The Prodigal Son was ‘dead’ - did the Father come and kidnap him from the pigsties? Or was the ‘dead’ son capable of repentance?
The good thing is that it does show how ignorance of the story of Redemption leads to faulty interpretations. Now if one were to read this story according to a proper covenantal theology then one would not be so prone to ask such stupid questions. If one were to ask if the son was circumcised on the eighth day and thus a member of the covenantal community then maybe one would ask different questions.
The prodigal son was always the son, just as the elect have always been the elect children of God
Each one of the elect is like the prodigal son in this, that for a time he is deluded by the world and is led astray by his own carnal appetite. He tries to feed on the husks, but they do not satisfy. And sooner or later he is obliged to say, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight."(repentance)
Notice that the text makes this comment
Luk 15:16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving {anything} to him. Luk 15:17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
He had a turning, a revelation and he "came to his senses".
And he meets with the same reception, tokens of unchanging love; and a father's welcome voice echoes through the soul, and melts the heart of the wayward sinful son ---"This my son was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
Let it be noticed that this is a thoroughly Calvinistic parable in that the prodigal was a son, and could not lose that relationship.
This was a Parable, not a true event.. Jesus taught in parables not to make things clearer to everyone listening...but to those that have ears to hear...
This parable was pointed right at the heart of the self righteous law keeping Pharisees that thought their lives would commend them to God