The Parable of the Lost Son ( Prodigal Son )

Among the many parables written in the Holy Bible, Luke 15:1to38 contains three important parables written so that we may understand the love of God.

1. The lost sheep that was found.

2. The lost coin that was recovered.

3. The son who went far away and returned -Prodigal Son.

From the beginning, Satan (the deceiver) has been working with one main purpose, to separate mankind from their Creator God. Satan leads humans away from God, draws them toward the world and sin, and finally gives them the wages of sin, which is death.

Through these three parables, especially this third one, we learn how the son (Prodigal Son) moved away from the Father (symbolising God), the loss he suffered, how he returned to the Father, and how the Father lovingly accepted him back. These reveal many deep spiritual truths.

One day, when Jesus was teaching these truths, tax collectors, sinners, scribes, and Pharisees came to hear His teaching (Luke 15:1–2). Jesus explained this parable to them in great detail.

In the beginning of creation, God created mankind in His own image, male and female. In Genesis chapter 1, God blessed them and gave them authority over His creation. In chapter 2, God placed them in the garden to keep and cultivate it. But God also gave them one command—not to eat the fruit of a specific tree.

Satan’s work was to make humans disobey the only command God gave. By disobeying God, man fell from His glory and became enslaved to sin under Satan’s control.

When a person moves away from God, their heart is filled with darkness, and they become far from God’s light. Their deeds become evil, and thus they cannot come near God (John 3:19–20). The light of the Gospel cannot shine in them (2 Cor 4:4). Satan roams like a roaring lion seeking to devour even those already established in the truth (1 Pet 5:8).

Jesus taught this parable to show the great losses a person suffers when they move away from God, like the prodigal son and how they must return to Him.

According to Luke 15:11, a father had two sons. When the younger son asked for his share, the father divided his property between them. The younger son gathered everything and went to a far country.

Prodigal Son – Losses That Come From Being Far From the Grace of God.

By moving far away, the son went out of the father’s authority. Distance from the father brought him closer to sin and the world. He went far away to enjoy sinful pleasures. He became a slave of sin and Satan. He thought he was enjoying sin, but he did not realise that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). He lost the grace of God.

Thus, he lost the servants in the father’s house, authority, abundant food, fine garments, the ring, the sandals, the great feast, and the joy of being in the father’s home.

The first thing that happened in the life of the Prodigal Son

Without the father’s guidance or authority, he lived freely in sinful pleasure. Through reckless living, he wasted his entire inheritance.

The Second thing that happened in the life of the Prodigal Son

Even today, Satan destroys many people through reckless living, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:18, through drunkenness and alcohol, and people harm themselves.

According to Luke 15:30, he wasted his wealth with prostitutes (Proverbs 29:3).

The third thing in the Prodigal Son’s life

Third, sin made him a lonely man. No one was there to help him (Luke 15:16).

The Fourth

Fourth, sin brought him near the doorway of death (Luke 15:17).

Fifth Thing

Fifth, he had to do what he should never have needed to do, he joined himself to feed pigs and lived with them (Luke 15:15).

Sixth One

Sin made him foolish and caused him to lose everything (Proverbs 21:20).

The Seventh thing that happened in the life of the Prodigal Son

The one who should have eaten rich food began hoping to eat the pods given to pigs, but even that he could not get. Jesus taught the seriousness of sin through this parable, how terrible life becomes when a person moves away from God. Yet, God has made a perfect way for every human to return to Him, showing His love toward us (Romans 5:8).

Blessings That Come When the Son Returns to the Father

First blessing

Luke 15:20 says the father saw him while he was still far away. When the prodigal son (we) returned, the father’s loving eyes turned toward him. He saw the son’s miserable condition. God never rejects anyone who comes to Him (John 6:38). God’s eyes are fixed on mankind. Psalm 14:1 says He looks from heaven to see if anyone understands and seeks Him.

He sees those in trouble (Exodus 3:7). He immediately healed the man who had suffered for many years with no one to help him (John 5:6). Zacchaeus, who ran ahead to see Jesus because he had no peace, was saved along with his household because Jesus saw him. God lovingly looks for every person who is far from Him so they may return.

Second blessing in the Prodigal Son (our) Life.

Luke 15:20 says the father had compassion on him. In Exodus 34:6, God is described as merciful and compassionate. Deuteronomy 4:31 says He is compassionate, He will not destroy us or abandon us. Therefore, the father ran to the prodigal son with compassion. The father understood the son’s heart even before he spoke. Psalm 32:5 shows that God forgives even before we confess. Whoever comes to God, no matter their condition, He will never delay. He is always ready to forgive (Psalm 86:5). He has the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:10).

But Satan blinds many so they do not come to God for forgiveness. He drags them toward destruction and eternal punishment. But the son who returned received mercy and was brought back into the father’s house.

Third Blessing

Luke 15:20 says the father kissed him. A kiss represents true love. Though humans became enemies of God through sin, God loved them and reconciled them to Himself. The father in the parable, instead of punishing the rebellious son (The Prodigal son), kissed him with love. This shows the depth of the father’s love, unconditional, unlimited, beyond human understanding.

The kiss represents the end of enmity. In Genesis 33:4, Esau kissed Jacob and ended their hostility. Likewise, Joseph kissed his brothers who had treated him as an enemy (Genesis 45:15). The father in this parable kissed his son, though he was filthy, ragged, and foul-smelling. Our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, shows us the same love. Even though humans have moved far from His love and deserve eternal punishment, He is ready to accept us in any condition.

Fourth blessing from father

Luke 15:22 shows the wonderful things in the father’s house: many servants, abundant food, fine garments, a ring, sandals, and servants who prepared for cleansing. The house was full of joy and love.

The Prodigal son (we), by going far away, had become spiritually and physically unclean. He may have lost his clothes. He lost fellowship with the father and with the servants. He lost worship, feasting, and joy.

But when he returned, the father covered his nakedness first. When Adam sinned and moved away from God, he too realised he was naked (Genesis 3:7). We must be clothed with heavenly garments so that when Jesus returns, we may be found ready (Revelation 16:16). God covers us with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).

The ring symbolises authority (Genesis 41:45; Ezra 8:18). The son (prodigal son) had lived like a servant in a foreign land, but the father restored his authority.

Sandals represent readiness and freedom (Exodus 12:11). When Peter was in prison, God miraculously set him free and told him to put on his sandals (Acts 12:8), preparing him for the great Gospel work. As Ephesians 6:25 says, we too must wear the sandals of Gospel readiness, walking in a way that sin does not cling to us.

The fifth blessing in the life of the prodigal son and in our lives as well.

Luke 15:23 says he enjoyed the feast with the father. Those who hear God’s Word and fellowship with Him receive His abundant spiritual food. Jesus is the bread from heaven that gives life (John 6:9,12). He also feeds our physical needs (John 6:11–12). One day, He will take us to His great banquet (Song of Solomon 2:4).

Sixth Blessing in the Son (our) Life.

Luke 15:23 also shows that joy returned. When he was far away, he had no fellowship, no comfort. Sinful pleasures only lasted for a moment and ended in sorrow. But now he experienced true joy in the father’s house. He was once spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), but through repentance, he became alive again and experienced joy. Even heaven rejoices when a sinner repents (Luke 15:6,7,10). The father’s house was filled with joy, praise, worship, and dancing.

Luke 15:24 says the Prodigal son had been lost and near destruction at the hands of sin and Satan. But by returning, he came back into a safe condition. As Noah and his family were saved by entering the ark (Luke 17:27), those who return to God escape the fearful punishment of sin.

Whoever is far from God must return to Him. When we come back, our Heavenly Father will bless us with these seven great blessings.