I love the straightforward story of the lost son. Can relate to it. The subject is our perfect Father God -- it's about Him.

Don't you just love that Bible parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son? I can relate to it. Hey, got a few moments to look at this parable with me ..starting with verse 11 in Luke 15.  

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. 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 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!’ 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!’” Luke 15:11-32 nlt

Let's discuss three main points about the parable of the Lost Son:

1. The Father's Kind Love With Christ's Perception Of Sinners: Our Father God really is kindhearted! And His sinless Son Jesus felt real compassion. He saw sinners as lost sheep -- He still does. He saw how they had strayed and needed a descent shepherd to guide them home. They were like valuable lost coins (see verses earlier), bearing the image of God, but out of circulation. They were prodigal sons, squandering their inheritance and needing to return to their Father. Even the older ones.
2. The Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit Knew How Each Person Became Lost And God Cared Enough To Act: Yes, the text sheds light on how lost individuals thought, spoke and became so lost. Far far away! We're all prone to wander far off. Like sheep, being foolish animals, they naturally stray away (like we do), and the spiritual shepherds of Israel had thus far failed to guide them home to safety. The earlier coin mentioned was lost due to carelessness, and the younger son was lost due to his hard-hearted lust, blindness, selfishness and stubborn arrogant willfulness. Very disrespectful. The Father showed respect, but did not run after or beg or go search for the boy. He allowed him to bail out, to go learn his own lessons the hard way and to realize the goodness found at Home. Come Home all you sinners! I did and don't regret it. God loves us all with open hands giving us freedom to choose.
3. The Father, the Son Jesus And The Spirit Compassionately See The Great Value And Potential Of Each Sinner - God Made Us, God Gets Each One Of Us, And Jesus By His Spirit Seeks And Saves Us: Yes, God sees what every sinner could be (knowing "all have sinned and fallen short.." and that "the wages of sin is death." Certainly there are severe consequences). You know how with any flock, a straying lost sheep could get devoted by wolves, or could actually return to that flock and bring great joy to the shepherd. Are you away? Let's do that today! A lost son could return home to get right with and gladly serve his Father from a changed heart of love. Do you need your heart regenerated? You must be born again because the God in the Bible says you must be (Jn. 3:3)! There is hope for every sinner still sucking-air because Jesus the Rescuing (Chief) Shepherd hasn't changed. It's who He is - it's what he still does if you're willing. He turns away none, but welcomes everyone repentant and believing Him into His Kingdom -- Yes, He can forgive anyone from the uttermost to the guttermost.

Jesus boldly spoke of a Lost Son as a response to the criticism He was receiving from the dead-inside scribes and religious Pharisees. Why?..for associating and being friends with lowly sinners. These "sinners" were Jews who were not obeying the Law or the traditions of the elders and were therefore "outcasts" in Israel, but Jesus saw these "sinners" as lost sheep needing a shepherd, as lost coins that needed to be put into circulation, and lost sons who needed to be in fellowship with the Father. It didn't matter to God what these prideful sinner-Pharisees thought, said or did. Let's again take an even closer look!
The Parable of the Lost Son: A Deep Dive

In Luke 15:11-32 Jesus presented this parable of the Lost Son, a story that Jesus used to explain His ministry and why He loved and associated with sinners. Foolish religious folk were criticizing. This parable is a powerful illustration of how lost sons can finally "get it"..feel conviction, make a plan, and become found by God. Do you need to be convicted and brought back into God's fold so to speak? Jesus saw the sinners for what they truly were - not good per se, but really needing the One who is truly Good. He saw them as lost sheep that had strayed and needed a kind shepherd to guide them home. They were like lost coins, bearing the image of God, but out of circulation. They were prodigal sons, squandering their inheritance and needing to return to their Father. The parable also sheds light on how these individuals became lost. Sheep, being foolish animals, naturally stray, and the spiritual shepherds of Israel had failed to guide them. The coin was lost due to carelessness, and the son was lost due to his willfulness. The father did not search for the boy but allowed him to learn his lessons the hard way and to realize in order to return home.Jesus saw the potential in every sinner. The lost sheep could return to the flock and bring joy to the shepherd; the lost coin could be found and put back into circulation; the lost son could return home and serve his father with love. There is hope for every sinner because Jesus welcomes everyone.The parable of the Lost Son was a response to the criticism Jesus received from the scribes and Pharisees for associating with sinners. These "sinners" were Jews who were not obeying the Law or the traditions of the elders and were therefore "outcasts" in Israel. Jesus saw these "sinners" as lost sheep needing a shepherd, lost coins that needed to be put into circulation, and lost sons who needed to be in fellowship with the Father. The parable of the Lost Son teaches us about the boundless love and forgiveness of God, who waits patiently for His lost children to return home. It reminds us that no matter how far we stray, there is always a way back to the Father.  Let's slow down to look at Luke 15:11-32 in the Bible. These parables are basically Christ’s defense of His ministry. They explain why He fellowshiped with sinners and enjoyed eating with them. Lost sons far away can be found if they are willing to get right with their Father. He sees all and knows all. Jesus accurately saw what they were. They were sheep that had gone astray and needed a shepherd to bring them home. They were lost coins, stamped with the image of God, needing to get back into circulation again. They were disobedient sons who were wasting their inheritance and needed to come home to the Father.2. Jesus accurately saw how they got that way. Sheep are foolish animals and naturally go astray, but the spiritual shepherds in Israel had not faithfully ministered to them (Jer. 23; Ezek. 34). The woman lost the coin because of carelessness, and the son was lost because of his willfulness. The father did not his boys were good (like so many parents today say) and he didn't search for the boy. He let him go to that far country to learn his lessons the hard way and discover how good it was with the Father and back home. (See Rom. 2:4.)3. Jesus accurately saw what they could be. Jesus always saw the potential in people. The sheep could be brought back to the flock and bring joy to the shepherd; the coin could be found; and the son could return home and lovingly serve his father. There is hope for every sinner because Jesus welcomes everyone. The parables in this chapter were given in response to the criticism of the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus had received sinners and he even ate with them. These “sinners” were Jews who were not obeying the Law or the traditions of the elders and were therefore “outcasts” in Israel. Jesus had already made it clear that He came to save sinners and not self-righteous people like the scribes and Pharisees (5:27–32; 14:21–24). Jesus saw what these “sinners” really were: lost sheep who needed a shepherd; lost coins that had value and needed to be put into circulation; and lost sons who needed to be in fellowship with the Father.- People are searching to fill that inner void in so many wrong places. And Jesus lovingly searches for us when we are lost. (Luke 15:1–10). We people are in some ways like sheep. A shepherd is responsible for each of the sheep; and if one is lost or killed, he must make up for it himself. Sheep are lost because of their own stupidity; they wander away and fail to see the danger they are in. Jesus came to “seek and to save them that are lost” (Luke 19:10). - The Father didn't run after the younger son, or go take him a care package of goodies. He ran after there was repentance, but first He waited for him to grasp reality and understand.

Waiting and Then Welcoming (15:11–24) --

The Right Timing Is So Important!

It's a waiting that is not passive (pray, intercede, expect, cry out to God for). It's great for us to pray daily, and to simply wait upon the Lord in His presence. Don't go with your feelings and run ahead of the Lord. It is significant that the father did not go searching for his son, but waited at home for the boy to come back. When the boy did come back, the father ran to meet him. Like sheep gone astray, some sinners are lost through their own stupidity; and, like coins, some are lost by the carelessness of others. But the son was lost because of his own willfulness, and the father had to wait until that will was broken and submissive.For the younger son to ask for an early inheritance was like wishing His dad was dead. Never wish that your father would die! It must have broken the father’s heart, but he was wise and gave the boy his share of the wealth (even though it wasn't his property)! God likewise has shared His wealth with a world of lost sinners, and they have wasted it (Acts 14:15–17; 17:24–28). It was not the badness of his life that brought the boy to his senses but the goodness of his father (v. 17; Rom. 2:4).In the East, it is unusual for older men to run; but the Father had to run because of his compassion for the boy. Also, the son had disgraced his family and his village and could have been stoned to death (Deut. 21:18–21). If they threw any stones, they would have to hit the father! The best robe would be the father’s expensive festal robe; the shoes indicated that the son was not a servant (despite his request); and the ring was the proof of sonship. Again, there is joy, for the lost person who has been found!- There was some reasonable pleading (15:25–32)
The elder brother is the forgotten person in this parable, and yet he is the key to the story. If the prodigal son symbolizes the “publicans and sinners,” then the elder brother represents the scribes and Pharisees. There are sins of the spirit as well as sins of the flesh (2 Cor. 7:1). The religious leaders may not have been guilty of the gross things that the younger son did, but they were still sinners, guilty of a critical and unloving spirit, pride, and an unwillingness to forgive. Because the younger son had received his inheritance, the estate belonged to the elder brother; but it was run by the father, who benefited from the profits. If the younger brother came back home, it would confuse the inheritance even more, so the elder brother did not want him back, nor was he looking for him. Now we discover that the elder brother had a “hidden agenda” of his own, a longing to have a big party for his friends. He was angry with his brother for coming home and with his father for welcoming him and forgiving him. Like the scribes and Pharisees, he stayed outside the joy and fellowship of those who had been forgiven. By staying outside the house, the elder brother humiliated his father and his brother. The father could have commanded him to come in, but he preferred to go out and plead with him. That is what Jesus did with the Jewish religious leaders, but they would not be persuaded. They thought they were saved because of their exemplary conduct, but they were out of fellowship with the Father and needed to repent and seek forgiveness.Luke 15:11-32 The parable of The Prodigal Son. The younger son had a problem with self-pleasure and seeking pleasure. While the older son had a problem with self-pity. He always had the presence of the father with him, that's what matters. This Parable is about the subject who is "a certain father." Yes, the story is about a real and perfect Father, and you. 

A. I like How The father Had Open Hands.

He released the foolish, hardened, heartless, pleasure-seeking son. He was wisely generous but not too much and let the sinner go sin. He let the younger son go. That was tough love. Let them go. And, Find out for himself. Both Sons had a work ethic. They both were looking for work. If you say, I'll go away from the father, he'll let you The younger son was basically saying to his father, You're dead to me.I want your money. The father didn't guilt-trip him. What would your mother say about this? What would your mother think? The father. Compare play the comparison game. Why don't you be more like your older brother? The father didn't go there. And try to get him out of the pigsty or build a Chapel around the pigsty.He wasn't an enabler. The younger son squandered the wealth. He quickly just wasted it. He scattered it. Everywhere is what the original language implies. And no one gave him anything. The father didn't send him a care package.

Enablers aren't loving people rightly. They love people too much in a wrong way. Where I make an idol out of something other than God or someone other than God. The father didn't try to reform him because repentance has nothing to do with Reformation. We don't reform Sinners and let them go to another Idol. Pence doesn't have to do with regret Gret. Repentance is not remorse. Repentance is not making amends. 

B. The Father had open ears to hear the sons out.

I can't imagine the level of hurt the Father felt. He might not have felt like hearing them out. 

C. The Father had open arms to welcome the sinner back into the family. 

The Father received him back home when the younger son had repented (saving grace, not merely remorse and false repentance here). Yes, the Father actually ran to the son with open arms and the men do that in that culture. The tough love turned to Tender love, and then there was together love as the Father and son were reunited. This is a picture of our perfected Father God. The Bible says that love doesn't take into account a wrong suffered. Two things need to happen with this kind of reconciliation.

Aipic by Kurt

The offending party needs to repent from the heart. Yes, have a repentant heart. The offended party, that's the Father here needs to listen. Yes, an offended Father needs to have a receptive heart to listen to words of repentance and then forgive. The Father in this story did  -- he did it with and hugged his formerly clueless son. Many dads won't hear or forgive. They have been hurt too much. Can't forgive many sons, can't forgive, they don't have a receptive heart. The offender often never even asks for forgiveness. The father showed the sinner respect. To the older son as well -- the son who had an angry, resentful heart. The band was playing so to speak the meat was on the grill, and this older son wasn't having a pleasure party, he was having a pity party. The father told the older son: you're always with me."The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’" Luke 15:28-30This should matter most -- the Father's presence, just pleasing and being with Him. You know, his presence is what really matters.

Sup With Real Repentance Verses Fake?

1. You honestly have a change of mind.

2. Then your will and personal volition are changed.

3. Then from the mind to movement, your actions change.

This story sort of isn't completed here in the Bible. It's left as it is so that you can complete this story with the Father. So what are you waiting for? Have you takin' a stride from His side? Come to him, come back to him just as you are.. yet willing to be changed. You may come walking back to him if you want, but He will run to you! Back in the day and in that Middle Eastern culture men didn't such running. This wasn't normal in that culture. We each have three relationships. We all potentially can enjoy three right relationships:

A respectful relationship with your Father God.

A proper relationship with yourself. and..

A kind relationship with others.

You and I can enjoy harmony and peace in all relationships even if the other person chooses to stay out of fellowship with you. A goat over his father's presence? What really!? Sin makes people stupid -- it distorts one's values. The older son to his kind and generous father said, "‘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; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours." Lk. 15:29-31 What do you value most today? What do you do, think, and talk about the most? Sin not only distorts your values, but it will distort your virtues and vision for the future. "This son of yours".. but they were brothers! Where is any normal family love here? This older son wanted a goat more than a relationship with his own brother! Sin distorts, it deceives people. ((v.32). It'll deceive you about your relationship with God too. Don't let it.“All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends!”

Is this true.."slaving for"? No! Did the eldest son ever actually request a goat? An initial party invitation to the older son is not recorded. Maybe he was or was he not invited pre-party because, let’s be pragmatic here, it’s not always easy for ranchers or farmers to just drop everything and start a celebration right (v.28 is a direct invitation from the Father who wants all sons there and celebrating). Did the Father ever directly refuse to give the older son a goat? I doubt it. Probably not. No goat-request from the son is recorded. In the next verse the Father says: “Everything I have is yours” (and he wasn't dead) but his eldest son doesn’t seem to believe this. “You are always with me,” the father says. The Father wanted him with and in there with the younger .. right! Get right inside sons (all siblings), and live right (righteous, not self-righteous). You and I know some sons can actually bring WAY TOO MANY ISSUES into family celebrations and situations (I'm not referring to our two sons Stephan and Christian here, but we've all seen this). Sin deceased deceives you (v.32). It'll deceive you about your relationship with God even. Look at all the hardened religious leaders and false teachers today -- they seem to be the same yesterday, today, and forever! Read more...

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son?

What type of repentance is necessary for salvation? Sincere and honest! 

It's a gift - See what the Bible says about guilt. 

What is hyper-grace minus confession of sins and true repentance?

What is false guilt, and how can I avoid it?

How to repent—what does the Bible say?

How can I detect a false conversion?

What does it mean to rend your heart (Joel 2:13)?

What is repentance from dead works in Hebrews 6:1?

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Two Sons?

What is the meaning of the Parables?

What should Christian parents do if they have a prodigal son (or daughter)? Before they pass, not give up crying out to God and praying for them!