The familiar account of the Prodigal Son is seen as a continuation of what the Lord was saying of how one repentant sinner is greatly valued.  It brings joy not only to the sinner that is saved, but also to the Lord Himself.  The problem of the wayward son was that he was like most sinners in being self-willed and seeking his own pleasures and indulgences.  It sadly brought him to ruin as a beggar that ended up eating garbage with the pigs.  The father in this passage was a forgiving soul that welcomed home his repentant son with open arms of forgiveness.  The hard-working brother was self-righteous and unforgiving.  He was like the Pharisees in looking down on his brother and angry his father forgave him and restored him.  The spiritual analogy is what Christ does for sinners and how hard it is for self-righteous people to be saved and to forgive.

Primary Scripture: Luke 15:11-32