Luke 15:11-13

There was a man who had two sons. The parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin symbolize Christ searching for the lost sinner. This parable of the Lost Son shows the lost sinner bringing himself back to the Father's house. All three show the happiness over the sinner who turns from sin. The story of this man and his two sons touches hearts all the way around the world! In the symbolism, the father is God; the older brother is those who are sanctimonious (sure of their own goodness and who despise everybody else); the younger son is the sinful. [As Jesus tells this, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law are the "older brother," and the tax collectors and the outcasts are the "younger son."] Give me now. A selfish demand. The whole human race has done this! So the man divided the property. By Jewish custom, the older son would get two shares, the younger only one (Deuteronomy 21:17). He went to a country far away. Among strangers who help him spend his money. Where he wasted his money. The sinful life is a wasteful life. It is much worse when we waste our spiritual opportunities.