The Prodigal Son
The parable of the prodigal son provides an excellent example of what it means to be poor in spirit and experience the kingdom of heaven. Most of us are quite familiar with the story. A man had two sons. The younger one asked for his inheritance early and went out into the world to live wild and free. He lost everything…his money, honor, self-respect, and reputation. His life became empty and filled with humiliation as he found himself in a field of pigs, longing to eat their food because no one noticed or cared that he was desperate and starving. In Luke 15:17 it says that he “came to his senses” and decided to return home. He knew the sinfulness of what he had done and returned with a heart of true repentance. His father had compassion for him, gave him a new set of clothes and a ring, and threw a huge party for him. The older son, a man who had been obedient and faithful to his father his whole life, was incensed. He was filled with bitterness, jealousy, pride and resentment. He judged his brother harshly and argued with his father that it wasn’t fair to reward him for his reprehensible behavior.
Every time I have read this story, I have focused on the contrast of the two sons. One was guilty of overt sin (greed and loose living) and the other was guilty of covert sin (anger, jealousy, pride, bitterness.) The details of this story are so vivid, and the action plays out like a film in your mind. It is easy to identify with one, or perhaps both of the sons, depending on your own personal story.
This time I focused a little bit more on the father. How did he treat his two sons?
He gave them freedom to choose (to leave – v12-13, to enter in – v28)
He sought relationship – whether their sinful behavior was obvious or hidden, he wanted a relationship with both of them.
He met them where they were - he was looking for his prodigal, and ran to meet him on the road (v20). He came out of the party to entreat the older son to come in (v28).
He loved both equally (v22-23, 31)
He wanted both sons to enter into his joy (v22-23, 31)
1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
What an incredible companion verse to this parable. Not only are we to recognize and repent of the sin in our hearts, be we need to model our behavior after the Father. Throughout the story we see the father’s incredible character, and it is symbolic of our heavenly Father. He has a heart full of grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and a desire for restoration and reconciliation.
The prodigal son returned home poor in spirit and:
Received forgiveness
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32Received compassion
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
He was welcomed home, fully loved and fully forgiven — Blessed.
