Moral lessons learnt from the parable of the prodigal son

The Prodigal Son:

The parable of the prodigal son as narrated by Jesus is one that buttressed the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness. It appears in the Gospel of Luke 15: 11-32.

The term 'prodigal' means to be extravagant or too willing to spend money or waste time and energy on material things.

In this article, we will continue to look into the morals of the parable; but incase you missed the part one of this article, please read it here.

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 round his son, and kissed him. 'Father', the son said, 'I have sinned against God and against 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.

Luke 15: 20-24

Sin gives us a tattered and disfigured appearance. The state of the prodigal son was in such a pitiable condition that the father noticed it from afar.

You may take a moment to imagine what the father must have thought with regards to the state and appearance of his son.

According to the story, the father was filled with pity for his remorseful son to an extent that he ran to him, threw his arms round him and kissed him; regardless his stinking physical state. He wouldn’t even allow his penitent son to complete his plea for mercy, rather he ordered his servants to hurry in doing the followings:

• Bring the best robe and put it on him.

• Put a ring of his fingers.

• Put shoes on his feet.

• Kill the prized calf. (The calf they had been fattening).

To this moment, I am still thinking about how the prodigal son must have felt after his merciful father welcomed him with such great love, tenderness, feasting and celebration.

Please read on the beauty of suffering here.

Moral Lesson

It is quite safe to say that the father had already forgiven his prodigal son even before he saw him. He must have been thinking about the extravagant son from the very moment he left home; perhaps, that was why he had been waiting for him to come back home.

Note: The father eagerly waited to express his love, mercy and forgiveness on his son.

An important fact to note concerning the father is:

By nature and attribute, the father is loving, forgiving and merciful.

Please read on the attributes of God here.

One question we ought to ask ourselves is:

Was the prodigal son willing to tap into his father’s abundance of mercy?

• The answer is an emphatic yes.

To this end, the son was sorrowful for the evil he had done, showed remorse and took the courage to go back to his loving and merciful father.

In fact, at some point, I was contemplating which of the followings would have been the best title for this story:

1. The Prodigal Son
2. The Merciful Father
3. The Lost Son
4. The Loving Father

In the meantime, the elder son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him, 'What is going on?' Your brother has come back home, 'the servant answered,' and your father has killed the prized calf, because he got him back safe and sound. The elder brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. But he answered his father, 'Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! But this son of yours wasted all your properties on prostitutes and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!' My son, the father answered, 'you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found'.

Luke 15: 25-31

From the above passage, it is quite clear that the elder brother does not want his prodigal brother back; (perhaps because of the way he had lived his life).

At the moment, this act from the elder brother may not be considered grievous since humans are 'configured' differently. (He probably was the strict type that demands justice for every evil act).

You can read on the uniqueness of man here.

The elder brother failed to realize that his prodigal brother had already suffered the humiliation, pain, sorrow, disgrace and suffering that came as the aftermath of his evil actions.

Although the elder brother declared openly his anger for his younger brother by not entering the house; what struck me most was the humility of their loving father.

According to the story, his father came out to him and begged him to come in. Instead of listening to his father, he went on to say:

I have worked for you like a slave all these years and have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me?

Please read on the leadership qualities of Joseph that has transformed lives here.

The above statement from the elder brother points to the fact that the father had been wicked and unfair to him. We all know that’s not true because the father is so loving, caring and merciful; even to his servants.

At this point, jealously crept into the elder brother’s heart and this made him say:

But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you killed the prize calf for him!

The elder brother actually offended his father through the words he spoke. Although the story did not specify whether he obeyed his father by coming into the house to celebrate with his younger brother; one thing we know for sure is:

If the elder brother shows remorse on the way he had spoken to his father, his merciful and loving father will surely forgive him, like he forgave his younger brother.

Please read on the biblical account of human disobedience here.

Moral Lesson

No human being living on earth is perfect. We must acknowledge this fact if we intend to be humble in our actions. In fact, pride is the greatest of all the deadly sins. In this regard, the pharisee encouraged the crucifixion of Jesus because pride took deep roots within their hearts.

If you carefully read the above bible passage, you will observe an important statement from one of the servants; which happens to be the ultimate goal of this parable.

The servant replied when asked 'What’s going on'? by the elder brother. He said; and I quote:

Your brother has come back home, 'the servant answered', and your father has killed the prized calf, because he got him back safe and sound.

Note: It is the will of God to get us safe and sound into heaven; for this is what the parable points to.

Notice that the younger brother, after enjoying the mercy of his father entered the house to be celebrated.

Like I pointed out ealier, we still do not know if the elder brother entered the house to join in the celebration.

Note: In this parable, think of the Father as GOD the house as heaven.

Let us not be quick to condemn others like the elder brother; but rather, let’s be swift to extend the arms of forgiveness and love like the merciful father.