The Prodigal Son
The term “Prodigal Son” is not actually scripture…it is a notation in the bible to describe the parable that Jesus taught. I always thought it meant someone returning from going astray but prodigal means wasteful or reckless.

So the parable of the Prodigal Son was a parable of Jesus and documented by Luke in Luke 15:11-32.
It is important to note every word that Jesus said, and those that He left unsaid.
It is also important to know the circumstances surrounding these parables and to whom he was speaking.

Luke Chapter 15, KJV:
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

So Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and scribes as much as he was to the publicans and sinners.

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

It is noteworthy that these two parables were about something that happened, unplanned…a sheep is lost, a coin is lost. Now we are going to hear about something that is pre-meditated. This son planned his sin.

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

note:
– The son first had to realize his condition, he had sinned.
– Then he had to repent, acknowledging that sin
– Finally he had to turn from his sin and start back to his father’s house.
– As a result, the Father “RAN” to welcome the younger son back.
– He gave him the “BEST” robe and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.
What is the significance of this? Robe, Ring, Shoes? It was a signal that he was accepted back into the family without reservation, without judgement.
– The Father did not ask the older brother if it was OK with him if his younger brother came back into the family.
If Jesus would have stopped right here, we could have had a happy ending. But life is not like this. When we come back, not everybody will accept us.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

I always thought that v. 32 meant that the older brother reconsidered his attitude and decided to join in the festivities and rejoice that his younger brother had returned safe and sound to his father’s house.

But that is not what Jesus said. Jesus left it at that. The older brother was angry and the father tried to console him and told him why he should rejoice.

This tells me that no matter how the brother should feel, he was still angry and resentful. Much like today, many brethren will not accept us back into the family of God even though we have repented and God has accepted us back into his family.

Does that mean that we cannot come back? NO!

It just means that we have to be strong, to see past the Pharisees rejection of us and to have faith that GOD has accepted us and that it is only to Him that we are accountable and of Him will we be judged.

BE STRONG!