God and the Prodigal Son

Bible teachers refer to the story Jesus told in the gospel of Luke as “the parable of the prodigal son.” The majority of Christians based on what they were taught read the story usually in their favor, but seldom in God’s position. However, when you consider carefully three things in that parable: what the father did, what he did not do, and when you listen to what the father said pertaining to his sons and you will understand God’s position.

The Parable As Told

Let’s revisit the story in Luke chapter 15:11–32 (reading from the NKJV).

A Man Had Two Sons

…“A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. (Verses 11–13)

But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. (Verses 14–16)

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ (Verses 17–19)

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (Verses 20–21)

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here 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. (Verses 22–24)

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ (Verses 25–27)

“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ (Verses 28–30)

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” (Verses 31–32)

The Parable Unscrolled

This story is very much complete and straightforward but let’s set the background of this parable in order to understand the spiritual message embedded in it.

In The Father’s House

In the story, we see the situation in the house of a wealthy father, with two sons and many servants. He obviously had many possessions. In his household, this father takes good care of all the members, whether they be his own family or servants, and I am sure even guests are well cared for. He provides for and protects them. This is one attribute of the father in this household that relates to God.

Once a person truly received the Spirit of Christ by believing in Him, he becomes a child of God (John 1:12) for he is born anew with the life of the Son of God.

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11–12)

He is joined into Christ, the Son of God, and with other believers grafted into the family of God, the Father’s household. As long as he abides in Christ and submits himself to the Father’s will, the Heavenly Father provides for him, as protects him, and guides him (John 15:1–7). That is the blessedness of being in God’s household.

The Younger Son

In the story, the younger son desired to live by his own terms so he claimed his inheritance from his father. Some Christians are such that despite being to some degree they have been redeemed and have been born anew into God’s family, yet they would not be subjected to walk under the Fatherhood of God. They still look back to the lust and vainglory of the world. Eventually, they would return to join themselves back to the world.

Now let’s study carefully the father’s response to the son and “unscroll” three crucial matters in order to learn the spiritual lesson this parable conveys.

1. What the Father Did in Response to the Younger Son’s Request

The father gave what the son adamantly asked and allowed him to go. Another attribute of God we find here. Sometimes when we strongly desire something and pray God to give us, although harmful, if we persistently ask, He might give it albeit with consequences.

And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. (Psalms 106:15)

So, he left his father’s house and moved far away to join himself with the world.

2. What the Father Did Not Do

The father did not stop the son from leaving his household. He also did not go after him nor send his servant to look after him or search for him the whole time.

God gave man the free will to choose from the time of creation and He will not in any way violate that. He may arrange circumstances for us to realize our depravity but it is still up to us to do what we will.

Then we read how this younger son wasted his living until he ended up working in a pigpen, eating swine’s food for no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he realized his worse condition and recalled that in his father’s house, even the servants are fed well and never were in lack.

Next, we see that the way to be restored to his father’s presence is in the same way a sinner is reconciled to God. That is, by repentance through confession of sin.

The prodigal humbled himself, forsook his life in the world, and returned to his father’s house. However, I must highlight such humility that he returned not as a son but offered himself instead as a servant. That was true repentance and that is the only way back to God’s glorious presence.

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

Upon the son’s return, another attribute of God is revealed.

“…But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

The repentant son was eventually restored to his secured place as a son in the father’s household.

3. What the Father Said

Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “…out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” so let’s hear what was in the father’s heart, while his younger son was away from his presence and this is something that many children of God missed in this story.

‘The father said to his servants… “THIS MY SON WAS DEAD…”’

Later when his other son returned from the fields,

‘He said to the older son, “…YOUR BROTHER WAS DEAD…”’

The moment his younger son, who BY HIS OWN WILL left his father’s house, his father considered him dead.

Anyone after becoming a child of God, who by his own will chose to leave the household of God, is considered dead by God Himself. God will not violate man’s will, and therefore will not go or search after him. If anyone desires to be restored in the Father’s house he must BY HIS OWN WILL return WITH REPENTANCE.

Our heavenly Father, in His long-suffering and lovingkindness, longs for anyone to turn to Him but will not in any way force them. He has already sent His prophets, even His beloved Son with His message of REPENTANCE (Matthew 4:17), “RETURN TO ME AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU” (Malachi 3:7). “DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU” (James 4:8).

Well, what about the older son?

The Older Son

While the younger son shows us the sin of despising the Fatherhood of God (reminds us of Esau selling his birthright), it also reveals to us through the condition of the older son the bitterness of failing to realize our status as children of God.

The older son, though he was a son, all the while thought that his rights were just the same as that of a servant. So he complained to his father, 

‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

Such were some Christians. They live in the toil of bitterness not realizing that as co-heirs with the Son of God, they are made partakers of the Father’s divine riches (Ephesians 1:3). If they would only abide in His fellowship and allow His word to abide in them, by reading God’s word and confiding with Him… Ah! The blessedness of being a child of God!

The father then had to remind his older son, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.”

“Son, you are always with Me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:31–32)

A Plea for Reconciliation

If you are not a child of God yet, my friend, know that God loves you and there is no better time than now to repent from your sins, humble yourself before God and receive His Son Jesus Christ to be your life.

The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

O there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents!

When the people heard that good news, they inquired the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the LORD our God will call.” (Acts 2:38–39)

Become a child of God by receiving Jesus Christ, His Son.

(And for) “…as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13)

For “unless you are born anew, you cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

(Jesus said) “…Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:5–7)

Now, if you are already a child of God and have fallen to whichever such a state, as the prodigal one or as the older son, you know what you must do!

May the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.