1. Who does the man represent?
    1. Right Answer!Jesus Christ.
      • Yes, the man is Christ himself. Christ will not let one of his children simply wonder off. He will go looking for them, as it were, and he will bring them back.
    2. A Pastor of a Church.
      • No. There is application for this answer, but it is not in the spirit of the parable.
    3. A sheep shepherd.
      • No.

     

     

  2. Who does the lost sheep represent?
    1. Right Answer!A believer.
      • Yes.
    2. An Angel of the Lord.
      • No.
    3. An Israelite.
      • Only if they are also a believer.
    4. A Gentile.
      • Only if they are also a believer.

     

     

  3. What is the point of this parable?
    1. There is great joy in heaven when a person turns from sin to the Lord.
    2. The joy of a returning soul, is contrasted to the anger at anyone what leads a child of God away.
    3. God is very happy when a lost soul returns, and he is very angry with anyone that leads one of his children away.
    4. Right Answer!(a.) (b.) and (c.) above.
      • Yes, all three are correct. Woe to anyone that leads one of God's children away. And God and the angels are greatly pleased when a lost one returns.

     

     

  4. What is the point of this parable?
    1. God is meticulous with his account books.
      • No.
    2. Right Answer!God is very pleased when someone repents and returns to him.
      • Yes. The woman, who represents God, is greatly distressed at the loss of one of her coins, which represent a believer. She immediately goes looking for her lost coin and is greatly pleased when she finds it. This is like God. When one of his children gets drawn of course through some false teaching or other, he immediately goes and works to bring them back in line. And if the lost one repents and comes back God is very pleased.
    3. God is more interested in winning a soul than pleasing those that are his.
      • No, this is not the point.
    4. There will be many people in heaven, because God works hard to keep his people.
      • This is true, but it is not the point.

     

     

  5. Who does the father represent?
    1. Right Answer!God the Father.
      • This is the best answer.
    2. Father Abraham.
      • No.
    3. The Apostle Paul.
      • No.
    4. Jesus Christ.
      • This is true, but the Father is a better answer. Jesus Christ and God the Father as very closely tied together that they are almost interchangeable, but subtly they are different.

     

     

  6. Before the younger son left was he a member of God's household?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes, this is important. Those that teach "Once saved, always saved" are wrong. In this parable we see a son of God who is at first alive, and then dead. That is he was connected to God by faith, and then the connection was broken. The point of the story is, however, that God sent a famine on the land to bring is lost son back to his senses, and that God received him with joy when he did return.
      • We should understand that things like famine, and war, and every evil thing is allowed here to bring us back to God when we stray.
      • Hebrews 12:7
        Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (NIV)
      • There was not guarantee however that the son would in fact repent and return. He did repent and humble himself and was received, but if he had not repented and humbled himself he would not have been accepted .
    2. No.
      • This is not correct. He was a member of the household.

     

     

  7. Was the younger son a member of God's household while he was living a wild life in the foreign country?
    1. Yes.
      • No. He was dead, and that means that he was separated from God spiritually.
    2. Right Answer!No.
      • Yes, he was no longer a member of God's household.

     

     

  8. What does it mean that God said, "...this brother of yours was dead..."?
    1. Right Answer!It means that he was separated from the covenant and headed for Hell.
      • Yes.
    2. He had literally been dead and Jesus healed him.
      • No, he was never literally dead.
    3. It doesn't mean anything, because once saved always saved.
      • No.
    4. It means that he was a sinner before he was born again.
      • No.

     

     

  9. What is the meaning of the father's estate, and the foreign country?
    1. Right Answer!Those in a covenant relationship with God and those not in a covenant relationship with God.
      • Yes. The father's estate is when the father and his sons live together as one family, and the foreign country is anyplace not in the father's estate.
    2. Israel and Rome.
      • No.
    3. Jerusalem and Nineveh.
      • No.
    4. Christians and Jews.
      • No.

     

     

  10. In the end was the lost son received as a son, or as a servant?
    1. Right Answer!Son.
      • Yes, he was fully restored, even though he expected only to be received as a servant.
    2. Servant.
      • No.
    3. Neither.
      • No.

     

     

  11. What is the moral of this story?
    1. Sow your wild oats and then walk the line.
      • No, the son that never strayed will be better off in the long run. God doesn't ever want is to wander off.
    2. Right Answer!If you have been a fool and truly repent God will receive you back with joy.
      • Yes, God's love for us is very great and he is merciful.
    3. You can keep your cake and eat it too, if you repent in time.
      • Some people think so, but this is crazy thinking.
    4. God loves a man's man more than an unimaginative bore.
      • No.

     

Parables Home Page

 

Light on DisplayWhat does it mean to be the 'Light of the World?' The Wise ManWho are the Wise that enter into Heaven?
The New Wine SkinsWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the 'New Wine Skin?'
The Kingdom is Like ...What is the Kingdom like?
End of the AgeTwo Parable concerning the End of the Age are examined.
The Ten VirginsWho do the Ten Virgins represent?
The TalentsWhat does the Parable of the Talents mean?
The MinasWhat does the Parable of the Minas mean?
Lost and FoundThree Parables concerning the restoration of
lost souls are examined.
ForgivenessTwo Parables concerning Forgiveness are examined.
Equal PayWhat is the reward given to the Righteous?
ObedienceWhat do the Obedient do?
The Wretched TenantsWho are the Wretched Tenants and what
will happen to them?
The Good SamaritianWho are your Neighbors?
Going the DistanceFive Parables are examined concerning Stedfastness.