What Can We Learn from the Parable of the Prodigal Son?

Originally Taught by Pastor Freddy Cortez at National Capital Bible Church

During our recent Men’s Prayer Breakfast at National Capital Bible Church, we explored one of the most familiar stories in all of Scripture—the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11–32. While many have read or heard this parable countless times, it’s rich with layers of spiritual insight that are easy to miss.

This parable isn’t primarily about salvation—it’s about fellowship, restoration, and the lavish grace of our Heavenly Father. Let this walk through the verses challenge and encourage you in your spiritual journey.

Luke 15:11

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.”

• Key Truth: The parable begins with a father and his two sons—this sets up a familial framework representing God and believers. Both sons are part of the family, showing this is not about salvation but fellowship and spiritual maturity.

• Significance: The story is aimed at those already in God’s family. This reinforces Free Grace truth: salvation is not the issue—fellowship and response to grace are.

Luke 15:12

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

• Key Truth: The younger son demands his inheritance early—a sign of selfishness and disregard for relationship. The father grants it anyway, showing God's respect for volition.

• Significance: God often permits us to pursue our desires, even when they lead to brokenness. This highlights His grace and patience, not coercion.

Luke 15:13

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

• Key Truth: The son’s rebellion leads him away from the father into a 'far country'—a metaphor for carnal living.

• Significance: Many believers leave fellowship in pursuit of self-centered freedom, only to waste spiritual resources and experience misery.

Luke 15:14

But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

• Key Truth: Sin always has consequences. The famine represents spiritual hunger, and his 'want' shows the emptiness apart from God.

• Significance: God uses divine discipline and circumstantial lack to draw us back into dependence and humility.

Luke 15:15

Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

• Key Truth: In desperation, the son joins himself to a Gentile and ends up feeding pigs—a shameful job for a Jew.

• Significance: Carnal choices lead believers into humiliating and degrading situations. The world never offers true restoration, only enslavement.

Luke 15:16

And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

• Key Truth: The son reaches rock bottom, longing for pig food. The world offers nothing of lasting value.

• Significance: Only when we exhaust worldly solutions do we recognize our need for God's provision. Spiritual hunger points us back to Him.

Luke 15:17

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!’

• Key Truth: Reflection begins the process of restoration. He realizes even his father's servants are better off.

• Significance: This verse marks the beginning of repentance—a change of mind that results in a desire to return to fellowship.

Luke 15:18

I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.’

• Key Truth: The son resolves to confess his failure, acknowledging both divine and personal offense.

• Significance: True restoration of fellowship begins with humility and confession. This is not a salvific return but a relational one.

Luke 15:19

And I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.

• Key Truth: The son feels disqualified from sonship and offers a servant role as penance.

• Significance: Many believers misunderstand grace, thinking they must work to re-earn God’s favor. Sonship cannot be forfeited.

Luke 15:20

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

• Key Truth: The father's proactive compassion pictures God’s eagerness to restore fellowship.

• Significance: God runs to meet the returning believer, embracing without delay or conditions. This is grace in action.

Luke 15:21

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

• Key Truth: The confession is made, but the father does not let the son finish the hired servant’s offer.

• Significance: God does not demote us to servanthood; He affirms our position in the family despite our failures.

Luke 15:22

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.’

• Key Truth: The symbols of full sonship are restored immediately—robe, ring, and sandals.

• Significance: These gifts represent restored dignity, authority, and fellowship. God doesn’t restore us halfway.

Luke 15:23

And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

• Key Truth: The fatted calf signals a special occasion—joy over fellowship restored.

• Significance: God celebrates when believers return to Him. His joy is communal, generous, and immediate.

Luke 15:24

For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

• Key Truth: “Dead” here refers to broken fellowship, not loss of salvation.

• Significance: Restoration brings life and joy. The focus is on recovery, not condemnation.

Luke 15:25

Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

• Key Truth: The elder brother appears late in the story, representing self-righteous believers.

• Significance: Legalistic Christians often resent the grace shown to repentant ones.

Luke 15:26

So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

• Key Truth: Instead of entering the celebration, he distances himself and questions it.

• Significance: Prideful believers often fail to understand or participate in God's grace-based joy.

Luke 15:27

And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

• Key Truth: The father’s celebration is over the safe return of his son.

• Significance: Grace emphasizes healing and wholeness over merit and achievement.

Luke 15:28

But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

• Key Truth: The father shows equal grace by going out to the angry elder brother.

• Significance: God pursues both the rebellious and the self-righteous with love and a call to fellowship.

Luke 15:29

So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you...’

• Key Truth: The elder brother focuses on performance, not relationship.

• Significance: Legalism blinds us to the blessings of intimacy with the Father. Service without fellowship leads to bitterness.

Luke 15:30

But as soon as this son of yours came... you killed the fatted calf for him.’

• Key Truth: The elder son distances himself from his brother and critiques the father’s grace.

• Significance: Self-righteousness dehumanizes others and resents God’s generosity.

Luke 15:31

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.’

• Key Truth: The father gently reminds the elder son of his privileged position.

• Significance: Fellowship has always been available. God withholds no good from those who walk with Him.

Luke 15:32

‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad...’

• Key Truth: Grace rejoices in recovery, not in perfection.

• Significance: This final line reaffirms the theme—God finds joy in restored fellowship and expects His children to do the same.

This post was written by Pastor Freddy Cortez of National Capital Bible Church. If you have questions about this post or Christianity in general, please contact us today!