THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON
Luke 15:11-24
(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, February 8th, 2026)
Today we arrive at one of the most well-known passages in all of the New Testament. The story of the Prodigal son is one that is especially familiar to Christians, but it is also widely known in the secular world. Renowned philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson and novelist Charles Dickens regarded Jesus’ story about the Prodigal as the greatest short story ever told.
Those of us who grew up in church have heard countless sermons from this passage. In my twenty years of ministry I have either preached these verses or referenced them more times than I can count.
Though the parable of the Prodigal son is one of the most well-known passages in God’s Word, it is also one of the most misinterpreted. Though a passage of Scripture may have many different applications, it possesses only one, original, and binding interpretation. To understand the legitimate interpretation of scripture we must ask, “what did these verses mean to their original audience?”
The actual interpretation of this parable is actually pretty simple and it is exceedingly beautiful. It may surprise you to learn that the main character is not the Prodigal son; it is actually the loving father. The father in this story represents God, the younger son represents the tax collectors and sinners, and the older brother represents the self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes.
In telling this story, Jesus identifies Himself with God in His compassion towards the lost. Like the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, this parable was told by Jesus in response to the Pharisees and Scribes complaint in verse one; there they grumbled saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Each of these parables demonstrate God’s love for each individual soul and they highlight His personal attentiveness toward all of humanity.
A parable is a story that is told alongside a truth in an effort to illustrate that truth. There was a period of time during Jesus’ ministry where He relied heavily on parables as teaching aids
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There was a certain occasion when the Disciples asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:10-11). In Jesus’ response we learn that His use of parables had a two-fold purpose: to reveal the truth to those who wanted to know it and to conceal it from those who were indifferent.
Today, I would like for us to follow our study of the parables of The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin with “The Parable Of The Lost Son”. There are several important truths that Jesus illustrates in this passage. This parable illustrates the depravity of sinners, the consequences of sin, the insufficiency of works, the necessity of repentance, and the attributes of God. We will begin in verses 11-13 and examine the fact that:
THIS PARABLE ILLUSTRATES THE DEPRAVITY OF SINNERS
The younger of the two sons requested his inheritance. He “said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. This would have been an unusual request, especially considering that he was not entitled to any inheritance while his father was alive. It was also an offensive request; the younger son might as well have said, “I wish you were dead!” However, his gracious father granted his request, he provided his son with the full portion of his inheritance. This would have amounted to one third of the estate. The older son possessed the right of the firstborn which was two thirds of the estate and he received the full amount at the same time; the father “divided his property between them.”
When the younger son received his inheritance he left his father’s house, went out on his own, and wasted his money in foolish living. (v13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.) His downward spiral shows us that there is no limit to the wickedness of people who do not have a relationship with God.
Like the younger son, the tax collectors and sinners (who were related to God the Father by creation) had wasted their potential privileges and refused any relationship with Him. Up to this point they had chosen a life of sinful self-indulgence.
Jesus goes on to use this parable to explain the separation and want that they experienced as a result of their sinful lifestyles. This leads us to the fact that:
THIS PARABLE ILLUSTRATES THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
It seems that one of the primary reasons the younger son wanted his inheritance was so he could get as far away from his father as possible. Early on, the Prodigal was having the time of his life. He was not just involved in a life of wasteful extravagance, but also reckless immorality. In verse thirty the older brother states the younger had “devoured the father’s property with prostitutes”. This could have been an assumption, or it could be that word of his brother’s reckless living had spread through his hometown.
The Greek word for “prodigal” means “dissolute” and conveys the idea of an utterly debauched lifestyle. This was not just a description of the lifestyle of the younger son; it was also a fitting description for the manner of living among the tax collectors and sinners.
After receiving his share and then rapidly and completely wasting his resources, a severe famine arose and the younger son began to “be in need”. His situation was so desperate that he “went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs”. Feeding swine was a task that was disgraceful for Jewish men. Even worse, he “was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. At this point in his life, the prodigal was starving and alone.
Like the younger son, the tax collectors and sinners had rejected God’s authority in their lives. Metaphorically they had traveled to a distant land; their hearts and lives were far away from God. They were a people who lived in the moment, they were focused on the pleasures and treasures of this world. However, with all that they possessed and enjoyed, it was all temporary; they never experienced true, lasting joy. They were outcasts in society, they were not respected by others, and their prospects for the future were bleak.
No matter what they did, no matter how seemingly successful they were, the tax collectors and sinners could not find true joy. When examining their story we see that:
THIS PARABLE ILLUSTRATES THE INSUFFICIENCY OF WORKS
The younger son found himself destitute and in danger of death. Eventually he came to his senses and realized the consequences of leaving his father. He also came to the realization of just how gracious his father was. (v17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!)
The prodigal remembered that the servants who were hired by his father always had an abundance of food; yet he was a blood relative, a beloved son, dying from hunger. The prodigal “came to himself” and realized that his only hope for survival would be to return to his father. He said, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will 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” (v18-19). The son devised a plan to return to his father and request to be treated as one of his hired servants. However, when he arrived, he quickly learned that his father did not want another servant, he wanted his son!
This chapter begins with the tax collectors and sinners “drawing near to hear him” (Jesus). Though they may not have fully understood the Gospel, it seems that there were some in that crowd who realized their dire situation before God. They had gone far from him and lived rebellious, reckless, and wretched lives and were spiritually “in want”. Apparently they came to their senses and even though there was no way that they could have been worthy of God’s kindness, they had an innate desire to be in His presence. They would soon learn that the Father was not looking for servants, but He was more than willing to accept them as His children!
The tax collectors and sinners did not have the ability to earn God’s favor. Like the prodigal, their only hope was to turn to Father and trust in Him. Notice that:
THIS PARABLE ILLUSTRATES THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE
The younger son “arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (v20). This compassionate and gracious embrace by the father did not prevent the son from confessing his unworthiness. He said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Though he had sinned grievously, he was not qualified to be his father’s son, and he did not even deserve to be treated as a servant; the father welcomed him home and even celebrated his return!
The only way that the beautiful reunion between the prodigal son and his father was possible was for the son to repent. He changed his mind, changed his direction, and returned to his loving father. The same was required of the tax collectors and sinners. It was not enough for them to merely be drawn to Jesus with a desire to hear His message. The only way for them to experience a right relationship with the Heavenly Father was through repentance.
- This parable illustrates the depravity of sinners, the consequences of sin, the insufficiency of work, the necessity of repentance, and:
THIS PARABLE ILLUSTRATES THE ATTRIBIUTES OF GOD
As the prodigal returns home, (even while he is far away) his father sees him. It was the father’s legal right to kill his wayward and rebellious son. (Reference: Deuteronomy 21:18–21). Rather than condemning his son, the father is filled with love and compassion. Instead of implementing justice, the father extended mercy!
It was uncommon for Jewish men to run because it was considered to be undignified. However, in this instance the father is so overcome with joy that he runs to meet his precious son and “embraced him and kissed him.”
The point of this parable was to show the love that God shows to repenting sinners. Though the self-righteous Pharisees were furious that Jesus would fellowship with the tax collectors and sinners, His compassion mirrored the compassion that God extends to all who come to Him for forgiveness. (Psalm 103:13 “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”)
The father not only showed compassion and mercy to his son, in love, he extended grace and called for a celebration. (v22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.)
The father did not receive the prodigal as a servant; each of the gifts he provided show that he was welcoming home his beloved son. The robe was an item that was typically reserved for the guest of honor. The ring was likely a signet ring which was a symbol of authority. Slaves often went barefoot or wore very simple, low-quality sandals; thus, the sandals further signified the son’s full restoration to sonship. The fattened calf was something usually reserved for the most special of occasions.
The Parable of the Lost Son illustrates several attributes of God. In this story we see the Father’s compassion, mercy, grace, love, and joy. God’s compassion for the tax collectors and sinners is seen in the fact that the He is actively looking for His children. This was the very reason that Jesus came to earth.
Justice demanded that the father punish His son, instead, He extended mercy. The same is true concerning the repentant tax collectors and sinners relationship with the Heavenly Father. The father went beyond extending mercy and provided His child with numerous undeserved blessings. Likewise, many underserved blessings that were related to God’s grace was available to the tax collectors and sinners. The father’s compassion, mercy, and grace are all evidence that the son was forgiven and this was possible because of his love for his son. This illustrates God’s love for sinners. The father’s joy at the return of his wayward son is an illustration of the joy that the Father in Heaven enjoys when one of His children comes home. As we have seen previously in the chapter, all of Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents (v7;10).
The truths in this parable as just as relevant today as they were when Jesus shared them with the Pharisees and Scribes. Each and every soul is precious to God and as a result of His love, He is still extending grace, mercy, and compassion to sinners today. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, people have been born with a depraved sin nature.
Genesis 6:5 says, “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” King David said, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). Not one person is guiltless before God. Paul declared that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
There was a time when each of us was like the tax collectors and sinners. Though related to God the Father by creation, we wasted our potential privileges and refused any relationship with Him. Some of you are still in the midst of that depraved sinful condition and up until now you have chosen a life of sinful self-indulgence. You are living life for yourself. You are seeking joy and fulfillment in the pleasures and treasures of this world. You have dreams and desires and there is nothing and no one that will stand in the way of you fulfilling your sinful passions.
Some of you think that you will be happy if you get the right job, achieve the next promotion, or receive the next raise. You believe that you will be satisfied if you can just get enough money to buy that new car, a bigger house, or various other earthly possessions. Some think that if they can just find the right woman or the right man they will finally experience true happiness! Some are looking to a bottle of alcohol, or some sort of drug to “make things better”.
After years of this constant search and even after some success in your personal quests, some may be honest enough to admit that something is still missing. Like the Prodigal, you have received everything you wanted and you are still not happy. Furthermore, there are some who once had everything they ever wanted and they squandered it. Now, they are experiencing the consequences of their sinful living.
Because of your depravity, you have lost the job, missed out on the promotion, pushed away the man or woman that you thought was the answer to your problem. The checking account is empty, the house is in foreclosure, the car has been repossessed, the divorce papers have been served, the custody battle is in process, many of the possessions are gone, and the ones that remain don’t mean a thing. With all of your other problems the drugs and alcohol cannot even begin to ease the pain.
As a result you have “come to your senses” and you fully realize that something is missing and you need help. In times such as these, many come to church thinking that it will solve all of their problems. It is important for you to understand that church is not the answer, attending a small group is not the answer, praying a prayer is not the answer, getting baptized is not the answer, reading your Bible is not the answer. These are all great things but they mean nothing if you fail to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
The only way that the beautiful reunion between the prodigal son and his father was possible was for the son to repent. He changed his mind, changed his direction, and returned to his loving father.
The only way for you to experience a right relationship with the Heavenly Father is through repentance. John MacArthur defines biblical repentance as “a radical, inward change of mind, heart, and purpose that results in a total about-face, turning away from sin and toward God.”
The Prodigal teaches us that works are insufficient! There is no way that we can work our way to God, we cannot earn His favor. The Father is not looking for servants! However, He is actively seeking and waiting with open arms for sinners to repent. When sinners repent, the Father will readily welcome them into His family as His dear children!
As I mentioned earlier, this parable is not really about the son, rather, it illustrates the amazing attributes of the loving father. Like the father in this story, the Heavenly Father is actively looking for His children. When they turn to Him through repentance, He compassionately welcomes them home and into His family.
Though He has every right to punish them for their rebellion, instead He extends mercy. He is able to do this because (through Jesus) the price has been paid for their redemption. Though “the wages of sin is death”, “the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”.
Mercy is more that we could ever deserve, but the Father doesn’t stop there; He goes beyond extending mercy and provides His children with grace and numerous undeserved blessings. God’s compassion, mercy, and grace are all evidence that His children are forgiven and this is possible because of the father’s love. No matter who you are, where you have been or what you have done, if you will repent and believe you can experience the Father’s love!
Then, to top it off, in spite of your lifetime of rebellion, depravity, and sin, the Father will rejoice and call for a grand celebration when you repent and believe in Jesus. You are so precious to Him that Jesus says, “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (v10). If you have never repented and believed in Jesus, I encourage you to do so today. If you will, all of Heaven will rejoice at your conversion and we will rejoice with them.
William J. Kirkpatrick wrote a hymn that records the prayer of a lost son who realizes his depravity, the consequences of his sin, the insufficiency of his works, and the necessity of repentance. It says:
“I’ve wandered far away from God;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
I’ve wasted many precious years,
I now repent with bitter tears,
I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord,
I’ll trust your love, believe your Word,
My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
My strength renew, my hope restore,
My only hope and only plea;
That Jesus died, and died for me;
I need his cleansing blood, I know;
Oh, wash me whiter than the snow;
Lord, I’m coming home.
Coming home, coming home,
Never more to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.”
The loving Father is standing with outstretched arms, ready and willing to welcome home lost sons and daughters! Turn to Him today, if you will, it will be cause for celebration in Heaven.
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