Luke 15:11-32
The Father runs to restore the repentant lost, and He pleads with the resentful near to join His joy.
11 He said, “A certain man had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them.
13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.” ’
20 “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat, and celebrate;
24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’
28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ ”
The Father runs to restore the repentant lost, and he pleads with the resentful near to join his joy.
Luke records Jesus completing his answer to the Pharisees’ and scribes’ grumbling over his welcome of sinners by telling a parable of two lost sons: the younger who wastes his inheritance and returns in repentance, and the older who remains near the father yet refuses the father’s joy over restoration.
This climaxes the lost triad (15:1–10) and answers the Pharisees’ grumbling (15:2). It contrasts repentant sinners with resentful religious leaders.
Jesus tells this parable in response to Pharisees and scribes grumbling that he welcomes sinners and eats with them. A younger son asks his father for the share of the estate that would come to him, effectively treating the father’s life and authority with contempt. The father divides the property. The son leaves for a distant country, squanders everything in reckless living, and is reduced by famine to feeding pigs, a deeply shameful condition in a Jewish setting. He comes to himself, plans to confess his sin and ask to be treated as a hired servant, and returns. While he is still far off, the father sees him, is filled with compassion, runs, embraces, and kisses him. The father interrupts the servant-plan by ordering the best robe, ring, sandals, and fattened calf, declaring that his son was dead and is alive, lost and found. The older son returns from the field, hears the celebration, and becomes angry. He refuses to enter. The father comes out and pleads with him. The older son complains of years of service, accuses the father of never giving him even a goat, and despises the younger as 'this son of yours.' The father tenderly says, 'My son,' affirms that all he has is his, and insists that celebration is necessary because 'this brother of yours' was dead and is alive, lost and found.
The Joy of God over the Lost Being Found
God rejoices to seek, receive, restore, and celebrate repentant sinners, and he exposes the self-righteous heart that resents mercy.