The Parable of the Lost Sons

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable:

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 (Lectionary)

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From Prodigal to Prince

In the Parable of the Lost Sons, the younger physically departs from their father while the elder emotionally breaks ties. After squandering his inheritance in a distant country and falling into disgrace as a herder of unclean swine, the younger son, broken and broke, trudges home planning to beg his father for a job as a hireling. “I no longer deserve to be called your son,” he rehearses dejectedly, hoping for clemency through humility. 

Defying all expectations and cultural norms, the father spies his ragged son from afar and runs to embrace him. Compassion abandons decorum in this act of mercy, as dignified Middle Eastern men typically refrain from running.

The prodigal drops his request to become his father’s hireling in this overwhelming shower of mercy. At this point, the father’s servants, arriving at the scene with the crowd, obey orders to dress his son like a prince. They prepare a fattened calf for a banquet as if for a wedding.

Will the Older Son Return?

The extended family, community, and servants take their cues from the father, celebrating his extraordinary act of reconciliation. The older son, alone, demurs. Resentment toward his brother and father, unexpressed for years, explodes in his rejection of both. While the younger son lavishly spent his inheritance abroad, the older son stewed in resentment within the father’s house. 

He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 

Luke 15:31

Overlooking his son’s insolence, the father addresses him with the affectionate title of teknon (“son” or “child”). As the father assures his older son of his unchanging love, he defuses envy and rivalry. Grace extended to one does not diminish grace to another. 

Jesus uses the same phrase, “everything of mine is yours,” in his prayer to the Father during the Last Supper Discourse (John 17:10), revealing the essence of sonship. The same divine love given to the younger brother is also extended to the elder.

But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

The parable ends without a response from the older brother. The Pharisees and scribes are left to examine their own hearts for any signs of resentment for God’s compassion toward tax collectors and sinners.