11 … After what you have done. We all need SOME incentive to not succumb to temptation – “you should always be good, but NO ONE will even acknowledge your effort, even God, but you’re good, so you should be happy” won’t fly in the face of a dire temptation – but the elder son never gets any. I THOUGHT ‘ THE TITLE OF THIS PARABLE IS “THE LOVING FATHER”. Can you imagine the scene…it is hard to describe and the pain in my father’s heart I can tell is unberable…how to this happened to a Christian family like us…who taugh how to pray and faithful and yet…this has happened…I was speechless and shocked to my 85 degree…for all the time I did not say a word for one, I was broke (due to financial crisis I lost most of my 12 properties) and living at home and I owed my mom money and other brother money plus I have some personal issues which I do not want to elaborate. Each of them is intended to illustrate that "There is rejoicing in the presence of God over one sinner who repents" (15:10). Ashcon, I appreciate your response because I was wondering the exact same thing and read it exactly the way you read it. Can you please help me find my way back to the Lord, please. Thank you so much sir. Does that mean they were never saved or that because they eventually came back that they were really saved? If he had died in his “partying” life, he would have been eternally lost but the point is that the father was looking for him and the son returned (repented) of his own accord. No matter the reason, even if it is not God’s discipline for blatant carnality, it is a purifier for none of us will ever be perfect in this life. Thank you Ashcon for your question. Compare 1 Peter 1:6-7 where the same Greek words are used along with the verb dokimazo which means, “put to the test,” “prove by testing as with gold.” Suffering is a purifier. I say this because the father gives the son what he does not deserve (called grace) and withholds what he actually did deserve (called mercy). Although it has become well-known by this title, it would be better described as the parable of the forgiving father. His words express in his action and sometime I can’t accept. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”. Amen. This is written in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 1-2: “ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. He/they kept the commandments v29 and separated him/themselves from idolatry v30. 8-10), and the Parable of the Loving Father (vv. (3) We sometimes suffer because it is God’s discipline. Good point and I totally agree with this. This is by far my favorite story in the bible. As stated in the opening of this commentary, the Jewish people would have disinherited the son or even stoned him to death. Did the Prodigal Son come to himself (Luke 11:12) by himself? BACK; NEXT ; Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory. In fact the father had been watching and waiting for his son to return. She is currently struggling in life and has entered a very dark place and has problems of a “greater magnitude” that have a potential legal consequence. You can read this story in Luke 15:11-32. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. Thank you so much for your kind words. Positioned together in Luke’s Gospel, the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the Prodigal Son are traditionally interpreted to be about sinners repenting and God graciously offering forgiveness and reconciliation. The end of the Prodigal Son Parable shows this that the son was saved in Luke 15:32 “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”. The question we must each face is not, ‘if’ we are going to have trials in life, but how will we respond to them? As 1 John 2:19 reads, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. Does this help answer your question? I have read the prodigal son many times. I had never noticed this until reading the entire text and grasping the “Pharisee” religious spirit in the elder son. The son did not return or draw near to his father until he was aware of his need. This may be why the father provided a robe for him and sandals for his feet. May God richly bless your ministry. Yes Chris…the difference is that they, the backsliden one, will not STAY backsliden. Why did Jesus feel the need to tell this parable to the Jewish leaders? I am glad this blessed you and as a pastor myself, your own words have blessed me too and I get this feeling that you are going to bless a lot of people with your humble attitude and that of a servant mindset. Does it mean that God gave him grace but did not forgive him? Make sense Mrs. Pike? It has as its chief purpose the formation of Christ-like character (Rom. Asawa, thank you so very much for your wonderful comment. I was thinking, “You TYB…liar (because you had an agenda to introduce your grilfriend) and not honoring your father and mother, destroyer of birthday party, son who throw away the lobster and trash the birthday cake into the ground (he bought the cake), a sinner and a fake and one who cause the unbearable pain that for the first time in my 45 years old life that I saw my father cried……why you deserve the gift of sympathy, why you deserve the gift of hugs from our grandchildren? Older Son (15:25-32). It hurts me that i hurt God. Meaning and Symbolism of the Parable of the Prodigal Son Jesus narrates this story when he was accused by the Pharisees of keeping the company of the sinners. Great point and lesson about receiving those who return to church. As long as they are self-sufficient God will resist them for they are proud but when they are humbled (like by living in pigsty’s) then God will give them grace. They didn’t understand that they can bring nothing to the plan of salvation and if they try to earn it, they do not understand how God saves and that it is Jesus’ righteousness alone that accounts them worthy. I think…no I KNOW that we would be blown away if we could see even a glimpse of what God does in our lives to try and get our attention. The father seems to be symbolic of God the Father as we will see more clearly later in this parable. The Father also says tells the eldest son, “…this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32). His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. During my life, my parents were very strict with me (and my older sibling), and stressed responsibility for others including my siblings as a natural part of life. What I find most interesting is how my understanding of the parable of the Prodigal Son has deepened over the years. Answer: The Parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke chapter 15, verses 11-32. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”. If so wouldn’t this be putting Jesus to public shame? The father agrees and splits the inheritance between his two sons.Shortly later, the younger son collects all of his inheritance and goes to a far away country to squander his wealth. Up until recently, I allowed my daughter to do whatever she wanted just so that I knew she had a safe place to come home to — last year God spoke to me and told me that I was not really keeping her safe, I am actually getting into bed with the devil and helping him by bringing her to him! You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book  Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon, Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Patheos’s Partners, Parable of the Good Samaritan: Meaning, Summary and Commentary, "Sondergaard is a member of the New Apostolic Reformation cult. He is the Word of God… and in Him we shall find the truth. Jesus spoke these parables of loss and redemption to the "Pharisees and religious leaders after accusing Jesus of eating with sinners" (Wikipedia). I do not go to church but I do believe that Jesus died for us and I really need to find Christ in my life. We must leave unjustices in the perfect hands of God where in the end, everything will be made clear and all justice will be served (Rev 20). What is more amazing is that the father runs to great him and when he reaches him, he kisses and embraces him (read Psalm 2:12). In Luke 15, Jesus tells about the youngest son coming to his father to ask for his inheritance ahead of time. They lost fellowship but never did they lose their relationship. I just struggle with wondering when someone who has been living for God for a while and begins to backslide if be or she was ever saved in the first place. Please explain GOD. This can not be a picture of the lost because they would never have been a child of the father in the first place. I would take her back because if you don’t, what worse thing would or could or might she do? Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God’s resources. And will God accept him back from his backsliding? Also, send me the Evangelical Newsletter and special offers. It is good to know that God love for us never change that there is still hope for the back sliders out there. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’  But he was angry and refused to go in. How sad that some Christians do not act very Christian. People regularly ask about the meaning of the parable of the prodigal son that is recorded in Luke 15. For example, you mentioned that the prodigal son represents someone that has been called by God and has one foot in the world and one foot in with God. It helped me in further understanding the other parables too. This is the most useful piece of writing ever written in the history of Christian article writing. My youngest sibling never had the responsibilities that I had. Please come back again soon. Once in a while I’ll get a C, and then maybe someone’ll appreciate me”? We must therefore be careful tot accept “new” doctrine… Yeshua taught us everything we need to know… and the rest must build on His foundation. Please come back and visit us again….soon I hope. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I know that even St. Augustine had a praying mother who prayed for years and years for her “prodigal” to put his trust in God and God will hear our prayers. Wow, what an encouragement you are Romeo…thank you so much my friend…you made my day. This is not a story of restitution really as much as it is a call to regeneration. I could not accept this and could not sleep every day….please God I need an answer. I believe that he is also teaching us about the older son who refused to welcome his lost brother back and refused to go the celebration. I my self was baptized just a month or so ago. What is amazing here is that the father had been waiting and watching for the son to come back home because he saw him and recognized his son, “while he was still a long way off.”  Is this not like God the Father desires that none should perish but that all would come to Him through Christ (2 Pet 3:9)? 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! It is about God seeking sinners. The younger son symbolizes the lost (the tax collectors and sinners of that day, Luke 15:1), and the elder brother represents the self-righteous (… I want to live my life according to Gods Word … there really is no continuation of what to do if the prodigal child goes back to their old ways and how we deal with a habitual abuser of a parents love. In the design of God, it is also something to make us think. Hello to you Austine Iraoya in Nigeria. You said the youngest son represents someone with one foot in the world and the other foot in the church. 11-32). As the son we must realise the error of our ways and seek forgiveness and change our ways, as the father we ought to forgive others and let them “back in”. (2) We suffer because of our own foolishness. Identity Politics vs. Transactional Politics. 1 Peter 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. So he divided his property between them13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. Or is it a My thoughts: I would never wish her ill and in fact tried to help her in the past. The Parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates this (Luke 15:14-19). Where is my solace? Yeshua: Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his Remember that this son was in a pig’s sty and so was likely covered in filth and stunk up to the second heaven. All glory to God for we have nothing that wasn’t first given to us by God (1st Cor 4:7). The son’s behavior was highly insulting to the father, as a matter of tradition. He was perfectly just since he rewarded “all that he had” to the Faithful son for his long-term obedience. Thank you for the response. Asawa, thank you again and let me say that I know nothing about the Bible that was not given to me and so I have no reason to boast. All was fine but something about to turn this happy event into pain and sadness. Dear Jack, could you pls answer this question for me? I have been on the son’s side of the story, and i have had many Christians deny me forgiveness, deny me a place in the “family”, and deny me a place back in their lives and justifying this by saying I can only find that with God. This is a blog series featuring contributors to the new book, Cruciform Scripture. I do know that the younger son is like anyone who has never know Jesus as the Messiah and the Savior because he was once blind and lost but now he can see and is saved and the father running to him seems to indicate that this is a divine calling for the father came running to him showing a predestining, an election, of all were lost but now are saved (e.g. They give no evidence of being saved, therefore I suggest you pray for their salvation for if God can change a pagan king’s heart, He can change theirs (Prov 21:1). Thank you very much Jack for the nice message. May God enlighten your eyes of understanding the more in Jesus Name. Hello. All the times I have heard it preached or taught, it was always the prodigal son at the center, and rightfully so because of God’s grace and mercy. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Isn’t our God an awesome God?! This may be so Chris for 1 John 1:6 says “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” In 1 John 3:7-8 it reads, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. Thank you Donk. These things are up to you though. In Luke 15:31-32, the father tells the oldest son why he is rejoicing:  “’My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”. The reaction of the crowd was most likely extreme upset and outrage, similar to that of the eldest son. Reasons may include but are not limited to: (1) We suffer because we live in a fallen world where sin reigns in the hearts of men. Paul. That is, the son never stopped being a son of the father. I had no reply. That is why we (lost sheep) can relate to YHWH’s word… it is planted deep inside of us and we long to serve in our rightful position…as priests and kings. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24). My mom objected and without confront him, I told her just to “run away” so she just “run” away from home. One such … I can’t allow her to live the devils life under my roof. I am seeking more in the things of God, and would appreciate a response regarding my comment, thanks and God bless your online ministry. { 106 comments… read them below or add one }. Well said that you can’t allow her to live under devils rules under your house. baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to The prodigal son. I totally agree. The fact that the Father was looking for him, in my mind day after day, shows the tenacity that God has in seeking us out. Total lack of respect for us as her parents, for our home, and her brothers and sister. No fruit? Unconditionally. He loves us. Of course, he did come back home, repented, and the Prodigal Father was waiting and watching for him and welcomed him with open arms and a kiss. I think the article should be corrected under “Who The Son Represents” so that there are no contradictions to confuse anyone. I also believe that your daughter must live by your rules because she needs to be responsible. Meanwhile, the father has a second son, who becomes jealous of… My father was happy and as it is written he gave him GRACE that TYB did not deserve and MERCY that TYB did not earned. The elder son said that he had been with the father for so many years and he had never had a celebration over him! It is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives in a way that would never occur without the trial or irritation. It is amazing how Jesus Christ imparted life’s most crucial lessons to us through these wonderful stories, stories that were easy to associate with, not only then, but even today, 2,000 years after they were told! ^_^ God bless you. It’s actually a very meaningful story, the word prodigal applied to all of them the younger son who took the inheritance, a father whom rich for mercy or forgiveness and the oldest son who utterly disliked of what the father did to his brother with no mercy at all, that’s why they are called the Prodigal Sons, the father is non other than, God the father with message to all leaders of fairness or equity of treatment to a poor fellow and the rich who still have everything in life, it is a very good story ever been told. You might not be expecting to get anything for your effort. The younger brother was lost (not saved) and was dead (in his sins) but now he is alive (eternal life?) 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