Why is the parable of the lost son in lukes gospel?

Answer 1

This story Jesus told tells of a rich man who had two sons. One decided to take his inheritance and went away squandering it on prostitutes and such like. When the money ran out he was reduced to feeding pigs (unclean animals to the Jews) and was starving until he came to his senses and went back to his father hoping that he would take him back as a slave. However, instead of punishing him, the father went out to meet his son, welcomed him back as a son, and threw a party. The other son was upset at this, but the rich man rebuked the son saying that everything he had was now his as his brother had wasted his inheritance. So he would get what was rightly his anyway. But as for the other son, as the rich man put it, "My son who was 'dead' is now alive! He was lost but now he is found!"

In the story, the rich man represents God. The lost son is us - as we have rebelled against God because of our sin. The other son is those people who think that they deserve more than they should because they appear to live a righteous life. The inheritance is the Kingdom of God - heaven - that God has promised us if we love him.

The story tells us that, should we stray away and rebel against God, as long as we come to our senses like the lost son, and return to him in penitence, then God will not punish us like the rich man should have punished his son for wasting the inheritance. instead, like the father in the story, God will meet us coming back to him, forgive us and rejoice that we have repented and turned back to him once more.

As Jesus put it "there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous people who need no repentance"

ALSO:

I think Jesus told this parable primarily for the Jews. The first interpretation of the parable is the Father represents God, the oldest son represents the scribes and Pharisees and the youngest son represent the Israel. If you look at the context of the parable:

Luk 15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."

Luk 15:3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:.......................

Compare the attitude of the Pharisees ( why is he spending time with sinners and tax collectors) with the attitude of the eldest son ( why is he spending money on that useless no good son).

Israel (youngest son) at this stage of their history are far from the relationship God intended for them to have with Him .

Jesus tells them in the parable if they return to worshiping God, God will accept them. The music, dancing, rejoicing would have taken place if Israel had accepted Jesus as the Messiah.

Answer 2

The parable of the lost son is also known as the prodigal son. The prodigal son goes to his father and demands his inheritance early. Much like the youth of today he felt he knew better than his father and wanted what was rightfully his now. He took his new found "riches" and went to the "big city" where he proceeded to blow it all. As long as he had money he had friends, etc. but once it was gone.... I think you see where we're going here. Eventually the son is starving and has to take a job tending the swine at a local farm. He even begins to dine with the pigs on their slop. Eventually it dawns on him that he could return to his father. He could ask to be one of his father's servants because his father feeds them well. Surely his father would allow this. So off he goes back to see his father. As he draws closer to home he is surely worried that his father will forsake him but as he nears the gate his father sees him and runs out to greet him. The father declares that a feast be prepared for the lost son who has returned and returns him to his original stature not forcing him to become a servant as the son had anticipated.

This parable is used to show Jesus' love for us. Even though we may stray and sin the father is always awaiting our return. Once we return he will welcome us back with open arms and rejoice that we are back. Amen!

Answer 3

The story of, The Lost Son teach's us that if our children ever stray us then don't be ashamed or embarresed. This story tells us if this happens then we should watch our children, and wait for there return, and when they do return then we should welcome them with open arms, and throw a party, for our sons were lost and now our found.

Answer 4

When Jesus tells this parable some Pharisees and scribes are also listening:

Luke 15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."

Luke 15:3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: .........................

In the parable the father represents God, the youngest son represents Israel and the oldest son represents the scribes and Pharisees.

The oldest son is prejudiced towards the youngest son because the youngest son is treated well, given a lot of attention etc by the father.

In the gospels we can see Jesus paid a lot of attention to the ordinary people the scribes and Pharisees of the day were jealous because they thought they were the spiritual men of Israel. They were put out that Jesus "received sinners" they thought Jesus should have been spending time with them - they were the spiritual ones.