The parable in this passage—Luke 15:11-32—is one of the most well-known teachings in all the Bible. While this parable is often referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, it is really more about the reactions to the prodigal son than it is the son himself. The primary reaction to the prodigal’s return that we will concern ourselves with was the response of the forgiving father; while the secondary reaction was that of the begrudging brother. These are the three primary characters found in this parable—the prodigal (or rebellious) son, the father and the older brother.

The rebellious son represents a sinner who makes a decision to repent of his wrongdoing. The father is a picture of our heavenly Father who lavishly forgives. And the older brother represents the attitude of the Pharisees who did not want to associate with sinners, as we see in Luke 15:1-2. Only the father in this parable is pictured as doing that which was right—he forgave and rejoiced at his son’s repentance!