The parable of the prodigal son is one of the best known in the Holy Bible. Even people who aren't Christians have heard about the son who is greeted with great cheer when he returns home. However, the story of the prodigal son is not a simple tale.
In the following content, you will discover the details of this biblical parable, and what is the great lesson we can learn from it. Then you will understand why the passage Luke 15:11-32, which introduces the tale, is so important to us. Check out!
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
This story tells us about a man and his two sons. One day, the youngest son claims his share of the inheritance and sets out to see the world, traveling to distant lands. Meanwhile, the eldest son remains at his father's side.
The young man soon spends all the money he has earned, thinking only of his momentary pleasure. Thus, at a certain point, when he finds himself with nothing and alone, far from home and in extreme poverty, he accepts to take care of pigs to survive. The hunger he felt was so much that the boy almost feeds on the same food that was given to the animals.
But then he remembers that in his father's house, all the servants had decent food. At this point, already regretting the adventure, he decides to go back and ask his father's forgiveness. Desperation makes the son even think about asking for a job as a servant in his house to return the money he had spent.
Arriving at his old house, the youngest son is greeted with great joy by his father, who soon orders them to organize a big party to celebrate his return. And then, in the middle of the party, the eldest son arrives. Watching his brother in new clothes and a great feast prepared especially for the youngest, he has the opposite reaction to his father.
The brother braves that, even though he never abandoned his family and always did everything to please his father, he never received anything in return. His brother, who was irresponsible, was greeted with a big party when he returned home!
The father explains that he was not approving of the youngest's mistakes, but rather celebrating his repentance. After all, a father could never be angry when he saw his son again. The celebration was for the return of this son he thought was dead, and then it's like he lives again!
Excerpts from the Parable of the Prodigal Son
To continue learning about the parable of the prodigal son, we have separated two verse quotes from the passage. Reflect from them:
“How many of my father's workers have enough bread, and here I am starving! I will arise, go to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; he treats me like one of your day laborers.”
Regret is a valid feeling and can be very productive. The prodigal son regretted the choice he made, realizing that even his father's employees must be living in better conditions than his father, who was far from home.
Instead of continuing to regret having made a wrong choice, the young man took action. In addition to recognizing that he was wrong, he decided to ask his father's forgiveness, not to resume the good life he had, but to thank him for everything he always had and didn't know how to recognize.
“Quickly bring me the best clothes and put them on, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; bring also the fattened calf, kill it, let us eat and rejoice, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Welcoming is what all people need to feel loved, cherished and respected. He must be present especially when these people make mistakes. The father of the prodigal son was able to welcome his son even after he had left, in a gesture of love and affection.
More than that, the father showed that forgiveness is essential to maintain the precious bonds we build throughout life. After all, if he didn't get his son back, recognizing that he would be a new person from then on, their relationship would be lost.
What lesson do we take from the parable of the prodigal son?
To understand the parable, we need to realize that there is a parallel between the father of the story and God. We are all children of God and, like the prodigal son, when we go out of our way to satisfy our immediate desires, we are abandoning our father.
But it doesn't matter the size or intensity of our sins. The mistakes of a child will never be unforgivable to God. By the time the youngest son returns home, he is representing all those who have repented of their failures and are going to seek God's forgiveness.
God is a generous father, who will always be happy to welcome those children who sincerely repent. Just like a parent who doesn't hold a grudge and loves unconditionally, He will always be willing to give each of His children a second chance.
The other side
We can also learn from history from the perspective of the eldest son. We shouldn't feel wronged or jealous of someone when we don't see recognition for our efforts. God does not love us for what we do to Him, but because we are His children.
Heavenly Father's love is unconditional and we will never be helpless. We must also learn to be more generous and welcome with open arms that brother who, for some reason, left, but now returns.
But whoever thinks that God, in the figure of a Father, has the power to always spare us from pain, is wrong. In the parable, the father could have forbidden the son to leave with his share of the inheritance, but he still allowed the youngest to go his way, even if it would later cause him suffering.
That's because a parent will always have patience to teach and understand that a child also needs to learn from their mistakes. Only after repenting did the youngest son mature and understand what his life's priorities were.
The word prodigal translates someone who is extravagant, spendthrift, spendthrift and who acts in an exaggerated way. Many times in life we make different choices than what God teaches us. We look for happiness in the wrong places, with the wrong people and distance ourselves from what really matters in our life.
As soon as he found himself helpless, the son wanted to return to his father's arms, but he was ashamed and afraid, because he did not know how he would receive him. Contrary to what he imagined, the father received him with joy and affection and forgave him without his having to say anything.
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This parable explains well the relationship that God has with the sinner. We will always be accepted back where love is true. It will never be too late to show your repentance! As a parent, God does not hold grudges against his children and will always be happy to have them around.
