Today’s parable may be Jesus’ most well-known story, commonly called The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

Let’s first set the scene for Jesus’ story (Luke 15:1-3).

• Tax Collectors and Sinners are seeking Jesus’ company (v. 1). That is, those themselves who are lost, unsure, dissatisfied, afflicted, unsettled, distressed, wanting to feel better about themselves, wanting to be hopeful, are streaming to Jesus for Him to comfort, inspire and set free.
• Looming skeptically are the Pharisees and scribes (v. 2). They measure other people by strict observance of the letter of the law. They broadcast their disapproval of Jesus: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (v. 2).

The setting moves Jesus to speak His parable to those who proport to know exactly what is right and condemn others on the basis of their knowledge.

“A man had two sons” (v. 11). Jesus establishes the father as the main character of his parable, not the younger son who fails. Primacy is placed upon the father who shows merciful love to both sons who are lost in different ways.

The younger son is lost in pursuance of finding ultimate meaning through worldly comfort. Eventually “coming to his senses” (v. 17), he realizes how far away he has strayed from what truly fulfills and offers real happiness. “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion” (v. 20). The father does not condemn the child for having failed to strictly observe the letter of the law, but runs to him joyfully and lovingly embraces him.

When the second son learns his brother has returned and has been welcomed by their father, he becomes enraged. The second son refuses to go into the home and remains outside seething with anger in the darkness. The father – Our Father – compassionately makes his way to the second son. The son announces how virtuous he’s been through his strict observance of the letter of the law, just like the Pharisees and scribes, and denounces his brother and father.

The parable ends without our knowing the response of the second son; does he remain angry outside, or does he accept his father’s merciful love and come inside?

Recall the main character is the father, not the sons and their respective self-absorption.

The Father of Jesus is not to be found in inaccessible loftiness. He comes to us, tirelessly seeking his wayward children. Too often, God is sought in all the wrong places. He is with us always and says to us: “You are here with me always; everything I have is yours” (v. 31).