The Main Teaching on the Parable of the Prodigal Son(Luke 15: 11-32)

The Main Teaching on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

The reason that Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son has connection with the previous two parables which are the parable of the Lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) and the parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10). The parable of the Prodigal Son is the extension of the previous two parables. It seems that Jesus taught these parables in one sitting. The reason is that when the tax collectors and “sinners” were around Jesus to hear his teaching, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered Jesus for his welcome of the sinners and having dine with them. According to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, it seems that the sinners and tax collectors had nothing to do with Jesus, in the same manner Jesus also had nothing to do with them. They might think that Jesus was only for the high class or the outward religious peoples, not inside probably like them. Then Jesus taught these three parables (Luke 15:1-1-7; 15:8-10 and 15:11-31). Since the disciples followed Jesus wherever he went, even though, the passages did not mention about them, we can assume that the disciples would also be presented at this time. Apart from the disciples, the collectors and sinners were the audience of this teaching. Jesus particularly taught these parables in order to answer the murmuring of Pharisees and teachers of the law.

The main teaching about the parable of the Prodigal Son can probably be the message of sinner’s repentance. It’s about the message of hope for the sinners. It’s about the love of God that seeks the repent sinners. The first parable “the parable of the Lost sheep” talks about the rejoicing in heaven for the repent sinner ( Lk. 15:7). And the second parable “ the parable of the Lost Coin” (Lk. 15: 10) also mentions the rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God due to one repent sinner. In the same manner, the final parable “the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32) also mentions about the joy of the Father upon the repent son. Looking through these three parables, all of them emphasize on the repent sinner or repentance, the shallow religious form, and the love of the Father.

Particularly in our passage (Luke 15:11-31), the Father may probably represent God who loves the sinners despite who we are. And the prodigal son (younger son) would probably represent the repent sinner, “tax collector or sinners” (Lk 15:1) who would like to hear Jesus, listen and accept Him with contrite heart. Then, the elder son may probably symbolize the religious people, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who complain the love of the Father, who can’t accept the repent sinner, who sees themselves worthy but not recommended by the Father. Through this parable, we can realize that the Lord does not despise the repent sinner who comes back to Him with a contrite heart. His arm is widely opened for those who are poor in Spirit. In contrary to that, we can also learn that the Lord does not appreciate outward form of religion whose inside is reeking.