The Lost Son and Other Stubborn Folk

The Lost Son and Other Stubborn Folk

The parable of the Lost Son is found only in the Gospel of Luke. This is another reason to be thankful for the contributions of the physician.


Luke 15:11-32 (New International Version)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

This parable is often used to demonstrate God’s infinite capacity for forgiveness and the joy of the Father when one of the lost is redeemed. When combined with verses 25-32 it demonstrates our need to refrain from jealousy when another receives a blessing.

I am a mother and a grandmother. I read this parable and my heart goes out to this father and the agony he must have felt when his youngest son was lost to him. I think about the pain we cause the compassionate Jesus with our wayward ways.

I have a grandchild who asked “please just pray that I make good decisions” and I wonder at the consternation of the Holy Spirit when her heart is touched with a divine truth and she chooses to ignore.

I have had many opportunities in my own life to thank God for “gentle reprimands” when he has graciously shown me the error of my ways in a gentle way rather than the slap I probably deserved.

I continuously thank God for His Word and a desire to "Study to show myself approved".

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!