“The Prodigal Son” is a poorly named parable. There are three characters in the story and each of them are important! We should probably call it “The Compassionate Father and His Two Lost Boys.”

Of all the parables Jesus taught, this one is the longest. The details are gripping. We meet a younger brother who comes to his senses after a season of wild living. We meet a faithful elder brother who is supremely frustrated by his Father’s compassion. Finally, we meet a Father who cares for nothing less than the restoration of relationship with his boys.

The story is told in Luke 15:11–32. To get the full effect of the parable, you might want to start reading at the beginning of the chapter. Here are my thoughts on the story.

(If you’re interested in more than a Five Minute Message, you can find the full audio of each message on the Sermon page.)

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