The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son: One of the most popular parables in the Bible. 

In this episode, we will dissect what this parable means. Who does the younger son represent, who does the older son represent, and who does the father represent?
 
How does this parable relate to you as a father?

What can you learn from this parable to help you thrive more as a father? 

I would love to connect with you on Facebook, and feel free to join our group, Thriving Fatherhood, where I offer more on how to thrive in fatherhood.

Transcript

Welcome to the Thriving Fatherhood Podcast, where we are living and working in the trenches to go from surviving to thriving in this mission field called fatherhood. 

My name is Brian Knight. I am a father of three, and married for eight years. How are you fathers doing out there? I hope you are having a great week. Are you guys ready for school to start again? I know we are. The Summer seems a little stagnant and school gives my wife a little bit more of a break from kids during the day. Also, I am excited about cooler weather being right around the corner. Yeah, like two months here is Charleston.

So, I have been wanting to do a show on the Prodigal Son for a little while and when my daily devotions covered it fairly thoroughly, I figured now would be a great time to do a show on this topic.

I am assuming most of you are familiar with this parable Jesus tells in Luke 15. For those that might not be familiar with it or may have not read it recently. I am going to reread it fairly quickly so you can have it on the forefront of your mind. 

 Starting in Luke 15:11 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. 

This is perhaps one of the best known of all Jesus’ parables. It is called the prodigal son because of the central role that the younger son who squandered his inheritance plays in the parable. Yet, the focus of the parable is actually not on the prodigal son or even on his older brother but on the character of the father. 

As a father, this parable has always resonated with me. I often asked myself, if one of my sons did this could I respond such as this father has. The answer is likely, no. Do I want to respond as this father has, well, yes. The only way to do this, is to learn the attributes of God by studying His word daily.

I want to unpack this parable and offer some thoughts on this. The younger son who squanders his inheritance represents a sinner who has fallen away as far as possible and has made himself unworthy to be in God’s family.

The younger son was forced to tend to pigs communicates the kind of sinners whom God wants to forgive – those who have fallen the furthest, into the deepest trouble. His forgiveness is not reserved for those who commit what we might consider light sins.

When the younger son, “came to himself” he realized it is better to be the lowliest servant of God than to remain in one’s transgressions. So, he would rather be one of his father’s hired servants and in expressing his willingness to receive such treatment, the younger son illustrates true repentance.  When we repent, we should approach our heavenly Father in like manner.

The father does not give him the lowest place, but seeing the son far off, runs out to greet him, embracing him heartily and throwing a feast in his honor. He does not wait for his son to clean himself up before he receives him but loves him while he is yet dirty.

The meaning of the parable up to this point is clear: God is thrilled when sinners return to Him in faith and repentance. He forgives eagerly, not with reluctance. 

This parable was different from other parables. The older son represents the Jewish leaders. The older son assumes a symmetric relationship with his father, believing that is his father owed him for his obedience, in effect accusing him of being stingy for not celebrating him and unwise for rejoicing over his younger son. The implication is that his father has a limited amount of love and favor to bestow, and that by showing it to the disobedient son he is withholding it from his faithful son.

God promises blessings for obedience, but he is not waiting to bless us until we are good enough. The grumbling Jewish leaders – the older son – had a wrong perspective on God. We should rejoice whenever the wicked turn from their ways. 

Bethany and I often wonder how our sons will turn out and are we doing everything we can do to raise them right. I have learned to be content when I feel I am doing everything I can do. The rest has to be in God’s hands or I will needlessly worry myself. I read and study the word and teach it to my children. I do this through family worship. A future episode is in the works around this topic.

That is what I have for you today; if you feel this show has been valuable to you, I encourage you to share it with one other father who could gain some insight from it and wants more thriving in their lives. 

Also, I would love to hear how the parable of the prodigal son has had an impact on your fatherhood journey and your relationship with God and your children. Please share that with me in the comments below.