A Parable is Told – The Tale of Two Sons

A parable is told. 

A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:11-32). 

Of all the parables that Jesus spoke, this one featuring the prodigal son may be the most touching and best remembered arguably after the Parable of the Sower. Described by Expositor’s Bible Commentary (ed. William Robertson Nicoll, 1889) as “perhaps the crown and flower of all the parables,” this story appears once in the Bible—it is only found in Luke’s Gospel. As we read the account, we can’t help but be captured by the story of a father’s love for his wayward son.

Not only does this parable paint a picture of God’s love for us, but it also demonstrates how we should love our brothers and sisters in Christ. In the parable, the father forgives his son when he returns and welcomes him home. In the same way, God waits for humans to realise what they have done wrong and ask for forgiveness and welcomes them back when they do.

When it comes to the various names that have been given to Jesus’ parables, we note that they are not necessarily so designated by Christ. The Bible doesn’t specifically give us names for the parables. Human beings, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, came up with names to help us identify and remember them.

As Expositor’s Bible Commentary states, “We call it the parable of the Prodigal Son; it might with equal propriety be called the Parable of the Bereaved Father, for the whole story crystallizes about that name, repeating it, in one form or another, no less than twelve times.” Jesus said that He came to reveal the Father (Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22), and the parable of the prodigal son surely does this. We do indeed have a Heavenly Father who greatly desires for each of us to repent of our sins so we can be part of His eternal family.

In my study of the parable, I incline to the parable of the prodigal sons, for it does assist us in remembering Christ’s teaching. Over the years, as I have stared at this passage, going back to it over and over, I take note that the father had two lost sons. While an emphasis has been placed on the son lost in the world, what has famously come to be known as the prodigal son; I wish to draw your attention to the son lost at home. This book is for you, Christian brother and sister, born again, God-loving and church committed for many years. You are at home, but do you know the heart of the Father?