The father saw his son returning. It says nothing of him "looking for him."
The decision was the son's, period.
“The father saw his son returning. It says nothing of him “looking for him.”
“The decision was the son’s, period.”
You really need to read the entire episode to understand what the lesson was that Jesus taught the Pharisees and scribes. The emphasis is on the person who lost something and what they did to find it, not the object lost.
“for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
“for I have found the piece which I had lost.”
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
Luk 15:2, “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,”
Luk 15:4, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?......Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
Luk 15:8 “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]? And when she hath found [it], she calleth [her] friends and [her] neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.”
Luk 15:29, “.......But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry”