7.29.2026 - Matt Hekman

July 29

The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

We see the image of God’s patience several times throughout this passage. At the beginning we see how God is patient with the younger son in a way that is reminiscent of how God treats Adam and Eve in the garden. After they have rebelled, when God finds them naked, or barely clothed, he sacrifices part of his creation – making them clothes from animal skin – to provide for them when they deserve nothing from him at all. We see this same kind of tender love and forbearance from the father. In asking for his inheritance early, the son was rebelling in a way, deciding he knew best. He rejected his father, his family, and off we went on his own.

Even still, the father was patient, giving the son what he asked. The father, in his wisdom, surely had a better plan for his wealth than the son, and we see this is true as the son burns through it in no time. But, the father still says, “Ok son, it’s yours now.” Its safe to say that any wise father in the same situation would know that the son’s plans were not the best for him, and patient as the father is, he lets the son find out for himself.

The next and most obvious example of God’s patience is illustrated by the father’s response when the son returns. He has been waiting for his boy. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him … and he ran to his son…”. Another way of saying ‘patience’ is ‘long-suffering’. Anyone who has waited a long time for the “return” of a loved one can relate with that idea. You’re just there, waiting, watching, loving, suffering the absence of things being right. And when that day comes, the restoration is immediate, and the celebration is as big as it gets.

We even see a picture of patience in how the father interacts with the older son. He patiently reminds the older son that he is loved not less, and this is a good thing! It reminds me a bit of God’s interaction with Jonah towards the end of that book. It really bothered both Jonah and the older brother that God was patient with the wayward. This stands as a reminder to appreciate how patient God is since we’re far more like the prodigal son or the Ninevites than we’d care to admit. It also echoes Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees. They were self-righteous rule followers who failed to see the repentance and reconciliation of sinners as something to celebrate.

Let’s go back to the classic image of the father running to meet his son, wrapping his arms around him, letting him know that he’s loved, and he always has been. This is the God who loves us. There’s no hesitation in his love, just hesitation (or patience) in his judgement. And in the end, in his timing, he makes all things right. Thank God today for his patience.