Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The 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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He 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 servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So 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.’
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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
As we read and learn lessons from the Prodigal Son, we find that there are many...One is found in the verse, “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."...The father was very, very happy to see his son, and yet he does not know why his son is has returned home...The father does not even know if the son plans to stay with him and his brother...We might assume that the father knows, but how could the father know of his permanently staying and better yet, how does the father know of the younger son's repentance...The younger son has been away from home for such a long time and the son could just becoming home for a visit...The son could just happen to be back in the region where he grew up...So the father really does not know why the younger son has returned...And seeing this changes the story of the Prodigal Son, and puts a bigger light on the father...We see the lessons of love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy in these verses...
But we know it is out of love that the father has for his son, whom he hasn't seen for quite some time, that is why he is filled with compassion and why he runs to him and why he throws his arms around his younger son and kisses him...The father has this unconditional love for both his sons, and unconditional forgiveness...And even in the not knowing of why his son has returned, he is filled with love and compassion, and forgiveness...
And Jesus seems to tell us another lesson about the older brother, which is about love and forgiveness...We as followers of Christ, should be happy that God welcomes the lost, and those who have done wrong, and done the Father wrong, and share in His Glory and happiness with Him...