The Parable of The Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32

Today we will discuss the story and parable of the prodigal son. This has always been a very intriguing and interesting story to me and has always blessed me when I have heard it taught. Please feel free to use this free bible lesson in your youth or ministry class.

This past Sunday we covered this story and took each verse, one by one to gain a true and full understanding of the whole scripture.

I: Who

11And he said, A certain man had two sons:

We jump right into the beginning of the story knowing that a certain man has two sons.

II: Start

12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living

We find here that the son asked his father for his half of the goods that was rightly his. The father divided his earnings and money between him and his son.

Goods - food, money, clothes, material items that had worth.
Living - ‘earnings’ what he has created or earned.

13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

After the son gathered his funds and possessions he went on a journey into a far country, he traveled. After arriving to a certain place the bible says that he wasted all his funds and items on riotous living.

I think its worth pointing out that the bible does not point out exactly what he did but the bible does say he did spend all he had on unruly and rebellious things. That unruly living could have been partying, drinking, smoking and/or fornicating.

Riotous - unruly or rebellious.

III: His Current Condition

14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

After all his ‘fun’ and spent all his money right when he needed it there was a widespreed sorttage of food and other materials. After having all this fun and then that fun being pulled right from under him the bible says he starting to want things but found out that there was only one way to have things and that was to buy them with his own money.

He then became a citizen of his country and starting working in the field feeding pigs, hogs, and boars. He then willingly ate the husks that the pigs and hogs ate and no one gave him anything.

Swine - even-toed ungulates of the family Suidae, including pigs, hogs, and boars, having a stout body with thick skin, a short neck, and a movable snout.
Fain - with pleasure

IV: Came to Himself

17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

The prodigal son came to himself and realized that his fathers hired servants have more food and some to spare and here he is starving eating what he feeds to the pigs.

He then decided to go back to his father and tell him that he has sinned and that he is no more worthy to be called his fathers son and to make him as one of his fathers servants.

V: Back Home

20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

While the prodigal son was on his way back home the father seen him coming down and ran to him, gave him a hug, and kissed him. He admitted to his father then he was wrong and had sinned and asked to make him one of his servants.

But the fater said to his servants to bring the best robe, ring and shoes and put it on his son. He also told them to bring the best and the biggest calf and kill it so they can eat, fellowship and be happy with one another.

This is not the end of the story but all that we have time for right now. I hope that you can use this lesson in your life, your youth or your ministry!

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