The Prodigal Son

In Depth Study KJV
by Brother James Cook

This study was written to bring

my lost brothers home to our Father in Heaven.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes

were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13


Before We Start:

I have found the best way to start a study
is just by diving in.
The parable Jesus tells of the prodigal son,
lets divide it into six parts.
We will take an in depth look at each part.
We will call them the departure, the misery, the repentance,
the return, time to rejoice, and the Pharisee's.
Let's begin each part by reading the corresponding Scripture.
Then we will take a closer look at each section.
The prodigal son is a parable Jesus spake to the pharisees and scribes,

but also in the presence of publicans and sinners.

The parable begins in Luke 15:11.

Part one: The departure

Lu 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

Lu 15:12 And 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.

Lu 15:13 And 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.

The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance and the Lord's readiness and willingness to welcome those who return to him. Something in this inimitable parable always seems to draw in and cut to the core of the heart and soul. In this section we need to understand who is a representation of who. In this parable the father is Our Heavenly Father (God). The elder son, is representative of the self-righteous or in this case the Pharisees and Scribes. The younger son is representative of the sinful, or in this case the Publicans and Sinners.

Try to keep that in your mind as we continue.

Now in verse 12 we see the son says to the father,

“Give me the portion of thy substance.” Now, he was not asking.

This was a selfish and unfilial demand that the son had made. Sound familiar?

Just like a sinner who demands of God to give, but returns no gratitude.

The younger son returned no gratitude. He felt it was rightfully his

and that he had the right to demand it, just as many of us do today.

So thats what the father did. The father gave him his part.

Now as it was custom in that day the elder son would receive two shares,

and the younger son one share, we learn this in

But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn,

by giving him a double portion of all that he hath:

for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Deuteronomy 21:17

The father, who is yet living, out of love and grace, concedes to the younger son's demands,

and divides their inheritance before their due time.

The father gave to the younger son his portion, but held the elder son's portion in his own hand's.

Many men wish to have their concerns, rewards, and control of their lives in their own hands and want to direct their own course in life, rather than have God do it for them. And it will always end in great disappointment, disaster, or even death.

Next we see the younger son takes his belongings and leaves his father's house with giving no word to his father, as to him leaving, or as to where he is headed. So he wandered far away from his father's house. Just as the sinner wanders from God and partakes in his own gratifying desires. We also see the son (sinner) wasted his substance (blessings and gifts) on foolish and sinful things. A worldly life is a wasted life. It is much worse for us to waste our spiritual opportunities and gifts than it is for us to waste earthly goods.

Take a quick look at what Proverbs 28:7 Says,

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son:

but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

The younger son by doing what he did had brought great shame to his father, just as a sinner professing Christ but continuing in a sinful way of life is shaming God.

Jeremiah 2:5 Says, Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

The son was walking in vanity. He was selfish and only wanted to please himself.

How many of us only focus on what we want, or on what pleases ourselves?

Part Two: The misery

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose

a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country;

and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks

that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

Now here is where the trouble begins for the younger son for trying to go his own way in life. First, he squandered all he had been given by his father and to his surprise there was now a famine in the land. The Bible says “he began to want”, which many preachers would say, he was so distraught he may have wanted to end his life. Now stop and think about that in today's world, basically he is saying he has hit rock bottom and he can see no way out. The same applies to sinners. Eventually, after living for themselves for so long, things fall apart and the sinner can't seem to see any way to restore themselves to what they had. Many of us find ourselves in similar situations yet today. Take a look at

Ezekiel 16:27 Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee,

and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto

the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines,

which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

Next, we see the son had no where else to go, so he met up with a citizen of the far off county he was in. Why did he do this? Simple. To find work so he could eat. But he was unable to find work and the only thing that was available was for him to go into the fields to feed swine. Well, you need to understand to the Jewish in that time, feeding the swine was one of the lowest means of work, many considered it shameful and a degrading means of employment. He was over taken by hunger yet no one would give to him, so he fed himself with the same food he fed to the swine, husks. Husks were large pods that grew on the Carob trees. They have small seeds like beans, and a sweetish pulp. They were fed to the swine, but poor people sometimes also would eat them.

Psalm 142:4 Says, I looked on my right hand, and beheld,

but there was no man that would know me:

refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I think something similar to this verse goes through our minds when we read this.

PART 3: Repentance

Luke 15:17 And 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!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,

Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son:

make me as one of thy hired servants.

I have titled this section the repentance and I will tell you why. The phrase “he came to himself”; means he came to have just views of things. You see men must feel that they are lost, before they are found. And unless they believe that without God they will perish, they will never truly come to him. Yet even if they do believe this, they will not return to him until they truly make the resolve to do so. Okay, so in verse 17 we see he finally realized what he has done.

Lets look at the start of his recovery from his sin. This begins by his coming to himself. That is the turning point in the sinner's conversion (salvation). The Lord opens his eyes and heart, and convicts him of sin. After his eyes are open, he views himself and every object in a different way or light than what he did before. Therefore, the convicted sinner sees that the worst servant of God is happier than he is. Hence, he realizes he must go to his father, confess and repent of his sin.

Psalm 51:3 Says, For I acknowledge my transgressions:

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:

that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,

and be clear when thou judgest.

PART 4: The return to the father

Luke 15:20 And 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.

21 And 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.

22 But 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:

At this point we see the son has finally headed home. But for a sinner to come home, he must first turn, and leave the far country, sinful associations, and enter into spiritual union with Christ. A sinner comes by faith, repentance, and obedience to Christ by baptism.

Romans 6:3 Says, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

As the son draws nigh, the father sees him from afar. How did the father see him coming? Good eye sight? No. He saw him because he was continuously watching for him every day since he had left, just as God is continually watching for the sinner to return. He is constantly watching and waiting for you to come to him.

The next phrase “He Ran and fell on his neck”, this represents the readiness with which God receives returning sinners. But it also has another meaning. In the days of Christ, the men wore robes that went down to there ankles. Well, in order for the father to run to his lost son, he would have had to hold his robe up above his knees and run through the village past onlookers. This just was not done, exposing there legs, it was humiliating. The father willfully humiliated himself and ran to his son. Just as Christ was humiliated as he was led through Jerusalem to calvary to pay the price for our sins.

Now, when the son saw his father humiliating himself in such a manor, I can't help but to think this was his true moment of repentance, him seeing the willingness and readiness of his father to receive him. “He had compassion.” The father does not even wait for the confession the son had resolved to make. The father's love cannot wait when it recognizes the purpose. Take a look at-

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes
were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Next, we see the son's confession and plea for mercy and grace to the father.

Just as the son, we are not worthy of God's grace or mercy, nor of the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf. But through God on behalf of Christ it is freely given to us. There are no strings attached. We just have to believe in Christ, and accept Him as our savior, and we too, can be restored with Him.

“The father said.” He interrupted the confession of the prodigal son. He had returned in rags and the father had the best robes of white put on him. Just as God gives the repented sinner robes of the righteousness of Christ. He covers our sin with his righteousness, this would be the blood of Christ that was shed to cleanse and cover our sins. He pardons them freely, and bestows upon them the blessings of his salvation. Next, we see he put a ring on his hand. A ring with a seal was a symbol of authority, of son ship, to show all, that this is his son. I believe the ring he put on his hand represents God giving us his Holy Spirit as a sign of our salvation.

“Shoes on his feet.” Servants went barefoot, but the shoes were a symbol of freedom. By the resurrection of Christ we are free from the bonds of sin. We are no longer servants under sin's control. Lets briefly read Romans 6:6-11, as I think it applies well here.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more;
death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once:
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead
indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You see the cost for our rebellion and sin has been paid. and Jesus says we are now free from sin. The chains have been broken and a new path he has put before us.

Part 5 Time to rejoice

23 And bring hither the fatted calf,
and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

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

You see the father was rejoicing because his son had returned and he receives him with great joy and absolute forgiveness. When in humility, a person returns to God, trusting in Jesus Christ as their savior, He rejoices to receive them with exceeding great joy, and notwithstanding their transgressions. He pardons them freely, and gives them the blessings of his salvation. The calf was for a welcome home feast as a measure of rejoicing in the son's return. Such preparations and feasts were common in the life of those in the East.

“My son was dead-lost.” He was dead to excellence and to happiness and dead to his father's house. He was lost to goodness, to duty, the honor of his father, and to Heaven.

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins;

“Alive-found.” He has returned with repentance and humility to his father and friends, and is of great joy to them. He was no longer lost to goodness, and would now be a partaker of their joy. “For my son was dead, and is alive.” This symbolizes a spiritual resurrection with God, for by Christ's death we also were resurrected with him in a new likeness. “They began to be merry”, great joy should be manifested by all saints at the repentance of a sinner just as we read in

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven
over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

All sinners need to know:

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection,
and the life: he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Here are a few more verses I would like to share with you before we move on to the final part of the parable.
They are as follows:

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead
indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all,
that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.

I'm not going to go into detail on each of those verses, but it is my hope you see the connection between them and this parable. Okay, moving on.



Part 6 The Pharisees

Luke 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field:
and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come;
and thy father hath killed the fatted calf,
because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in:
therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father,
Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I
at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid,
that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come,
which hath devoured thy living with harlots,
thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me,
and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad:
for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again;
and was lost, and is found.

Well as you can see this part of the parable is a bit longer than the previous parts, but there is a good reason why, as we will see. Now remember the elder son represents the Scribes and Pharisees, who found fault with Jesus for receiving and treating sinners who came to him.

The elder son is in the field working, and he hears music. I would imagine he was confused and didn't know what was going on, so he asked a servant. The servant told him his brother had returned and his father received him back unto his house and was throwing a welcome home feast. This made the brother angry and he did not go to the feast. So his father came out to him. Now you notice how the brother was angry and did not accept his brother's return, well that is how the Jewish, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles. They didn't want to accept them, just as the Pharisees were angry and sought against Christ for receiving sinners to repentance. In the parable the father coming out to the son shows Gods longsuffering, and his will for all to come in unto his house.

Real quick take a look at:

Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes,
they were filled with envy, and spake against those things
which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Does that verse sound like what the elder son was doing? It was exactly what he was doing. Next we see the elder son saying “Neither transgressed I.” This is the very spirit of the Pharisees, a self-righteous spirit. This shows while he was present with the father, he was far away from him in spirit. Just to clarify, next the elder son says “yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”. When he says kid he is not speaking of a child. The elder son is referring to a young goat, in that his father has never even slaughtered a goat for him, but yet the father has slaughtered the fattest calf for the younger son. We can see a bit of jealousy here in the elder son because of the attention that was given to the younger. “This thy son;” was an expression of scorn and pride. He refuses to say my brother. Despite the elder son's jealousy and pride the father is still loving towards him and tells him “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” The father is pleading with the envious brother and tries to bring him to a proper frame of mind, just as Christ pleads with Israel. I feel Christ was leading us towards what Paul would later write in:

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.

Now the last verse in the parable. The father says “It was meet;” meaning suitable, and proper. Now had the elder son's heart been right, he would not have murmured against his brother, and would have partaken in the joy of his return with his father. Now with the Scribes and Pharisees, had they been of a right heart, instead of murmuring at Christ for receiving sinners, they would have rejoiced with him at the conversion of each one with exceeding joy. Now then the returned sinner is his brother. But unless he too, can welcome him, then he has also become a lost son.

As we end this study together I would like to end with some scripture.

Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?
prudent, and he shall know them?
for the ways of the LORD are right,
and the just shall walk in them:
but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Have you truly accepted Christ as your savior or are you a lost son? No matter how great your sin he will welcome you home.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.

My brother now is the time. Don't wait any longer. The Father is running to meet you, all you need to do is believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and pray that He will give you true forgiveness and salvation through His love, grace, and mercy. I beg you wait no longer. Christ died on the cross to pay the cost of your sin. Ask Him into your heart today,
He will change your life with his love...