Parable of
the Lost (Prodigal) Son
– Luke 15:11-32 - May 2015
Icebreaker: Describe a time when someone you loved did something to let you down or hurt you. How did you react to the situation? Did the way you respond help resolve the problem? Or have you ever been the one to hurt or let down a loved one?
Introduction: Today we will study one of my favorite teachings by Jesus, the parable of the Lost Son. The reason it is one of my favorite teachings by Jesus is because I can relate to the lost son. My circumstances are different than his, but I can relate to the decisions he made and apply them to my life. As we read these verses allow God to use the Holy Spirit to speak to you and your life to see if there are things you can glean from this study.
Before we start the study of the Lost Son I will read verses that will tell us why Jesus told this parable. Luke 15:1-2; Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Note: Since the self-righteous Pharisees looked down on publicans and sinners, Jesus told this and two other parables to show that God cares about sinners.
Read Luke 15:11-13; And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
What significant things did you notice in verses 11-12?
The man was a man of wealth and he had two sons. The youngest son requested that his father give him his share of inheritance and the father divides his estate among his two sons. At a father’s death Jewish Law allotted two-thirds to the elder son and one third to the younger son (see Deut. 21:17). The younger sons request shows his rebellious nature in wanting his inheritance now so he could live life the way he wanted to and not according to his father’s authority. The fact that he had the audacity to ask his father to divide the estate shows that he didn’t respect or honor his father. This type of thing did not happen often in the Jewish culture.
Note: A Jewish father had the right to divide his estate prior to his death, but the decision was his to make. Some people may think the father made a unwise decision by granting his son’s request.
What does verse 13 tell us about the younger son?
It didn’t take the younger son long to turn his inheritance into cash. He then left town and went to a distant country. When he got there, he squandered (spent, wasted) his entire estate on loose (riotous) living.
Note: KJV used the word riotous for loose living. Riotous means wasteful or prodigal).
Read Luke 15:14-16; Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
What does verse 14 tell us happens to the younger son?
After he had spent all his money a severe famine occurred in the country he was living in. He became impoverished (hungry) because he didn’t have any money for food because he had spent it all living like a fool.
What significant things did you notice in verses 15-16?
Verse 15 says that he went and got a job feeding swine (pigs). This is the worst possible humiliation for a Jew, feeding pigs. The Jewish Law forbids them to keep, feed, or eat pig. This shows that the younger son’s poor decisions had caused him to hit “rock bottom”. He was so hungry he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods (seeds of a carob tree) that the pigs were eating. It sounds like he couldn’t eat them for some reason and nobody would give him anything to eat.
Note: look at his situation: he is standing in the pig pen with nothing to eat.
Read Luke 15:17-19; But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’
What happens to the young man in verse 17?
He came to his senses, I like to call this “his came to himself moment.” He realized that here he is, standing in the pig pen, dying of hunger while his father’s hired men have more than enough to eat.
What significant things does the son say in verses 18-19?
In "his came to himself moment" the son provides us with a perfect example of “true repentance”. He acknowledges his personal responsibility for his sin and confesses that he has sinned against God and his father. The son shows that he has a “true” change of heart when he says he will tell his father he is no longer worthy to be called his son and deserves to be treated like a hired man. The son is taking responsibility for his actions.
Read Luke 15:20; So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
What does this verse tell us about the father?
I believe the father was waiting everyday for his son to return. I imagine him daily standing and looking into the horizon praying that his son would return. Then one day he sees his son returning. The compassion (love) he has for his son overwhelms him and he runs and meets his son hugging and kissing him and welcoming him home.
Note: When I read this verse I get a picture of God in heaven waiting for every sinner to repent, have their “he came to himself moment” and return to Him to his out stretched arms.
Read Luke 15:21-24; And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
What comments do you have on these verses?
The son makes his verbal confession to his father, but before he can completely finish, the father cuts him off. The son had to be “blown away” by his father’s response. Instead of getting a lecture or an “I told you not to leave” the father tells his slaves to bring gifts for his son (robe, ring, and sandals for his feet). The father then tells them to kill the fattened calf and prepare a big meal. The father says we will celebrate because my son that was dead has come to life again and has returned home.
Note: The father’s reaction to his son’s return shows that genuine repentance brings not only pardon but complete restoration. Jesus is using this illustration to show that is what God the Father does when sinners repent and return to him. We are completely restored to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Read Luke 15:25-28; “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 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 became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
How does the older brother respond to his brother’s return?
Instead of being happy to see his brother, he became angry and refused to go to the celebration. Jesus used the loveless attitude of the elder brother to portray the Pharisees’ claim to self-righteousness, their doctrine of salvation by achievement, and their uncharitable attitude toward repenting sinners. Just as the elder brother had no true relationship with his father, so the Pharisees have no real relationship with God. Jesus is teaching the Pharisees this because of their attitude of murmuring in verse 2.
Note: Did you notice in verse 28 that the father goes out and pleads with the older son to enter the party? When I read this I envision Jesus pleading with the Pharisees to quit doubting and believe that He is the Son of God and to quit fighting against Him and come join Him (the party).
Read Luke 15:29-30; But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
What comments do you have on what the older son says to his father?
In verse 30 you can see the anger and resentment that the older brother has when he refers to his brother “as this son of yours”. He won’t even say my brother.
Note: Jesus may have been using this as an illustration because the Pharisee’s won’t call Him the Christ or the Son of God.
Read Luke 15:31-32; And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
What comments do you have on what the father says in these verses?
God will extend His mercy to whomever He desires despite the objections of those who view salvation and mercy differently than Him.
Closing thought: This parable of the lost son is a portrayal (story) that shows the extent of God’ love for “lost” sinful people. Jesus used the father in this story to illustrate the love that God has for the people He created in His image (Genesis 1:27). Imagine God like the father in this story waiting and watching with His arms extended out waiting for the “wayward son” sinner to return home to Him.
I believe that God desires that everyone would have their “he came to themself” moment. When they admit (acknowledge) their sin and ask God to forgive them. This is what repentance is, turning from our sin and being restored back to God. That is what the lost son did in this story.
Read 2 Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
My prayer is that everyone reading or hearing this study will be like the lost son and get restored back to God. We do that by acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross so we could be forgiven of our sins. Confess your sins to Him and ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and tell Him you want to start living your life to honor and please Him.
-True born again people are never the same. They never want to turn back to sin. Their desire is to honor and please God.
-There are too many people who think just because they believe in God or Jesus, or maybe said a prayer, that they are okay and can continue to live in sin.
-It’s more than professing our faith with our mouth, its living a life that reflects a true relationship with God.
-We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding salvation. We are also here to pray for any needs that you may have.
You can contact Kevin & Jocelyn at - Second in line Ministries – 218-428-3087.
– Luke 15:11-32 - May 2015
Icebreaker: Describe a time when someone you loved did something to let you down or hurt you. How did you react to the situation? Did the way you respond help resolve the problem? Or have you ever been the one to hurt or let down a loved one?
Introduction: Today we will study one of my favorite teachings by Jesus, the parable of the Lost Son. The reason it is one of my favorite teachings by Jesus is because I can relate to the lost son. My circumstances are different than his, but I can relate to the decisions he made and apply them to my life. As we read these verses allow God to use the Holy Spirit to speak to you and your life to see if there are things you can glean from this study.
Before we start the study of the Lost Son I will read verses that will tell us why Jesus told this parable. Luke 15:1-2; Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Note: Since the self-righteous Pharisees looked down on publicans and sinners, Jesus told this and two other parables to show that God cares about sinners.
Read Luke 15:11-13; And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
What significant things did you notice in verses 11-12?
The man was a man of wealth and he had two sons. The youngest son requested that his father give him his share of inheritance and the father divides his estate among his two sons. At a father’s death Jewish Law allotted two-thirds to the elder son and one third to the younger son (see Deut. 21:17). The younger sons request shows his rebellious nature in wanting his inheritance now so he could live life the way he wanted to and not according to his father’s authority. The fact that he had the audacity to ask his father to divide the estate shows that he didn’t respect or honor his father. This type of thing did not happen often in the Jewish culture.
Note: A Jewish father had the right to divide his estate prior to his death, but the decision was his to make. Some people may think the father made a unwise decision by granting his son’s request.
What does verse 13 tell us about the younger son?
It didn’t take the younger son long to turn his inheritance into cash. He then left town and went to a distant country. When he got there, he squandered (spent, wasted) his entire estate on loose (riotous) living.
Note: KJV used the word riotous for loose living. Riotous means wasteful or prodigal).
Read Luke 15:14-16; Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
What does verse 14 tell us happens to the younger son?
After he had spent all his money a severe famine occurred in the country he was living in. He became impoverished (hungry) because he didn’t have any money for food because he had spent it all living like a fool.
What significant things did you notice in verses 15-16?
Verse 15 says that he went and got a job feeding swine (pigs). This is the worst possible humiliation for a Jew, feeding pigs. The Jewish Law forbids them to keep, feed, or eat pig. This shows that the younger son’s poor decisions had caused him to hit “rock bottom”. He was so hungry he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods (seeds of a carob tree) that the pigs were eating. It sounds like he couldn’t eat them for some reason and nobody would give him anything to eat.
Note: look at his situation: he is standing in the pig pen with nothing to eat.
Read Luke 15:17-19; But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’
What happens to the young man in verse 17?
He came to his senses, I like to call this “his came to himself moment.” He realized that here he is, standing in the pig pen, dying of hunger while his father’s hired men have more than enough to eat.
What significant things does the son say in verses 18-19?
In "his came to himself moment" the son provides us with a perfect example of “true repentance”. He acknowledges his personal responsibility for his sin and confesses that he has sinned against God and his father. The son shows that he has a “true” change of heart when he says he will tell his father he is no longer worthy to be called his son and deserves to be treated like a hired man. The son is taking responsibility for his actions.
Read Luke 15:20; So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
What does this verse tell us about the father?
I believe the father was waiting everyday for his son to return. I imagine him daily standing and looking into the horizon praying that his son would return. Then one day he sees his son returning. The compassion (love) he has for his son overwhelms him and he runs and meets his son hugging and kissing him and welcoming him home.
Note: When I read this verse I get a picture of God in heaven waiting for every sinner to repent, have their “he came to himself moment” and return to Him to his out stretched arms.
Read Luke 15:21-24; And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
What comments do you have on these verses?
The son makes his verbal confession to his father, but before he can completely finish, the father cuts him off. The son had to be “blown away” by his father’s response. Instead of getting a lecture or an “I told you not to leave” the father tells his slaves to bring gifts for his son (robe, ring, and sandals for his feet). The father then tells them to kill the fattened calf and prepare a big meal. The father says we will celebrate because my son that was dead has come to life again and has returned home.
Note: The father’s reaction to his son’s return shows that genuine repentance brings not only pardon but complete restoration. Jesus is using this illustration to show that is what God the Father does when sinners repent and return to him. We are completely restored to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Read Luke 15:25-28; “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 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 became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
How does the older brother respond to his brother’s return?
Instead of being happy to see his brother, he became angry and refused to go to the celebration. Jesus used the loveless attitude of the elder brother to portray the Pharisees’ claim to self-righteousness, their doctrine of salvation by achievement, and their uncharitable attitude toward repenting sinners. Just as the elder brother had no true relationship with his father, so the Pharisees have no real relationship with God. Jesus is teaching the Pharisees this because of their attitude of murmuring in verse 2.
Note: Did you notice in verse 28 that the father goes out and pleads with the older son to enter the party? When I read this I envision Jesus pleading with the Pharisees to quit doubting and believe that He is the Son of God and to quit fighting against Him and come join Him (the party).
Read Luke 15:29-30; But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
What comments do you have on what the older son says to his father?
In verse 30 you can see the anger and resentment that the older brother has when he refers to his brother “as this son of yours”. He won’t even say my brother.
Note: Jesus may have been using this as an illustration because the Pharisee’s won’t call Him the Christ or the Son of God.
Read Luke 15:31-32; And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
What comments do you have on what the father says in these verses?
God will extend His mercy to whomever He desires despite the objections of those who view salvation and mercy differently than Him.
Closing thought: This parable of the lost son is a portrayal (story) that shows the extent of God’ love for “lost” sinful people. Jesus used the father in this story to illustrate the love that God has for the people He created in His image (Genesis 1:27). Imagine God like the father in this story waiting and watching with His arms extended out waiting for the “wayward son” sinner to return home to Him.
I believe that God desires that everyone would have their “he came to themself” moment. When they admit (acknowledge) their sin and ask God to forgive them. This is what repentance is, turning from our sin and being restored back to God. That is what the lost son did in this story.
Read 2 Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
My prayer is that everyone reading or hearing this study will be like the lost son and get restored back to God. We do that by acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross so we could be forgiven of our sins. Confess your sins to Him and ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and tell Him you want to start living your life to honor and please Him.
-True born again people are never the same. They never want to turn back to sin. Their desire is to honor and please God.
-There are too many people who think just because they believe in God or Jesus, or maybe said a prayer, that they are okay and can continue to live in sin.
-It’s more than professing our faith with our mouth, its living a life that reflects a true relationship with God.
-We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding salvation. We are also here to pray for any needs that you may have.
You can contact Kevin & Jocelyn at - Second in line Ministries – 218-428-3087.
