view of his brother, and reminding the older son that there’s an invitation to enter into the father’s feast if the elder son would just be humble enough and willing to come in.