Luke 15:11–32

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.

12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. (By the law (Deuteronomy 21:17) older son got 2/3rds)

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. (Cultural Realism: Inheritance before death was shameful)

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.

15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. (unclean for Jews)

16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. (To Jews, pigs were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:2-8)

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! (Carob pods, seeds from a carob tree, were primarily animal food: for pigs, horses, donkeys),

18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. (Father running to son broke patriarchal norms)

21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.£’

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.

• Robe (Gk. stolē): A long, fine garment reserved for honored guests or family members.
  
• Ring: Likely a signet ring, symbolizing authority and belonging to the household.
  
• Shoes: Slaves/poor laborers often went barefoot; shoes were a sign of freedom and dignity.
  

23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, (The fattened calf = Was specially fed and reserved for major celebrations—weddings, covenant feasts, or the return of an honored guest.)

24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,

26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.

27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,

29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.

30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ (Wild living = reckless spending, party animal. Not necessarily with prostitutes v. 30)

31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.

32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

There is only one way to come to the Father and that is through Jesus (John 14:6):

The Prodigal
He was lost (v. 24) He was ignorant (v. 17) He was dead (v. 24)

Jesus Christ

Walking Points:

• Younger sons = people who openly reject God, chase pleasure, and hit rock bottom.
  
• Older sons = people who keep the rules, go to church, but secretly lack love and grace.
  
• The Father = God, who runs to embrace rebels and gently calls the prideful to soften their hearts.
  

MMM

• Luke 15:31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”