The Parable Of The Prodigal Son And Lucas 15:17

Introduction

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous stories in the Bible. It tells the story of a young man who asks his father for his inheritance early, squanders it all, and returns home to ask for forgiveness. The story is a powerful reminder of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. It is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-32. In this article, we will focus on Lucas 15:17, which is a key verse in the parable.

The Context of the Parable

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is part of a series of parables that Jesus told in response to the religious leaders’ criticism that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors. In this parable, Jesus uses a story to teach a powerful lesson about God’s love and forgiveness.

The Younger Son’s Decision

In the parable, the younger son asks for his inheritance early and leaves home to live a life of wild living. He squanders all his money and finds himself in a desperate situation. He decides to return home and ask for forgiveness, but he is unsure whether his father will accept him back.

The Younger Son’s Repentance

When the younger son returns home, he is repentant and humbled. He acknowledges his sin and is willing to accept any consequences. He says to himself, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!” (Lucas 15:17). This verse shows that the younger son has recognized his sin and is willing to admit it.

The Father’s Love

The younger son’s repentance is met with his father’s love and forgiveness. The father runs to him, embraces him, and orders a feast to celebrate his return. This shows that God’s love is unconditional and that no matter how far we stray, he is always ready to welcome us back with open arms.

The Older Son’s Reaction

The older son in the parable is angry when he hears about the feast for his younger brother. He feels that he has been faithful to his father and has not received the same treatment. This shows that even those who have been faithful to God can struggle with jealousy and resentment at times.

The Lesson

The Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us that God’s love and forgiveness are always available to us, no matter how far we stray. It also shows us that we should strive to be like the father in the story, who is quick to forgive and welcome back his son. We should not be like the older son, who is resentful and jealous.

Application

There are many ways we can apply the lesson of the Parable of the Prodigal Son to our lives. We can show love and forgiveness to those who have wronged us. We can also strive to be more like the father in the story, who is quick to forgive and welcome back his son. We can also remember that no matter how far we stray, God’s love is always available to us.

Conclusion

Lucas 15:17 is a key verse in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It shows us that the younger son has recognized his sin and is willing to repent. It also reminds us that God’s love and forgiveness are always available to us, no matter how far we stray. As we strive to live our lives in a way that pleases God, let us remember the lesson of this powerful parable.