In this parable there is listed a father [Father], an elder son, the Pharisee; a lost son, the publican and sinner - yet if one looks closely he will see woven throughout the passage, yet a third Son, without whom this parable would be of no consequence at all.

Is this the account of a backslidden believer as some would contend? If not, and this young man was a sinner, then exactly when was he saved and under what circumstances? Carefully read the evidence - and then prayerfully decide what you believe. . .

A Pigpen Conversion? We say conversion, for the lost son was just that: he was lost. In the beginning of Luke chapter 15, the Shepherd says, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Next, the woman who lost her coin, says, “Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost” vs. 9. In this parable, the father says, “let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” vs. 23,24. He was not a wayfaring Jonah who was running from the will of God. Further, his granted request from the father for his ‘portion of goods that falleth’ does not qualify: the Lord Himself is the believer’s portion; he is an heir of God, but more than that; joint heirs with Christ. And the timing is not applicable. Paul, in writing to Timothy said, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” II Tim.4:8. At what day? Not the day of his departure from the Father into a far country! It is “at His appearing!” “Make me as one of thy hired servants,” said the prodigal. David might have said such after his sin with Bathsheba. But no! It was “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit away from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit” Psalm 51:11,12. At the beginning of chapter 15 “the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them,” appropriately applied to the lost son, his being received of the Father and the feasting that followed! The cry of the prodigal: “And I perish.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16. (It was doubtless a great frustration to the Pharisees and scribes that Jesus should give forth a parable that allowed publicans and sinners to own themselves as being born of the same father as they!) In the parable of the lost sheep, the Pharisees are identified as “ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance” vs 7. In this parable is the claim, “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment” vs. 29. In chapter 16 Jesus sums it up: “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” vs. 15.

His condition. What are we told concerning the son? The father [Father] himself testified before all: “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” Luke 15:24.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” Rom. 5:12.

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive” I Cor. 15:21,22.

His conversion. “I will arise, [I will] go to my father, and I will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. . .And he arose, and came to his father” Luke 15:18,20a.

‘I have sinned. . .before thee.’ Question. If he is in a far country, then how can it be said that he sinned before him? Before, enopion - in the face of (lit. or fig.): before, in the presence of. And he arose, and came to his father. (Consistent with the scriptures, it is not said that he went to his father; one invariably comes to God!)

“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him. . .” His Father saw him: Saw him a great way off: saw him wasting his substance with riotous living; saw him in the famine; saw him tending the swine. Yet He saw him as he came to himself; heard him speak (whether audibly or otherwise: he may have called it aloud before the swine!) “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against [the kingdom of God] heaven, and before thee. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” He confesses his sin before the Father, that he has no merit to claim; but the strong desire to come Home! To be only a hired servant would be abundant Mercy and Grace above all expectation.

He came to himself. His eyes were opened; he received right understanding. He saw a great way off - the Father’s house; the servants, ‘having bread enough and to spare!’

From the Pigpen to the Palace! “And he arose, and came to his father.” Remain no more in the field of swine! Arise, you who have been redeemed, and set journey to the Father’s house! “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; whereby in time past ye walked according to the prince of the power of the air. . .Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” Ephesians 2:1-3.

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherein he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by grace are ye saved)” Eph. 2:4-5.

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Eph.2:6.

He came to the Father. But first, the Father came to him: in his poverty, in his depravity; when no man gave unto him - came in the Person of the Holy Spirit, to quicken him, to make known the Lord Jesus; He who took his iniquities upon Himself; suffered, died in his stead, and rose that he might be raised in Him; to sit in heavenly places together in Christ Jesus.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Eph. 2:10. Wallow not in the mud of the pigpen! Eat not of the husks upon which the swine feast! Behold, the Father has prepared the fatted calf for your homecoming!

Many people over the years have had the notion that one must be within the hallowed halls of a church in order to be saved. The lost sheep was found in the field or on a mountain. The lost son was found on a hillside with the swine. I, too, am a pigpen convert! Having resisted the call of the Spirit on more occasions than I would want to admit, I was effectually called, and with broken heart, called on the Lord to save me. Later, with gladness of heart, I very willingly walked down the aisle to confess the Lord Jesus.

The lost son came to himself - or came to the end of himself - as he with repentant heart turned homeward, saying, I will arise, I will go, I will say unto Him, Father I have sinned.

It would seem that verses 20 and 21 should be switched: the son saying, father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. Only then might the father show compassion; falling on his neck and kissing him. And then for the father to call for the best robe to cover him, for a ring for his hand, and shoes for his feet: a most confusing dialogue. Until one realizes that the lost son had a pigpen conversion; that the Spirit had awakened him; quickened him; showed him Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, risen, and seen of hundreds! “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 son [possibly bewildered] attempts to say, Father, I have sinned. . .but the Father heard it the first time! “Bring forth the best robe and put it on him.” But someone will object: how can a righteous God fall upon the neck of and kiss this depraved sinner who has the stench of the pigpen upon him - and put the best robe upon his vile body? Oh my dear friend! The young man who left his father’s house for the far country is not the same one who has returned! “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new” II Cor. 5:17.

Again a question: The son took the ‘portion of goods that falleth to me.’ He wasted, squandered his inheritance with riotous living. He is due no inheritance, neither does he merit anything! True. The Roman soldiers took the robe of Christ at the cross - but His robe of Righteousness could no man take! But it is His for the giving. Just ask the son on whom the robe of righteousness was placed! He is an heir of God, joint heirs with Christ!

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