10 Lessons of The Prodigal Son 

The lessons of the prodigal son is a reminder of God’s love for his children. Though the prodigal son left his father and pursued a wild lifestyle, the father still forgave him. The father even hosted a celebration when he came home.

Overall, we have all fallen short of the glory of God due to sin. Yet, God forgives us. Therefore, we should rejoice at the goodness of God.

The Parable of The Prodigal Son Summary

In Luke 15:15-31, there was a father that had two sons. Each son was to receive a portion of their father’s wealth. The youngest son asked to receive his money immediately. So, the father divided the value of his estate and gave it to the sons.

Then, the younger son left his father’s house and went to a distant country. During his time there, the younger son spent all his money because he was living a lavish and reckless lifestyle. After he had spent everything, there was famine in the land and he was in desperate need.

To earn money, he got a job taking care of pigs. During this time, it was one of the most degrading and low paying job. The son eventually realizes that his father is forgiving. And he can return home to his father’s wealth and goodness.

While returning home, the father saw him from a far distance walking back. The father ran towards him, then greeted him with a kiss and a hug. The son felt unworthy of the father’s love and replied:

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

However, the father continued to celebrate his son’s return. The father said to his servants: “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Meanwhile, the older brother was working in the field. When he heard the music and his father told him of the lavish preparations for the youngest son, he became angry. So, the father pleaded with him to attend the event. However the eldest son replied: “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

In reply, the father said: “My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

10 Lessons of The Prodigal Son

1. God pursues all of us equally.

The story of the prodigal son beautifully illustrates how God’s love is unwavering and reaches out to everyone, no matter their struggles. The youngest son represents those who fall into lust, greed, rebellion, and shame. Meanwhile, the eldest son reflects those who choose God but struggle with jealousy, ungratefulness, and a sense of entitlement due to their good deeds. Despite both of their flaws, the father’s love remains constant. He actively pursues both sons, offering grace and reconciliation. This parable echoes the truth that we all have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), yet He loves and pursues us all equally.

2. You can’t earn God’s love.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.“ (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God loves all of His children equally. In the parable of the prodigal son, the eldest son remained and worked hard, but that wasn’t why God loved him. God loved him for who he was inside and because he was simply His son. The older son, however, felt he deserved more than his younger brother because he had done more. He found his worth and identity in perfectionism and deeds.

Similarly, our actions don’t make God love us more or bless us more. God’s love is unconditional and doesn’t change based on what we do or don’t do. This is echoed in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, where each laborer received the same wage, regardless of how long they worked.

3. God is forgiving and merciful.

Just as the father of the prodigal son rejoiced at his son’s return, God also celebrates when sinners, the lost, and backsliders come back to Him. He doesn’t hold our past against us; instead, He waits patiently with open arms for our return. Remember, “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:3-10)

4. God’s character and love is consistent.

God’s love is evident throughout the the entire Bible, and this parable highlights it beautifully through the father’s unconditional love. The father eagerly embraces his son upon his return, despite the son’s wayward journey into sin and worldly pursuits. This story reflects God’s unwavering love and forgiveness, showing us that He extends the same love to all.

Despite our sins, He still gave us His Son as a way to enter purity. He does not take away the promise or punish us out of anger; instead, He pursues us with the hope of granting us eternal life. As John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.“

5. Christians can cause their own problems.

The prodigal son had a good life. He was well taken care of and had an amazing family. However, that wasn’t enough for him. The son still chose to pursue the world rather than righteousness, family, and stability. This demonstrates that when we turn away from God’s love we can step into hardship due to our own choices and temptations. However, like the son, we can turn back (repent) and be accepted back at any time.

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” (James 1:13-14)

6. The world doesn’t satisfy.

The things of the world can never satisfy our longings. For instance, lust cannot be filled by gaining what you desire. Instead, the emptiness within your soul can only be filled with a relationship with God.

Similarly, In the story of the prodigal son, the son believed that the pleasures and treasures of the world would fulfill him more than his father’s provision. He left his home and wasted his inheritance on worldly pursuits, only to find himself empty and longing for what he once had.

7. God is enough.

Similar to the prodigal son, many Christians may fall into the trap of seeking fulfillment in worldly things rather than trusting in God’s sufficiency. They may chase after people, possessions, or wealth, believing these will satisfy their needs.

However, they eventually discover that true fulfillment can only be found in God. Just as the prodigal son realized the emptiness of his pursuits and returned to his father’s loving embrace, Christians come to understand that God alone is enough to satisfy their deepest longings.

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

8. Without God, we can enter a spiritual drought and famine.

When the son left his father’s house, he lived on his riches for a while, but then he ran out. Then, “after he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.” However, despite the famine, the father still had riches despite giving the sons their inheritance.

Similarly, when we stray from the Bible and God’s voice we enter into a spiritual drought. Our souls are in constant need and without God, we will become thirsty. Without God, our thirst will cause us to seek people, objects, activities, and money, but these will never truly satisfy us. When we recognize that only God can quench our spiritual thirst, He will be waiting with open arms. Remember, God never runs out of what we need.

9. Condemnation is not from God.

The father didn’t spend time belittling his son and trying to shame him. He knew that the son was returning because he had learnt his lesson. God is similar. When we repent and acknowledge our sins, He moves on.

Do you feel unworthy due to sin and ungodly thoughts? Well, that’s not okay. Conviction and condemnation are not the same. You can feel remorse for sin, but you shouldn’t feel dirty or believe God loves you less because of it. Jesus didn’t die for you to have painful flashbacks and burdensome shame. (1 John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 7:10)

10. Don’t Fear Punishment.

When the prodigal son was taken back by his father, he may have constantly thought about his past mistakes. Have you ever been forgiven but still felt undeserving? That fear stems from doubt in both yourself and in God’s forgiveness of your sins.

Remember the wise words found in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Believers have been fully forgiven of their sins. Those who truly fellowship with Christ live for Him and need not fear future punishment. Fear indicates an incomplete or immature relationship with God.

11. BONUS: The Truth Will Set Your Free

The story of the Prodigal Son highlights important truths we need to face. Often, when we avoid dealing with these truths, they resurface and create problems in our lives. Ignoring or avoiding these truths can lead to ongoing conflict, personal dissatisfaction, and spiritual stagnation.

• The Prodigal Son had to accept the truth about himself before he was ready to return home: he had lived recklessly, caused his own troubles, and needed forgiveness. He recognized that he was not a perfect son and had to face his mistakes. If he had continued to ignore these truths, he would have remained lost and distant from his family, unable to heal or grow.
• The older brother had to understand that, even though he was doing the right things, his heart was not as pure as he thought—it was tainted by jealousy and anger. Avoiding this truth would have kept him in a state of resentment, unable to celebrate his brother’s return and unable to experience the true understanding of unconditional love.
• The father had to accept that both of his children were emotionally immature and that his role was to guide them, not control them—even if it meant giving the Prodigal Son his share of the inheritance, knowing he might squander it. He wasn’t a bad father, nor had he done anything wrong to cause his sons’ issues; it was simply part of their personal journey. Ignoring this truth would have meant overlooking the heart issues of his sons. Hiding from this reality would have led to ongoing family dysfunction and prevented genuine reconciliation and growth.

As John 8:32 says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Facing and accepting these truths allowed the family to heal and move forward. Embracing these truths leads to real freedom and personal growth, allowing us to move forward with greater understanding and peace.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the story of the prodigal son serves as a powerful reminder of God’s unwavering love and pursuit. Despite the son’s departure and reckless living, the father’s love remained steadfast, welcoming him back with open arms and a celebratory feast. This parable beautifully illustrates that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Even when we walk away or stray from His path, God continues to pursue us with His grace and mercy. Our spiritual journey may lead us through droughts and famines, but God’s love is always constant and abundant. As Romans 8:38-39 assures us, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

No matter how far we drift or how lost we feel, God is ever-ready to welcome us back and shower us with His unconditional love. We simply need to be open to receiving it. Let us rejoice in the goodness of God, knowing that His love is always available and that He never runs out of what we need.