The Forgiving Love of the Father, Luke 15:11-32

It must be said from the outset that the “protagonistés” (main character) of this parable is the father who embodies God’s forgiving love for sinners. “‘There was a man who had two sons,’ Jesus said. ‘The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.”’” The father granted the request of his younger son and made the necessary arrangements for him to have possession and disposal of his inheritance. As soon as he received it, the son converted it into cash that he could carry with him and set off. “‘Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and went into a far country’” (Luke 15:13).

In the “far country,” he squandered his inheritance “in riotous living” (v. 13c) and lacked the basic things for living. So, he looked for a job and ended up tending pigs on the farm of a local citizen—a very despicable job for a Jew—and “he would have liked to fill his stomach with pig food, (but he felt disgusted by this idea), and no one gave him anything”[1] (v. 16). In the midst of his distressing situation, the young man came to his senses and said to himself, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (vv. 17-19). 

So, he got up and began his long and difficult journey back home, and while he was still a long way from his father’s house, “his father saw him and was moved with compassion” (v. 20). The New Living Translation says, “filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son.” When the father stood before him, he embraced and kissed his son, an expression of reconciliation in the Old Testament.

Immediately, the son began to give his confession and repentance speech, saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son…” but his father interrupted him to give orders to his servants: “Quickly, bring the best robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Kill the calf we have fattened. We must celebrate with a banquet, because this son of mine was dead and is now back to life; He was lost, and now he is found.” And then the party began. (Vv. 22-24, NLT)

Meanwhile, the older son was working in the field and, “when he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So, he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ they replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in” (vv. 25b-28a). 

The older brother represents the religious leaders of Israel. They separated themselves from the common people, rejected them, and condemned them as sinners. When Jesus associated with them and ate with them, they “muttered: ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them,’” (Luke 15:2). It was to them that Jesus addressed this parable, hoping perhaps that they would understand God’s love for sinners and the purpose of his earthly ministry, but they did not. 

Ephesians 2:1-7 summarizes the message of this parable:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”