“The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Received Home by His Father” by Luca Giordano (1634-1705). Public Domain
The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is one of the most familiar stories in the Bible, and one that we can too quickly assume we understand. We know that Jesus tells the story of a man with two sons. The younger son leaves home, wastes his inheritance, returns, and his father forgives him. But, is knowing that much really enough? Are we grasping the messages Jesus intended to convey? Who did Jesus direct the parable to in His day? Does it contain a lesson—maybe even a warning—for us today? Let’s take a careful look at Scripture so that we can learn what Jesus was teaching in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
