Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11-32

[11] And  he said,  A certain  man  had  two  sons:  [12] And  the younger  of them  said  to his father,  give  the portion  of goods  that falleth  to me. And  he divided  unto them  his living.  [13] And  not  many  days  after  the younger  son  together,  and took his journey  into  a far  country,  and  there  wasted  his  substance  with riotous  living.  [14] And  when he  had spent  all,  there arose  a mighty  famine  in  that  land;  and  he  began  to be in want.  [15] And  he went  and joined himself  to  a citizen  of that  country;  and  he sent  him  into  his  fields  to feed  swine.  [16] And  he would fain  have filled  his  belly  the husks  that  the swine  did eat:  and  no man  gave  unto him.  [17] And  when he came  to  himself,  How many  hired servants  father's  have bread  enough and to spare,  and  perish  with hunger!  [18] I will arise  and go  to  father,  and  will say  unto him,  Father,  I have sinned  against  heaven,  and  before  [19] am  no more  worthy  to be called  son:  make  as  one  hired servants.  [20] And  he arose,  and came  to  his  father.  But  when he  was yet  a great way  off,  his  father  him,  and  had compassion,  and  ran,  and fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed  him.  [21] And  the son  said  unto him,  Father,  I have sinned  against  heaven,  and  sight,  and  am  no more  worthy  to be called  son.  [22] But  the father  said  to  his  servants,  Bring forth  the best  robe,  and  put it on  him;  and  put  a ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his feet:  [23] And  bring hither  the fatted  calf,  and kill  it; and  let us eat,  and be merry:  [24] For  this  son  dead,  and  is alive again;  lost,  and  is found.  And  they began  to be merry.  [25] Now  his  elder  son  in  the field:  and  as  he came  and drew nigh  to the house,  he heard  musick  and  dancing.  [26] And  he called  one  of the servants,  and asked  what  [27] And  he said  unto him,  brother  is come;  and  father  hath killed  the fatted  calf,  because  he hath received  him  safe and sound.  [28] And  he was angry,  and  would  not  go in:  his  father  out,  and intreated  him.  [29] And  he answering  said  to his father,  Lo,  these many  years  do I serve  transgressed I  at any time  commandment:  and  never  gavest  a kid,  that  I might make merry  with  friends:  [30] But  as soon as  this  son  was come,  which  hath devoured  living  with  harlots,  thou hast killed  for him  the fatted  calf.  [31] And  he said  unto him,  Son,  thou  ever  with  and  all  that I have  thine.  [32] It was  meet  that we should make merry,  and  be glad:  for  this  brother  dead,  and  lost,  and  is found. 

What does Luke 15:11-32 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This third parable in the series again repeats the point of the former two that God gladly receives repentant sinners, but it stresses still other information. The joy of the father in the first part of the parable contrasts with the grumbling of the elder brother in the second part. The love of the father was equal for both his sons. Thus the parable teaches that God wants all people to experience salvation and to enter the kingdom.
"This parable is often called "The Prodigal Song of Solomon ," but it is really about different reactions to the prodigal. The key reaction is that of the father, who is excited to receive his son back. Thus a better name for the parable is "The Forgiving Father." A sub-theme is the reaction of the older brother, so that one can subtitle the parable with the addendum: "and the Begrudging Brother."" [1]