And the love of the father in this parable points to the amazing grace and endless love of our great and mighty God. Such is the nature of man’s heart when it is flowing in pride rather than flowing in gratitude and grace. He maintains that the entire parable was not an allegory at all, but a true parable, and is meant to recreate the idea of homecoming to the listeners. The Prodigal Son’s story represents the experiences of most of us. As often happens, it wasn’t until his money ran out that he began to reflect upon just how good he had it before he went off on his lustful tangent. Are you chasing sinful fantasies? The three main characters (Father, younger song, older son) all represent one aspect of the religious undertone … And so there was no place to look but up. No thanksgiving. No love. This is the point in the story where the love of the Father explodes onto the scene. The brother represents an attitude we do not want to display toward repentant ones: resentment and an unforgiving spirit. And if I feel like I am not getting my fair share and that a “big sinner” is being shown too much mercy, I can learn a lot by studying the angry response of the older brother. The house represents the father’s heart and ultimately, Heaven. One of the main truths of Parable of the Prodigal Son is that everybody is a Lost Son. And so there was no place to look but up. Do you want award-winning journalism with a Christian worldview, delivered to your inbox? The prodigal son chased his fantasy, but his fanciful dream eventually turned into a nightmare. Though seemingly simple and straightforward, it encompasses many important themes and symbols. The father of this parable represents God who is the Father of all mankind. No guilt-trips. Parable of the Prodigal Son and Forgiving Father - Luke 15:3-32 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons (1). And yet, he couldn't seem to stop himself from chasing the golden goose and sowing his wild oats. (Luke 15:11-32). When they do, his welcome is generous and full. We get tempted. People who will accept anyone who comes to them in need and rejoice over their appearance. We get tempted. The Greek for Prodigal is άσωτος and in the text it says: �διεσκόρπισε τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ, ζῶν ἀσώτως.� In the English KJV version it is translated as �wasted his substance with riotous living.� Basically it means the same because riotous living refers to a reckless, wasteful and extravagant disposal of wealth, which is what the word prodigal means. Nothing but love, pure and unconditional. We don’t spend our inheritance on sex, drugs, and alcohol. Do you want award-winning journalism with a, Facebook bans Trump ‘indefinitely’ following deadly Capitol riot, Trans-identified male athletes maintain advantage over women after 1 year of hormone use: study, JJ Hairston talks 'Not Holding Back,' says Jesus was first to preach socially distant word, First Christian arrested under ‘anti-conversion’ law in India's Uttar Pradesh while providing aid to poor, Americans must reject violence in pursuit of political goals, It is very bad news, but it is not yet the end of America, Everlasting Life Under the Christmas Tree. The older son represent the self righteous Pharisees and Teachers of Law, who complained Jesus for eating the feast of his new covenant with sinners and tax collectors. The “Prodigal Son” is a symbolic representation of Gods forgiveness or our sins, repentance of the sinner, and self-righteousness of everyman. The prodigal leaves the father’s house, the father’s heart—he rejects Heaven—to live his life of profligacy. Some of the themes of the Prodigal Son are greed, arrogance, jealousy, repentance, forgiveness and acceptance. The “prodigal… (DAN DELZELL). The prodigal son. It is one of the best known and best loved parts of the teaching of Jesus. (Luke 15:20). BACK; NEXT ; Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory. Online Seminary Tackles the Epidemic of Biblical Illiteracy Head On, Five New Year’s Resolutions to Help Reverse Error in the Church, A Different Perspective on Pain and Suffering. The younger son - the prodigal son - represents the sinner who comes to God in faith and repentance. In that culture, it was the height of disrespect for the son to make this request while the patriarch of the family remained in such good health. 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