This is the famous story of the prodigal son. Of course, most people don’t know what “prodigal” even means. It means wasteful or reckless. A prodigal is someone who recklessly wastes money. But there is more to the famous parable of the prodigal son than the story of a son who wastes money. He certainly does that! He spends all his father’s money. But he also has an amazing transformation.

The story goes like this. Once there was a rich man who had two sons. The younger son said, “Father, give me right now all the money I will receive when you die. My inheritance!” His father agreed. The boy then took the money and traveled far from home. Before long he spent every single dollar on selfish things with sinful people. Now he was poor and hungry and needed a job. The only job he could find was feeding pigs. Oink. Oink. Ugh. Ugh. He was so hungry he dreamed about eating the pig slop. Yuck. Yuck. Especially for Jews who want nothing to do with “unclean” pigs. Suddenly an idea came to him: “Why starve to death? Why not go home? Even your father’s hired servants have more than enough to eat.” As he walked home, he rehearsed what he would say to his father: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (15:18–19). What an amazing transformation—from prodigal to humble and repentant. But how would his father respond? Before he reached the front door, his father noticed his son walking in the distance. Did he lock the door? No. Send out the guard dogs to sic ‘em? No. The father loved him and forgave him. He ran to his son, hugged and kissed him, and ordered his servants to give his son new shoes, clothe him with the best robe, and put a ring on his hand. Then he gave this order: “Let us eat the biggest and best cow and celebrate. Steaks for everyone! For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (see 15:23–24). The father had been longing for just such a transformation. He rejoiced to have his son back home.

How do you think the Pharisees reacted to this story? We’re told they responded by ridiculing Jesus (Luke 16:14). Instead of learning from Jesus, they remained upset with Jesus for seeking the lost. Their hearts toward the “sinners” remain unchanged. How sad.