Parable: an earthly story Jesus told with a heavenly meaning
There are 2 sons in this story
11 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.
Luke 15:11-13
JESUS Storybook Bible: So the son goes to his father and says, “Dad, I’m better off without you. I can look after myself. Just give me my share of the money”
Seeing ourselves in the story:
• We think we know best
14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.
Luke 15:14-16
JESUS Storybook Bible: And everything is perfect—for a while. He can go wherever he wants, do whatever he wants, be whoever he wants. He is the boss, he is free! Sometimes he gets a strange, hungry, homesick feeling inside his heart, but then he just eats more, or drinks more, or buys more clothes, or goes to more parties until it goes away.
Seeing ourselves in the story:
• We go to others first
We need less religious activity and more reliance on our relationship with the Father.
When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!
Luke 15:17
18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:18-20
21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ringon his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:21-24
JESUS Storybook Bible: Let’s have a party! His dad shouts. “My boy’s home. He ran away. I lost him—but now I have him back!”
“The depth of the son’s repentance is matched only by the depth of the father’s love”
25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes,you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:25-32
Seeing ourselves in the story:
• We follow for the wrong reasons
“There was a sense in which the older son was obedient, yet far from his father’s heart. In this sense he was a perfect illustration of the religious leaders who were angry that Jesus received tax collectors and sinners. “His story reveals the possibility of living in the father’s house and failing to understand the father’s heart.” —G. Campbell Morgan//Preacher and Author
JESUS Storybook Bible: Jesus told people this story to show them what God is like. And to show people what they are like.