The parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps the most loved parable of Jesus Christ among many Christians, and probably the most told as well.
Why the popularity, so to speak? For one, it speaks volumes of God’s love for us sinners.
Secondly, most of us see ourselves in the prodigal son that returned to his father expecting the worst, but have found love, acceptance and comfort in the arms of our loving and holy Heavenly Father.
Here’s the parable of the prodigal son told by our Jesus Christ as recorded by Luke in his record of the Gospel.
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 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. 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. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will 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 hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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. 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. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
How many of us have been prodigal sons at one time or another? We forsake or deny God willingly so that we can enjoy the pleasures of this world, but so many of us do not know that the pleasures of this world are nothing but passing joy that ultimately leads to destruction.
Just as the prodigal son in the parable squandered all his property in reckless living, some of us have even gambled our lives in such debauchery — making merry with alcoholic drinks, loud music and sexual trysts at the expense of our health and well-being.
And it is only when we have reached the lowest point in our lives that we get down on our knees and cry out to God to save our wretched bodies and souls.
When we cry out in all our pain and repent, God reaches down to us and welcomes us home like the prodigal son. At that point we also know that we are so not worthy to be saved nor to be called His, but the love of our Heavenly Father is such that He loves us despite knowing all the evil we have done.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
I want to draw your attention to the part in the parable where the father asked for shoes to be put on the feet of his son, and for a ring to be placed on his son’s finger.
Shoes On My Feet. A Slave No More!
When I first read the parable many years ago, I thought nothing of the shoes and ring, since perhaps the father just wanted to make sure that the son was well-dressed. Yet, after hearing the shoes explained in a sermon some time ago, I now have a new understanding that they have symbolic meanings.
According to the teacher, servants and slaves wore no shoes in those days. That the father presented his son with shoes on his feet was to signify that the son was not to be seen as a servant nor a slave, but his son and free from slavery!
When we repent and return to our Heavenly Father and abide in Him and His words, then shall we also be free from the slavery to sin!
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
As slaves we have no part in the inheritance that is in Christ Jesus, but as the children of the Most High we shall remain forever with our Heavenly Father when Christ Jesus sets us free!
The Ring, The Covenant
The ring that the father put on his son’s finger doesn’t only say that the latter is his son, but is a sign of the covenant between father and son, just as God has made a covenant with us.
The Robe: Made Anew?
And as I write this, I have also come to realize that the robe that the father put on his son might also have some significance.
With reference to another parable that our Jesus Christ taught of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14) where the wedding guests were given wedding garments to wear at the feast, the robe signifies in some ways the rebirth that we all receive through Christ Jesus when we believe upon His name.
The Call
God our Father has reached out to us and is willing to welcome us back to His loving arms if only we repent and return to Him. My friend, what shall your response be?
{ 4 comments }
Hi Isaiah, Very interesting. Of course, I have heard this parable, but I too had never given a second thought to the shoes, ring or robe. Thanks for the lesson. Blessings and Shalom!
Thank you for visiting, Shalene.
I, too, didn’t understand the symbolism of the items until recently. I just love it when we learn something new about a lesson in the Bible which we thought we already know so well!
Shalom Aleichem, my good sister.
Amen, I was privileged to hear you share this before in chat! =)
Sid
Ha ha! Thanks for the chat, Sidhu. Always a pleasure to fellowship with you, brother.
Shalom Aleichem.
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