The parable of the prodigal son is one of the best known in the Holy Bible. Even people who are not Christians have heard about the son who is greeted with much celebration when he returns home. However the story of the prodigal son is not a simple tale.

In the following content, you will discover what are the details of this biblical parable, and what is the great lesson we can learn from it. Thus, you will understand why the passage Luke 15:11-32, which presents the tale, is so important for us. Check it out!

The parable of the prodigal son

This story tells us about a man and his two sons. One day, the younger son claims his share of the inheritance and goes off to see the world, traveling to distant lands. Meanwhile, the older son stays by his father's side.

The young man soon spends all the money he has earned, thinking only of his momentary pleasure. So at a certain moment, when he finds himself with nothing and alone, far from home and in extreme poverty, he accepts to take care of pigs in order to survive. The hunger he felt was so great that the boy almost feeds himself with 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 for forgiveness. Desperation makes the son even think of asking for a job as a servant in his house to return the money he had spent.

Arriving at his old home, the youngest son is welcomed 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. Upon seeing his brother with new clothes and a big banquet prepared especially for the youngest, he has the opposite reaction to that of his father.

The angry brother who, even though he never abandoned his family and always did everything to please his father, never received anything in return, while his brother, who was irresponsible, when he came home was received with a big party!

The father explains that he was not approving the mistakes of the youngest, but celebrating his repentance. After all, a father could never be angry when he sees his son again. The celebration was for the return of this son that he thought was dead, and then it is as if he lives again!

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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 on them:

"How many of my father's workers have bread in abundance, and here I am dying of hunger! I will arise and 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; treat me as one of your day laborers."

Regret is a valid feeling and can be very productive. The prodigal son regretted the choice he had made when he realized that even his father's employees should be living with better conditions than his, who was away from home.

Instead of continuing to regret having made a wrong choice, the young man took action. Besides recognizing that he made a mistake, he decided to ask his father for forgiveness, not to resume the good life he had, but to thank him for everything he had always had and did not know how to recognize.

"Bring me quickly the best garment and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; bring also the fatted calf, kill it, and let us eat and rejoice, for this my son was dead and came to life again, was lost and was found."

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 did not take his son back, recognizing that he would be a new person from then on, the relationship between them would be lost.

What lesson do we draw from the parable of the prodigal son?

To understand the parable, we need to realize that there is a parallel between the father in the story and God. We are all God's children, and just like the prodigal son, when we go out of our way to satisfy our immediate desires, we are abandoning our father.

But no matter the size or the intensity of our sins, a son's mistakes will never be unforgivable to God. The moment the youngest son comes home, he is representing all those who have repented of their faults and will seek God's forgiveness.

God is a generous father, who will always be happy to welcome those children who sincerely repent. Just like a father who holds no grudges and loves unconditionally, He will always be willing to give a new chance to each of his children.

The other side

We can also learn from the story from the older son's perspective. We shouldn't feel unjust or envious of someone when we don't see recognition for our efforts. God doesn't love us for what we do to Him, but because we are His children.

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The Heavenly Father's love is unconditional and we will never be helpless. We must also learn to be more generous and receive with open arms that brother who, for some reason, has moved away, but who now returns.

In the parable, the father could have forbidden the son to leave with his part of the inheritance, but he still allowed the younger one to go his way, even though this would later cause him suffering.

This is because a father will always have patience to teach and understands that a son also needs to learn from his own mistakes. Only after repenting did the youngest son mature and understand what his life's priorities were.

The word prodigal translates to someone who is extravagant, spendthrift, wasteful, and acts in an exaggerated way. Many times in life we make choices different from the ones God teaches us. We look for happiness in the wrong places, with the wrong people, and we distance ourselves from what really matters in our lives.

As soon as he found himself helpless, the son wanted to return to his father's arms, but he was ashamed and afraid, for he did not know how he would be received by 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 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 father, God does not hold grudges against his children and will always be happy to have them around.