The Parable of the Prodigal Son: Bible Story Meaning

"It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" (Luke 15:32)

The parable of the Prodigal Son, or Lost Son, was a story told by Jesus Christ and is recorded in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in chapter 15, verses 11 to 32. Jesus shared this story with his disciples, Pharisees, and tax collectors as a part of a series of parables to illustrate the nature of God's forgiveness and the joy in repentance and reconciliation.

Before we start, let's take a look at the Definition of Prodigal: Merriam-Webster gives two senses for the definition of "prodigal": 1: one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly 2: one who has returned after an absence.

Summary of the Prodigal Son Parable

The parable begins by introducing three characters: a father and his two sons. To summarize the tale, the youngest of the two sons demands his share of his father’s estate which the father gives him.

Shortly after being given his inheritance, he runs off and squanders the wealth “in wild living” (Luke 15:13). Finding himself destitute and in the midst of a severe famine in the land, he hires himself out to a pig farmer. Seeing firsthand that the pigs were eating better than him, he decides to return to his father and beg to be allowed to serve as a hired servant on the estate.

Then, Luke 15:20-24 says this:

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But 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.’”

Meanwhile, though, the older son had been faithfully working in the fields for his father. Seeing his father celebrating the return of his rebellious brother, he felt angry and refused to join the celebration. His father pleaded with his older son to try to understand his joy over the return of what he had lost. It was like his youngest son had been dead and was alive again. He had been lost and now was found! The story concludes with the father pleading with the oldest son.

The Prodigal Son parable ends with Luke 15:31-32, saying:

"And he [the father] said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'

Context and Full Prodigal Son Bible Story Text: Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

Before telling the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus shares two other parables: the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. Both stories emphasize how God pursues the lost. He leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one. He rejoices when even one sinner repents, just as a woman celebrates finding her lost coin. These stories set the stage for the Prodigal Son—taking the idea of “lostness” a step further, but this time with a personal, relational focus. Let's read the full passage from Scripture:

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

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

“But 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 son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘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!’

“‘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.’”

Meaning of the Prodigal Son Parable

Many have concluded that this parable is primarily about the oldest son, rather than the prodigal son. Jesus is showing the Pharisees (and all of us) that God doesn’t just tolerate sinners who repent—He celebrates them.

The older brother in the story, however, is a picture of the Pharisees and religious leaders. He’s angry and resentful that his wayward brother has been welcomed back with such joy. He doesn’t understand the heart of the father—just as the Pharisees didn’t understand God’s heart for the lost. Despite the diverse audience, Jesus was speaking directly to the religious leaders and teachers of the law. He was aiming straight into the darkness of their hearts, pleading with them to lay aside their trust in their own righteousness and works.

“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).

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were trusting in a works-based justification, rather than experiencing salvation by God’s grace through their faith. Like the older brother in the parable, they viewed themselves as worthy “sons.”

By telling this parable, Jesus was making it clear: God’s love has no limits, and He longs for all of His children—no matter how far they’ve wandered—to come home. The story is a reminder that none of us are too far gone for God’s grace. Whether we identify with the rebellious younger son or the self-righteous older brother, the Father’s invitation is the same: come home. God is always ready to embrace, forgive, and restore us when we turn to Him with a repentant heart. It’s a beautiful picture of the gospel, and it’s as relevant today as it was when Jesus first shared it.

Unless we see ourselves as unworthy, we cannot possibly fall upon the grace of God. Unless we realize that we are spiritually destitute, we will never be saved. It is only the needy who reach out for help or saving.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Importance of Both Brothers in the Parable

The Younger Son

The prodigal son story begins with the younger son making a bold and dishonorable request: he asks his father for his share of the inheritance early. In the cultural context of Jesus' time, this was deeply insulting. An inheritance was typically received after a father’s death, so for the younger son to ask for it early was as if he were saying, “I wish you were dead. I don’t want to live under your authority anymore.” This action reveals his selfishness, his desire for independence, and his craving to pursue life on his own terms.

After receiving the inheritance, the younger son leaves home and heads to a "distant country." This decision symbolizes how sin often leads us far from God. It’s not just a physical distance; it’s a spiritual and emotional detachment as well. In this distant land, he squanders his wealth in “reckless living” (Luke 15:13). While the details aren’t specified, it’s clear that he indulges in excess—spending his resources on fleeting pleasures that leave him empty and lost. His actions reflect a heart chasing after worldly desires and quick satisfaction, believing this will bring him freedom and happiness.

As often happens, sin and poor choices eventually catch up to him. The younger son’s reckless lifestyle leads him to financial ruin, and to make matters worse, a famine strikes the land (Luke 15:14). He finds himself completely destitute—alone, broke, and starving. In his desperation, he takes a job feeding pigs, which, for a Jewish man, was the ultimate disgrace. Pigs were considered unclean animals, and working with them would have been humiliating and degrading.

The younger son’s physical hunger mirrors his spiritual emptiness. At this point, his emotions are likely a mix of shame, regret, and realization. He reflects on the life he had in his father’s house, where even the hired servants had enough to eat. This is a turning point: in Luke 15:17, the Bible says, “But when he came to himself...”—he finally wakes up to the reality of his situation. His eyes are opened, and he recognizes the consequences of his choices. This moment of self-awareness is where repentance begins.

The younger son decides to return to his father, but his attitude is completely different now. Gone is the arrogance and entitlement he had before. Instead, he comes with humility and a repentant heart, acknowledging his sin both against God and against his father. In Luke 15:18-19, he rehearses his words: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."

This is genuine repentance—he isn’t just sorry for the consequences of his actions; he’s sorry for the broken relationship caused by his sin. He doesn’t expect to be restored as a son but hopes to return in any capacity, even as a servant. This humility shows his understanding of the depth of his wrongdoing and his desire to make things right.

As he heads home, the younger son must have felt a mix of fear, shame, and uncertainty. Would his father reject him? Would he face anger or punishment? Yet, he takes the step of faith to return, knowing he has nothing left to offer but his brokenness and repentance.

To his surprise, his father sees him “while he was still a long way off” and runs to embrace him (Luke 15:20). Instead of rejection, he’s met with overwhelming grace, love, and forgiveness. The father doesn’t even let him finish his rehearsed apology; he restores him fully as a son, clothing him in a robe, placing a ring on his finger, and throwing a celebration to mark his return.

The Older Son

The older son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is a fascinating character because he represents a different, yet equally important, lesson. While his younger brother's story is one of rebellion, brokenness, and repentance, the older son's struggle is with pride, self-righteousness, and resentment. Jesus uses the older brother to challenge the attitudes of the Pharisees and religious leaders of His time, and honestly, his story can hit close to home for many of us who have been in the Church for a while.

The older son starts off looking like the "good one." He stays home, faithfully works in his father’s fields, and doesn’t cause any obvious trouble. From the outside, he appears obedient, responsible, and hard-working. But his reaction when the younger brother returns reveals what’s really going on in his heart.

When he hears that his father has thrown a lavish celebration for his brother—the same brother who wasted the inheritance on reckless living—the older son is furious. Instead of rejoicing over his brother's return, he becomes bitter and refuses to join the celebration. In Luke 15:28, we read: “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.”

Here’s where we see his true struggle: his anger and resentment come from a sense of self-righteousness. He feels like he deserves the father’s favor because he’s done everything right. He’s worked hard, followed the rules, and yet he feels overlooked. In his mind, his younger brother hasn’t earned this grace, and it feels unfair.

The older son doesn’t hold back his frustration. In Luke 15:29-30, he says: "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!"

Notice the bitterness in his tone—he refers to his brother as “this son of yours” instead of “my brother.” He feels entitled to rewards because of his good behavior, yet he’s missed the heart of the father’s grace. Instead of seeing himself as a son who already has everything the father offers, he describes his work as “slaving.” His relationship with the father seems transactional—he works hard, so he expects something in return.

What’s beautiful about the prodigal son story is how the father responds to the older son. Just as he ran to the younger son in love, he also goes out to the older son in compassion and invites him to join the celebration. The father reminds him in Luke 15:31: "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours."

The father isn’t angry or dismissive. He gently reminds the older son of his place in the family and reassures him that he hasn’t been forgotten. The father’s love and grace are constant; there’s no need to compete for them. The celebration of the younger son doesn’t take anything away from the older son—it’s a reflection of the father’s joy over reconciliation.

Lessons for Today: We Are the Prodigal Son

Our sermons can often focus on the younger brother, the brother who physically ran away from home. Often, when we hear the parable, perhaps we can identify with one of the two. Maybe we're like the older brother, who snubs the grace given to him by the father. Even though he's home, he never truly is home. And when the party starts, he refuses to go in to celebrate the lost son's return.

Or perhaps we identify more with the youngest son. Like him, we had squandered our wealth and ran as far away from the church and the faith as much as possible.

Some of us may even identify with the father figure in the story. Maybe we have family members who have gone astray or want nothing to do with us and our Christian faith. Even though many of us have heard the parable a multitude of times, we can always glean new lessons from the story. We likely know someone in our lives who strongly connects to one of the two characters.

But in terms of the sons, we need to realize that both sons are prodigals. No amount of righteous work can ever earn us a spot in heaven. The older brother abused the grace the father had given him. He thought that because he stayed behind that he had earned his inheritance. As Christians, we need to analyze our hearts to see if something similar has happened to us. Do we think we've earned the grace of God? Do we think ourselves superior to other prodigal sons who return home? If so, ask God to transform your heart and join in the celebration that a lost son has returned home.

The prodigal son, or lost son, was an abuser of grace. Grace is most often defined as unmerited or unearned favor. He had a loving father, a good home, provision, a future, and inheritance, but he traded it all in for temporal pleasures. We are the prodigal son.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way…” (Isaiah 53:6).

We think we know better. We squander the grace of God and trade it in for worthless treasure. And yet, at the point that we realize that we are unworthy, living like pigs, sinners, rebels, in need, destitute, hungry, dirty, and empty, so much so that it compels us to run back into the arms of Grace, we will be saved. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the Bible's most beautiful stories that reminds us that for it is by grace that we are saved. And all the sinners and tax collectors and prodigals say, “Amen!”

“There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

Here are 15 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know By Heart for you to download and share with loved ones!

Kristi Walker has been a missionary in Berlin, Germany for over 15 years working with an international church as the Director of Student Ministries. She is the author of two books, Disappointment: A Subtle Path Away from Christ and Convinced. Applying Biblical Principles to Life’s Choices.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Halfpoint

This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible parables. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of parables within Scripture. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.

What is the Meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son?