And he said, A certain man had two sons:
What does Luke 15:11 mean?
The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Luke 15:11-15 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Luke 15:11
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And he said - Jesus, to illustrate still farther the sentiment which he had uttered, and to show that it was proper to rejoice over repenting sinners, proceeds to show it by a most beautiful and instructive parable. We shall see its beauty and propriety by remembering that the "design" of it was simply to "justify his conduct in receiving sinners," and to show that to rejoice over their return was proper. This he shows by the feelings of a "father" rejoicing over the "return" of an ungrateful and dissipated son.
Key words
- and Jesus said again
-
and Jesus said again.
- and Jesus said again
-
and Jesus said again.
Context in Luke 15
Show chapter context
Luke 15 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as journey to Jerusalem. Luke emphasizes salvation for the poor and the outsider, prayer, joy, women, table fellowship, the Holy Spirit, and the universal reach of Christ’s mission. Read this chapter with the wider themes of salvation, Spirit, and prayer in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
Explore by topic
Passages on asking, persistence, confession, dependence, and the way prayer shapes Christian life and attention.
Bible verses about justice and mercy
Key texts on public righteousness, neighbor-love, social ethics, compassion, and the prophetic refusal to separate worship from justice.
Central texts on sin, grace, faith, Christ’s saving work, and the Bible’s announcement that salvation is received rather than achieved.
Key passages on God's unmerited favour, the grace of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and how grace transforms the way believers live.
Who quoted Luke 15:11?
Find out who used Luke 15:11 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Luke 15:11?
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «prodigal son»):
Alexandre Dumas, fils · André Malraux · Basque proverbs · Bergamasque proverbs · Black Lightning · Blade Runner · Brotherhood (2006 TV series) · Buddhism and Hinduism · C. S. Lewis · Celeste Ng · Davy Crockett · Edward Ozorowski · Eve 6 · God Friended Me · Grand Hotel (film) · Henri Nouwen · House (Season 8) · Italian proverbs · James Weldon Johnson · Kamelot · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit/Season 22 · List of television shows (I–P) · Lou Diamond Phillips · Mark Andrew Bartosic · Martin Luther King Jr. · Masaharu Taniguchi · Miami Vice · Northern Catalan proverbs · O. Henry · P. L. Travers · Parable · Parable of the Prodigal Son · Patrick White · Peter Rabbit (film) · Philip Roth · Prodigal Son · Prodigal Son (TV series) · Ram Swarup · Rembrandt · Richard Chenevix Trench · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) (season 4) · The Leftovers (TV series) · Thérèse of Lisieux · Tuscan proverbs · War of the Worlds (1988 TV series) · William Tyndale · Wiseguy (TV series)