Christian Crier
Here are seven top Bible verses about the Prodigal Son
Luke 15:13-14 “Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.”
If this parable tells us anything, it tells us that there is no true joy found in the riches of this world. They pass away and more quickly when there is “reckless living” involved. No doubt this young man had a lot of “friends” but when his money ran out, so did his friends; if you want to call them that, because the young man ends up slopping pigs, considered unclean by Jesus’ Jewish audience. Where were his friends now? He was so hungry that he ended up eating what they tossed out to the pigs (Luke 15:16), and one can only imagine what that was.
Luke 15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger.”
Here is the first hint of remorse about his decision. He hasn’t reached the point of admitting his guilt yet but sometimes hunger, poverty, sickness or any other number of trials can humble us and make us realize that we’re helpless without God. The prodigal son thinks about how his “father’s hired servants have more than enough bread,” and here he is, starving to death.
Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”
This is the point where the young man comes to his senses and realizes that he has sinned against his father and it seems clear that the father in this parable speaks about similarities to God the Father. He sees his unworthiness to even be called a child of God, and he acknowledges that he has sinned, not only against his father, but against God (“heaven”). He reasons that he should be regarded no better than a servant now…but the Father’s been watching…and waiting for him.
Luke 15:20-21 “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
This is symbolic, I believe, of repentance, because when the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, mention the word “turn” it looks very much like repentance. The young man now turned away from the “frivolous life,” and turned to his father. Expecting to be rebuked and demoted to the roll of a servant, the Father instead runs out to greet him, embracing him and showering him with kisses. This is “the hounds of heaven” pursuing the prodigal son (including all of us!) (John 6:44). No, he’s not worthy to be called a son, but who is? That’s why God’s grace is so amazing.
Luke 15:22-23 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.”
Not only does the father welcome his son back in, apparently forgiving him of his sins, he now puts on the best robe in the house (giving him honor) and pictures the righteousness of Christ imputed on our behalf (2nd Cor 5:21). The robe is fitting apparel for what the Apostle Peter says of the church, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1st Pet 2:9). Next, the party is one; reflective of the wedding feast when Jesus marries the church at His return where the Apostle John writes, “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready”(Rev 19:7).
Luke 15:24 “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
If any verse comes to my mind, it’s Ephesians 2:1-2 where the Apostle Paul writes, “ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:1-2) but this verse about the prodigal son also makes me think of Jesus Where He asked, “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray” (Matt 18:12). Sheep don’t have sense enough to come out of the rain, not to mention find the shepherd, so the shepherd must find the sheep. The one was lost but now is found! So too is it with us.
Luke 15:31-32 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Just as we celebrate anytime someone we know is saved, Jesus says, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Imagine there being joy in heaven and why not! A child of God has been born again (John 3:3-8). He was dead but now made alive in Christ and was lost but the Good Shepherd has found him.
Conclusion
If the Parable of the Prodigal Son tells us anything, it’s the fact that God is patient with sinners for a time, and He knows that many of us will have a “frivolous living” time in our life, but until we understand that we must turn back from that life and turn to God and place our trust in Christ, time may run out for us to make that decision. Instead, we’ll face the Day of Judgment (Rev 20:12-15), or if after death (Heb 9:27), we will be judged. Time will have run out for us, so today is the best time of all to put your trust in Christ and better to do it today, while it’s still called today (2nd Cor 6:2).
Article by Jack Wellman
Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.
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