Luke 15:11-24, NKJV
Jesus was making His way toward Jerusalem, teaching, preaching, and healing. The parable of the lost son is one of a series of three Jesus taught in response to the self-righteous attitudes of the Pharisees and the scribes. He was teaching on discipleship, and the tax collectors and sinners gathered around Him to hear His teaching. The religious leaders mumbled among themselves, not openly, that He welcomed sinners and ate with them (vv. 1-2). God is no respecter of persons. When His Son Jesus died on the cross, He died for all who believe in Him.
Jesus began the parable saying that there was a certain man who had two sons (v.11). The younger son asked his father to give him the portion of the father’s livelihood that was coming to him. The father granted the younger son his desire (v.12). He soon left his father’s house, and went to a far country. There he wasted all he had with prodigal living (v.13). Then a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want (v.14). The fact that the young man became rebellious and left home was not new then and not today. The young man hired himself out to a citizen of that country who sent him in the fields to feed his swine (v.15), which was unclean (Leviticus 11:7) to a Jew. He was so hungry he could very well have eaten the carob pods from the pigs’ trough. He had nothing, and no one offered him anything (v.16). How ironic, he was in such great need! “There’s no want to them who fear the Lord” (Psalm 34:9b). However, he came to his senses, and remembered that there is plenty in his father’s house. How blessed are his father’s many hired servants, who have enough bread to spare, and he perish with hunger (v.17)! This reminds us of how harsh and miserable life will be when we foolishly choose to leave our heavenly Father to chase after the ways of this corrupt and unfriendly world. Remember, God is stirring the heart of all sinners. He is patiently waiting for you to return to Him.