Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
By William Lyon Tupman. Reflections based on a Bible Study evening, St. George's Church, Lisbon.
29th August, 2018. Bible passages used (NRSV): Luke 15:11-32 (see also Luke 10:25-37, 15:1-10).
The Parable of the Prodigal son is a well-known, well-loved passage which displays some of the core values of Christianity, together with the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15:1-7 and the Parable of the Lost Coin in Luke 15:8-10. These passages can be a helpful and comforting reminder that wherever we are in our relationship and journey with God, God is always present. He is more ready to hear than we are to pray, and he loves us freely, infinitely and unconditionally.
Here is an account of, and some reflections on, Jesus's Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 15:11-32.
Luke 15:11: "Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’"
Free will is given to us by God, as a free gift; how we respond to this gift is our choice. In Luke 15:11-16, we see how the younger son chooses to live an extravagant lifestyle. For him, while this gave him a short time of enjoyment, he would later discover that such a lifestyle was unsustainable and he runs into problems. God probably would not intent for us to misuse our free will, but by the very nature of what free will is, God does not intervene; but He does not abandon the younger son.
In Luke 15:17-19, we see a radical change in character in the younger son. He is now truly and genuinely repentant, and makes a new commitment; but what might have caused this? There are several possibilities – his running out of money, his conscience, a revelation from God, (whether or not the younger son consciously recognises it), a combination of these factors, or something else we are not told. Whenever we might make a mistake, it may be any of these or other things which help to bring us back; God has many ways of bringing us back to Him.
The son's father appears to have chosen to freely forgive his younger son before the latter apologises to him, in Luke 15:20-24. So, did the younger son even need to repent? If the father in the parable represents God the Father, then yes. God is omniscient; that is, He is all-knowing, and He knows immediately when one repents of their sins. This is a beautiful example of how joyful God is when we truly turn to Him - again and again - and when we use our God-given free will correctly (even when we don't get it right first time)!
The father has rolled out the red carpet for his repentant – and forgiven – younger son. But his older son has always been faithful, and expresses his jealousy in Luke 15:25-30; how fair is this for the older son, and is he justified to feel like this? Perhaps so; it is a natural human reaction, and having always been faithful he wishes to receive his due reward too. But perhaps he has missed the point as to how significant his brother's return was, given the progress he has made from times before; a point illustrated further by Jesus in Luke 15:7, when he concludes the Parable of the Lost Sheep by proclaiming “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” This is also the message of the father in Luke 15:31-32; he reassures his older son that he will still be rewarded, and also how great the scale of the change in his younger son is; this should be recognised by his older brother.
Who are the characters, and who do they represent? In Jesus's parable here, the father represents God, and the two sons represent two different possible responses to God's free invitation to us. But the characters could also represent anyone; are you, or have you been like the father, or one or both of the two sons? Do you know anyone who you can help; perhaps especially someone who is in spiritual need? A friend, or a family member? Sometimes there are many ways in which we can help people in need; yet at other times, there are fewer ways. Sometimes the ways in which we can help are obvious; other times, they are less so.
Often the most important thing, in all kinds of circumstances, is being there for someone. Listening, being as understanding as possible of them and their potential needs, and offering any advice we can. While some things may well be impossible for people, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 19:26 that for God “all things are possible.”; thanks be to God.
When we sin, God is always ready for us to come back to Him; always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and He loves us freely, infinitely and unconditionally. Thanks be to God!
