What the Bible Really Says About the Prodigal Son

B15L7 What if everything you've been taught about the Prodigal Son is missing the point? In Luke 15, Jesus isn't preaching a salvation message for the Church — He's speaking directly to Israel, and once you see it, the whole parable unlocks. 📖 In this verse-by-verse study of Luke 15 and Luke 17, the three parables — the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son — are examined in their proper context: Christ dealing with the nation of Israel under the Law. The 99 sheep aren't safely in the fold — they're lost in the wilderness, just like the self-righteous Pharisees who didn't know they needed a Shepherd. The one lost sheep? The small remnant of Jews who recognized their need and believed. The Prodigal Son's older brother — the one preachers rarely mention — represents the self-righteous religious establishment of Israel. And Luke 17:21, "the kingdom of God is within you," is corrected from the Greek: the word is *entos* — meaning "in the midst," not "within." The Kingdom was in the midst of Israel in the person of the King. ✝️ Key Topics Covered: • What the 99 sheep in the wilderness really represent — Luke 15:3-7 • Why the Lost Coin parable belongs to Israel's covenant context • The Prodigal Son's older brother: who he really represents • Luke 17:21 — "within you" vs. "in the midst of you" (Greek: entos) • Paul as the Apostle of the Gentiles — Acts 9:15, Romans 11:13, Ephesians 3:1,6 • Colossians 1: believers translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son • Philippians 3: our citizenship is in Heaven, not on earth • Why Christ is our Head, not our King — and what that means for the Body 🔑 Luke 15 parables explained, prodigal son Israel context, kingdom of God within you Luke 17:21 Greek meaning, lost sheep parable meaning, Colossians 1 kingdom of his dear son, Paul apostle of the Gentiles Romans 11:13, Ephesians 3:6 fellow heirs, Philippians 3 citizenship in heaven, verse by verse Bible study Luke. 💡 Les Feldick Bible Study brings you verse-by-verse Bible teaching that makes the scriptures come alive. Whether you're a new believer or have studied the Bible for decades, these teachings will deepen your understanding of God's Word. Les Feldick has a unique gift for explaining complex biblical concepts in a way that anyone can understand, using scripture to interpret scripture. 📖 Visit our website: www.lesfeldickbiblestudy.com If this study blessed you, please LIKE the video and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear this teaching. Your likes and shares help others find these Bible studies. 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Luke 15 0:29 — Why These Parables Belong to Israel, Not the Church 1:37 — Luke 15:3-4 — The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Read Aloud) 3:10 — The 99 Sheep Are in the Wilderness, Not the Fold 4:48 — The Sheep That Knew It Was Lost — The Believing Remnant 5:57 — The Lost Coin — Israel's Covenant Context Explained 7:44 — God Deals with Israel on Two Levels: National and Personal 9:10 — Introducing the Prodigal Son — Luke 15:11 10:12 — Was the Prodigal Son Ever Lost Like We Were? The Problem 11:05 — The Pig Pen: Israel's Spiritual Destitution 12:00 — The Signs in John — Israel's Need for the True Shepherd 13:17 — The Prodigal Returns — The Remnant Coming Back to the Father 13:22 — The Elder Brother Nobody Preaches About — Luke 15:25 14:16 — The Elder Brother = The Self-Righteous Pharisees 15:07 — You Must Come as a Sinner — No Self-Righteousness Allowed 16:22 — Luke 17:21 — "Kingdom of God Within You" Mistranslated? 17:20 — The Greek Word Entos: "In the Midst," Not "Within" 17:38 — The Kingdom Was in the Midst of Israel in the Person of the King 18:27 — Transition: What Does Paul Say? Heading to Colossians 18:37 — Acts 9:15 — Saul Chosen to Bear Christ's Name to the Gentiles 20:33 — Romans 11:13 — Paul Declares Himself Apostle of the Gentiles 22:30 — Ephesians 3:1,6 — Gentiles as Fellow Heirs Through the Gospel 24:11 — Colossians 1 — Translated Into the Kingdom of His Dear Son 25:52 — Christ Is Head, Not King — We Are Co-Heirs, Not Subjects 27:01 — Philippians 3 — Our Citizenship Is in Heaven 27:29 — Closing: We Await the Savior, Not the King