Among all the parables Jesus told, the Parable of the Prodigal Son stands out as one of the most beloved, rich with emotional depth and spiritual truth. As the final parable in Luke 15, it completes a trilogy that reveals the heart of God for the lost and the joy of heaven over repentance. But where the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin focused on God’s initiative in seeking out those who have strayed, this parable shifts attention to the journey of the sinner returning and the gracious response of the Father. It also exposes the dangerous self-righteousness that blinds many to their own need for grace.
Words: 1388 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The immediate context is crucial to understanding its meaning. Jesus was addressing an audience that included not only tax collectors and sinners who eagerly gathered to hear Him but also Pharisees and teachers of the law who muttered in scorn: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). Their complaint was not simply about social associations but about what they saw as a compromise of holiness. In response, Jesus offers these parables, revealing the true nature of God’s holiness—not a holiness that separates itself from sinners but one that seeks, finds, restores, and rejoices.
The parable opens with a striking scene: “There was a man who had two sons” (Luke 15:11). With these words, Jesus invites His listeners into a story of contrast and tension, where each son represents a different spiritual condition, both needing the grace of the Father. The younger son, brash and self-centered, demands his share of the inheritance while his father is still alive—an act that, in Jewish culture, would be tantamount to wishing his father dead. Yet, astonishingly, the father grants the request, dividing his property between the two sons. The younger son takes his portion and departs for a distant country, where he squanders his wealth in reckless living. His rebellion reflects the waywardness of Israel, often portrayed in Scripture as forsaking God for the false promises of idolatry and worldliness.
But sin’s pleasures are fleeting. When famine strikes the land, the younger son finds himself destitute. Reduced to feeding pigs—a task that epitomized shame and uncleanness for a Jew—he longs for the very food given to the swine. This vivid image of degradation mirrors the spiritual poverty of those who turn from God. Like Israel in exile, cut off from covenant blessings and suffering under the weight of its rebellion, the younger son reaches the point where he sees his true condition. Yet it is in this place of brokenness that hope is born.
The son comes to his senses. Recognizing his folly and the kindness of his father, he resolves to return—not to claim his former status but to ask for a servant’s place. “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:18-19). His words echo the language of true repentance, acknowledging sin not only as an offense against family but, more importantly, against God. This turning point illustrates the very repentance that the prophets called Israel to throughout its history: a return from rebellion to the mercy of God.
As the son approaches, the father sees him from afar. His immediate reaction—running to embrace and kiss his wayward child—would have stunned Jesus’ audience. In Middle Eastern culture, a dignified patriarch did not run. But this father, moved by compassion, abandons convention and rushes to welcome his son. The embrace precedes any confession. The kiss of reconciliation comes before the son can finish his speech. The father interrupts, commanding his servants to clothe the boy with the best robe, place a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet—each symbol a declaration that the son is restored, not as a servant, but as a beloved child. The feast that follows, with the fattened calf reserved for the most joyful of occasions, signals that what was lost has been found, what was dead is alive again.
But the parable does not end with the joy of the homecoming. As the celebration unfolds, the older son appears. Hearing music and dancing, he is not drawn to join the joy but is filled with anger. When he learns the reason for the feast, he refuses to enter. His protest reveals the condition of his heart: “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends” (Luke 15:29). His words betray a transactional view of his relationship with his father—obedience as duty, deserving reward, rather than as an expression of love. His bitterness reflects the attitude of the Pharisees, who saw themselves as righteous and resented God’s grace toward sinners.
The father responds with tenderness, assuring the older son that he has always had access to all that the father owns. Yet he gently corrects him: “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32). The parable closes without revealing the older son’s choice. Will he enter the celebration or remain outside? Jesus leaves the ending open, as if to place the decision before the Pharisees—and all who hear: will they rejoice at God’s grace, or will they cling to their self-righteousness and exclude themselves from His joy?
From a dispensational viewpoint, the parable offers a rich portrait of God’s dealings with Israel. The father represents God, ever patient and eager to restore the wayward. The younger son mirrors the sinful and repentant within Israel, those whom the religious elite regarded as beyond redemption. His journey reflects the historical pattern of the nation’s rebellion and eventual repentance. The older son depicts the self-righteous leaders who prided themselves on outward obedience but failed to grasp the heart of God’s mercy. Their refusal to rejoice over the repentance of sinners parallels their rejection of Jesus and the invitation to the Kingdom.
Looking ahead, the parable also points to future realities. During the Tribulation, many among Israel will recognize their need for the Messiah and return to Him, fulfilling the promises of national restoration. But others will persist in hardened unbelief, aligning themselves with the spirit of the older son. Yet through it all, the Father’s heart remains open, His invitation to share in His joy extended to all who will humble themselves and come home.
The application is timeless. The parable calls each hearer to examine their own heart. Are we like the younger son, wandering far from God but longing for home? The Father waits with open arms. Are we like the older son, blind to our need for grace, resenting God’s mercy toward others? The invitation remains: enter into the Father’s joy. The choice is ours.
Above all, the Parable of the Prodigal Son reveals the heart of God. His grace is boundless, His joy in the restoration of the lost is uncontainable, and His love is extended freely to all who will return. The parable ends with an open door, a waiting Father, and a celebration ready to begin—for all who will come.
Want to Go Deeper?
This post draws from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7), where I explore the prophetic and dispensational meaning of Jesus’ parables in greater detail.
Explore the full book on Amazon →
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.