Tag Archives: wandering Christians

Every time I come to a parable of Jesus, I learn more things about Jesus AND MYSELF. Sunday night we studied the most difficult parable Jesus ever gave, the Parable of the Cheating Business Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Tonight we’re going to look at the LONGEST PARABLE Jesus ever told. It is often called The Parable Of The Prodigal (Wandering) Son. It’s found in Luke chapter 15. Please turn there. Read with me:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A certain man had TWO SONS:

Most Bibles have in the heading to this parable, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”. As a result, most Pastors, myself included, have preached this parable as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (though no modern person knows what “Prodigal” means. Here’s what I learned when I studied it:

The word “Prodigal” is found in the Bible right next to the word “Purgatory”. It’s just not there.

Jesus introduces this parable by saying, “A certain man had TWO SONS”. And the truth is, neither son is a prize winner. Jesus leaves the parable open to many applications. Where I’ve often seen the parable used (and I’ve preached it this way myself), the characters are:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is a lost person
The “ELDER SON” (vs 25) is a believer… Continue reading →