Exploring the Parable of the Prodigal Son: The Father’s Love
Learning Bible Stories (THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON)
One of the ways Jesus taught his followers the words of God was the use of parables. The New Testament records all the proverbs and parables of Jesus Christ, and notable among them is the parable of the Prodigal Son, which can be found in the book of Luke.
The parable goes thus:
“There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.’ So the man divided his property between his two sons. After a few days, the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money.
He went to a faraway country, where he wasted his money on reckless living. He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, leaving him empty. So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.
At last, he came to his senses and said, “All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! I will get up and go to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against God and you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.”
So he went back to his father. “He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. Father,’ the son said, “I have sinned against God and you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.”
But the father called his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.
The story of the prodigal son is a picture of God’s unconditional love for us as his children, His embrace when we come back from astray and genuinely repent, and His faithfulness in our lives.
Christians can learn about the importance of forgiveness from the prodigal son story. Just as the father forgave his son and welcomed him back with open arms, Christians are encouraged to forgive others and seek forgiveness when they have done wrong.
The story demonstrates the concept of unconditional love. Christians are reminded of God’s unconditional love for them, regardless of their mistakes or shortcomings. This love is a model for how believers should love and accept others.
The prodigal son’s decision to return to his father and confess his sins represents the idea of repentance. Christians are encouraged to acknowledge their faults, seek forgiveness, and return to God when they stray from His path.
The father in the story shows compassion and mercy towards his son, reflecting God’s compassion and mercy towards humanity. Christians are called to show compassion and mercy to others, just as God does for them.
Overall, the story of the prodigal son teaches Christians about the themes of forgiveness, unconditional love, repentance, compassion, and mercy, emphasising the values of grace and reconciliation in relationships.
READ: Charles Spurgeon: The Legacy of the Prince of Preachers
Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom0
Picture Credit | https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435301120251658500/
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/jesus/ministry-east-of-the-jordan/parable-prodigal-son/
