To summarize the tale, the youngest of the two sons demands his share of his father’s estate which the father gives him. The parable begins by introducing three characters: a father and his two sons. So, who was the prodigal son? What’s his story? Parable of the Prodigal Son Jesus told the stories of the lost sheep, coin, and son to clear up the matter of who is truly “lost.” Jesus was prompted to tell these parables because the Pharisees and teachers of the law were accusing him of welcoming sinners and eating with them (verse 2).Ĭlearly, the Pharisees and teachers of the law viewed themselves as righteous and the other half of the audience as sinners. Jesus had his specific audience, a mixture of “sinners” and “righteous,” in mind when he told these three stories. Likewise, all three parables point to the heavenly joy over every sinner who repents from sin and turns to Jesus. All three parables are on the topic of lost things being found: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. It is the third of three parables in that chapter directed at a mixed audience of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees (religious leaders), and teachers of the law.
The parable of the Prodigal Son, or Lost Son, is found in the New Testament of the Bible in Luke 15:11-32. 'It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive he was lost, and is found.'' ( Luke 15:32)
