The Parable of the Lost Son

“As a master communicator, Jesus knew the power of a story.”  

Luke 15:1 (TPT), Many dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often gathered around to listen as Jesus taught the people.   

• The Bible tells us that Jesus was a "friend of sinners."

Luke 15:2 (TPT) This raised concerns with the Jewish religious leaders and experts of the law.  Indignant, they grumbled and complained, saying, “Look at how this man associates with all these notorious sinners and welcomes them all to come to Him!”

• The Pharisees had a nasty habit of elevating their rules above love, compassion and mercy.

Luke 15:3 (TPT) In response, Jesus gave them this illustration:

The parable of the lost sheep.

Luke 15:7 (NKJV) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just [upright] persons who need no repentance.

The parable of the lost coin.

Luke 15:10 (NKJV) Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

• The message in both of these parables is: In spite of our past failures, God still loves us enough to pursue us.

Luke 15:11-12 (TPT) Then Jesus said, “Once there was a father with two sons. 12 The younger son came to his father and said, ‘Father, don’t you think it’s time to give me the share of your estate that belongs to me?’  

• In the Jewish culture this question meant he wished his father was already dead. This was considered to be an unforgivable act.

Luke 15:12 (TPT) So the father went ahead and distributed among the two sons their inheritance.

“It appears like the son wanted his father’s stuff, more than he wanted a relationship.”  

Luke 15:13 (TPT) Shortly afterward, the younger son packed up all his belongings and traveled off to see the world.  He journeyed to a far-off land where he soon wasted all he was given in a binge of extravagant and reckless living.  

• This far off land represented the “relational distance” between them and God.

Luke 15:14 (TPT) With everything spent and nothing left, he grew hungry, for there was a severe famine in that land. 

"Sin will take us to places we never want to go and it will keep us longer than we want to stay." 

Luke 15:15-16 (TPT) So he begged a farmer in that country to hire him.  The farmer hired him and sent him out to feed the pigs. 16 The son was so famished, he was willing to even eat the slop given to the pigs, because no one would feed him a thing.

• Remember the Bible says, sin is fun for a season, but it ends in destruction.

Luke 15:17-19 (TPT) Humiliated, the son finally realized what he was doing and he thought, ‘There are many workers at my father’s house who have all the food they want with plenty to spare.  They lack nothing.  Why am I here dying of hunger, feeding these pigs and eating their slop? 18 I want to go back home to my father’s house, and I’ll say to him, ‘Father, I was wrong.  I have sinned against you. 19 I’ll never be worthy to be called your son.  Please, Father, just treat me like one of your employees.’ 

• Due to his choices, he thought he had forfeited his right to be a son. Which meant, he could never be anything but a servant in his father’s eyes.

Luke 15:20 (TPT) So the young son set off for home.  From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home.  So the father raced out to meet him. 

• The father ran, because he was trying to outrun his son's accusers.

Luke 15:20-24 (TPT) He swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love. 21 Then the son said, ’Father, I was wrong.  I have sinned against you.  I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be — ‘The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’ 22 Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders.  Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger.  And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son. 23 Let’s prepare a great feast and celebrate. 24 For this beloved son of mine was once dead, but now he’s alive again.  Once he was lost, but now he is found!’  And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy. 

1.  Sinner — Regardless of how far they had wandered from God, He still desired to 

                     welcome them home as His sons and daughters. 

2.  Pharisees — How much they lacked the Father’s heart for those they labelled as

                           sinners. 

Luke 15:25-28 (TPT) Now, the older son was out working in the field when his brother returned, and as he approached the house he heard the music of celebration and dancing. 26 So he called over one of the servants and asked, ‘What’s going on?’ 27 The servant replied, ‘It’s your younger brother.  He’s returned home and your father is throwing a party to celebrate his homecoming.’ 28 The older son became angry and refused to go in and celebrate. So his father came out and pleaded with him, ‘Come and enjoy the feast with us!’ 

• The father’s loving pursuit was for both of his sons, not just the wayward one.

Luke 15:29-32 (TPT) The son said, ‘Father, listen!  How many years have I been working like a slave for you, performing every duty you’ve asked as a faithful son?  And I’ve never once disobeyed you.  But you’ve never thrown a party for me because of my faithfulness.  Never once have you even given me a goat that I could feast on and celebrate with my friends like he’s doing now. 

• Notice how the younger son’s attention was on the father’s goodness, while the older son’s attention was on how good he was. This is a form of self-righteousness.

Luke 15:30-32 (TPT) But look at this son of yours!  He comes back after wasting your wealth on prostitutes and reckless living, and here you are throwing a great feast to celebrate—for him!’ 31 The father said, ‘My son, you are always with me by my side.  Everything I have is yours to enjoy. 32 It’s only right to celebrate like this and be overjoyed, because this brother of yours was once dead and gone, but now he is alive and back with us again.  He was lost but now he is found!’ 

• The overarching point Jesus was trying to make to the religious leaders was this: even though God was heartbroken by the bondage of sin He saw in the lives of the notorious sinners. He was just as heartbroken by the sin of self-righteousness that was found in their lives.

Can you relate to either son in Jesus' story?