English 2D Kids
English 3D Kids
This parable is often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son because it is about a son who waists his inheritance. It is also called the “Parable of the Lost Son” because it is about a sinful son who falls away and is considered lost but later repents and is restored to his former status as a son.
It is one of the three parables (about heaven rejoicing over recovering what has been lost) that Jesus told to tax collectors and sinners right under the nose of the Pharisees.
This parable is also known as the “Parable of the Loving Father” because it demonstrates God’s love, mercy and forgiveness towards his children.
It is also known as the “Parable of the Two Sons” as the parable contrasts the two sons. It has as much to say about the second son as the first. It also could be called the “Parable of Sons and Servants” as this is also a significant theme and a key to understanding this parable.
Jesus told these parables not just for the benefit of the Tax Collectors who were considered particularly sinful. He told it for the sake of the Pharisees who were inclined to be self righteous.
God’s people are his Children. God wants all men to be saved. Those who turn from evil and put their faith in Him, become his children by faith.
If the Pharisees believed that they were God’s children because they kept the law, they were missing the point. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Nobody deserves to be in God’s presence because all have sinned. It is only by God’s grace that we can come to Him, whether we are big sinners on little ones.
In the first of the three parables, the “Parable of the Lost Sheep” Jesus said, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)
In the parable of the Lost Son, the Father wants both of his sons to remain in fellowship with him. If one of his sons feels disgruntled because of the grace extended to the other and leaves because of his brother’s good fortune, be it so, but this is not what the father would have wanted.
These parables were told to help the Pharisees rather than condemn them. Unfortunately, many of the Jews rejected Christ and crucified Him (as was foreseen by God and prophesied by the prophets and had to be so that Christ could pay for our sin and God’s redemptive plan would succeed).
This parable shows us that God is gracious and that he loves us more than anybody could imagine. He forgives us even when we do the most horrible things. To receive this forgiveness all we have to do is repent and ask him to forgive us. The Father will come to meet us where we are. It does not take any effort. There is nothing that we can do to earn or repay God for what he has done. It is only by His grace that we can be saved. We do not deserve to be forgiven; God just forgives us, even though we do not deserve it. Nobody should think that they are more worthy than anybody else as we have all sinned and we all rely on God’s grace for salvation.
The younger son has done the unthinkable and asked for his inheritance before his father has died. Not only this, he has totally blown it and wasted it on wild living.
When he realizes his destitution and comes to his senses, he realizes that he was better off with his father and feels ashamed of himself. He repents and acknowledges his sin and turns back to his father and humbly requests to be his father’s servant. His father is compassionate and graceful and not only forgives his son but gives him a ring and the best robe and sandals for his feet and receives him back as a son. He sacrifices the fattened calf to celebrate his son’s return. This is more than what the younger son deserved but that is what grace is all about. It is getting something that we don’t deserve.
The eldest son is a bit like the Pharisees; proud, self righteous and feeling superior to his brother and unfairly treated. Jesus did not tell this parable to condemn the Pharisees, he was hoping that they would not turn away from him. He knew, however, that some would reject him and that he would be crucified.
Jesus told this parable so that sinners would know that God is merciful and forgives sinners when they repent. He also told this parable so the Pharisees would know just where they stood.
Instead of saying “Give me”, the Father wants us to say “forgive me and make me what You will”.
This parable shows us that God is gracious enough to forgive us even when we do the unspeakable and when God forgives others, we should not think that we are better than them and deserve more.
God’s people are the children of God. We can become God’s children by having faith in Jesus Christ. When we believe in Christ and ask Him to come into our heart, we become a child of God. We are “Born Again”. God puts His Spirit in us and we are regenerated. God’s children have the same Spirit as the Father.
Our Earthly fathers have finite wealth but God’s riches are infinite. God can keep pouring out his Love on us and it will never run dry.
The Father has servants in his house who are not his sons. Could this be referring to Angels or could it represent people hear on Earth now?
In eternity, the nations who are not thrown into the Lake of Fire will be allowed to enter the New Jerusalem once a year. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of these nations.
The nations are not the Children of God because they did not accept Christ. They are not Born Again but they may still serve God’s people.
The word for ‘nations’ is usualy translated as ‘pagan’ or ‘gentile’.
While the Father has servants in his house who are not His sons, there are people in the world who are neither God’s sons and certainly do not serve the Father.
When the younger son turned away from the Father and went into the world, the Father considered him ‘lost’ and ‘dead’ (“for he was lost but now is found, he was dead but now he is alive”).
The sons of the Father may, therefore, be dead or alive. Those who are not sons of the Father may still serve the father or they may be lost in the World.
In this sense, this parable has many similarities to the Parable of the Net.
Saved by Grace 