The Parables Of Christ Pt 7 – The Fathers Heart – The Prodigal
Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property
that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
13 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.
14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country,
and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country,
who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 And he 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.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 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.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house,
he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you,
and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat,
that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes,
you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me,
and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead,
and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
A Love That Releases
In that culture, the inheritance was only distributed after the father’s death.
To ask for it early was more than insensitive—it was a cultural insult.
It was essentially saying,
“I wish you were dead. You are in the way of my future. I want what you can give me, but I don’t want you.”
The Father chooses love over control. He honors the son’s freedom, even though it wounds the Father’s heart.
“To love at all is to be vulnerable.
Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.”
- C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
This is a portrait of God’s heart:
A Father who won’t force relationship-He won’t manipulate you into loving Him-He gives us real freedom.
Sometimes love is letting go—not to abandon-but to trust God-to believe that grace will follow them further than you can.
How often have we said to God, “I want your blessings, not your presence.”
We love His gifts—peace, purpose, provision—but we resist His presence, His lordship and direction.
Real Love Gives Room To Return.
“The refusal of God to compel us to love Him is the greatest mark of His love.”
- G.K. Chesterton
A Love That Watches and Waits
The Fathers love let the son go—but it never stopped longing for him to come home.
The mystery of divine love is that it releases, but remains.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him…” (v. 20)
This is one of the most magnificent images in all of Scripture. The Father sees him—not just when he knocks on the door, but while he’s still far off.
That only happens when someone is watching and expecting.
He then runs to greet his son.
The cross is what it looks like when God runs to humanity.
Waiting in love is not weakness—it is spiritual strength.
Many of us imagine God as distant, disappointed or demanding-but Jesus tells the truth: He runs before we speak. The Father sees us before we see Him.
A Love That Restores
Before the son can even finish his apology, the Father interrupts with action:
“Quick! Bring the best robe… put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Kill the fattened calf. Let’s have a feast and celebrate!” (vv. 22–23)
The Father responds immediately—covering the son’s shame, restoring his dignity, and reaffirming his place in the family.
This isn’t a reward for good behavior, it’s a gift of belonging.
This is one of the clearest pictures Jesus gives of what God is really like:
A Father whose holiness doesn’t cancel His joy-who doesn’t just clean us up—He crowns us with dignity.
A Love For The Loyal
Both sons misunderstand the Father.
Both believe the Father’s love must be earned.
One tries to earn it by rebellion. The other tries to earn it by rule-keeping, but both are lost in different ways.
Once again, the Father comes out to meet a son. He doesn’t demand compliance.
He pleads. He invites.
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad…” (vv. 31–32)
This is the Father’s heart in full display—not just running to meet the rebellious, but reaching out to the resentful.
The older brother is trapped in a smaller story—a story of fairness, resentment, and comparison, but the Father is telling a much bigger story: one of resurrection, redemption, and rejoicing.
Don’t miss the heart of the Father because you’ve been near His house, but far from His joy.
Whether you’ve wandered far or worked hard to stay close, the invitation is the same:
Come home to the Father.
TABLE TIME:
As we engage in conversation, let Paul’s words to the Colossian church be our framework. Colossians 4:6, ‘Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.’
In what ways does the father’s freedom-giving love challenge the belief that love must always protect from or prevent pain in order to be genuine?
How does the fact that God allows us freedom—even when it leads to pain—shape your view of His love and character? Does it cause you to trust Him more deeply or feel more distant? Why?
What does the image of the father attentively watching and waiting reveal about God’s patient love, especially in seasons of wandering far from Him?
The Father ran to his son before he could say a word or clean himself up. What does that reveal about the nature of God’s grace? How does that speak to our fear of not being “good enough” for God?
How do these symbols of restoration (robe, ring, and sandals) speak to God’s desire not just to forgive us, but to restore our identity and welcome us back into relationship?
In what ways can we sometimes be like the prodigal son—chasing after God’s blessings while resisting His refining presence? Why is it easier to desire what God gives than to embrace the transformation He wants to do in us?
Have you ever struggled with the feeling that God’s love is tied to how well you’re doing spiritually?
Like the older brother in the parable, why do you think it’s so easy to slip into that mindset—and so hard to be free from it?
How does the parable’s open-ended conclusion about the older brother invite us to examine our own hearts and responses to God’s grace—and what might it look like in our lives to enter into the joy of someone else’s redemption instead of holding on to resentment or comparison?
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER: