Prodigal Son
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with a modern analogy of a college football game, illustrating how listeners fill in missing details based on cultural knowledge. The teacher then shifted to Luke 15:11‑32, explaining that the younger son’s request for his inheritance was a profound insult within a Jewish context, especially given the laws of the Jubilee year and land redemption outlined in Leviticus 25. By describing how the son would have had to sell his birthright at a steep discount, the lesson showed the foolishness of abandoning one’s heritage and God’s provision. The teacher emphasized that Jesus used this dramatic parable to confront the religious leaders of His day and to warn modern believers about the dangers of walking away from the Father’s house. The class concluded with reflections on the father’s gracious response, the prodigal’s repentance, and how the story applies today to anyone tempted to chase fleeting freedoms at the cost of lasting spiritual inheritance. The session encouraged participants to consider their own relationship with God and the value of returning to His loving embrace.
Key Scriptures
And he said, A certain man had two sons. 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 the substance. Not many days after, the younger son gathered together all his goods, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: but no man gave unto him. 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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 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. And the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things mean. 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. And he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him. And he answered and said, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither have I denied thee anything: and yet thou gavest me no kid, that I might make a feast with my friends: but as soon as this thy son is come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 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.
And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.