Of all the parables that Jesus related, the one that represents the prodigal son may be the most moving and remembered. Described in the Expositor's Bible Commentary as "perhaps the crown and flower of all the parables", this story appears only once in the Bible - it is only found in the Gospel of Luke. As we read the story, we can not help feeling enraptured by the story of the father's love for his rebellious son.
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The story is very short. A father had two children, and when the child came of age, he asked him to give him his share of the inheritance. The father grants his request and soon his son leaves for another country, where he squanders his wealth with a sumptuous way of life in which he wastes and makes all kinds of unnecessary expenses.
After he has squandered all his money, he barely survives with a job in which he took care of pigs. Hungry and penniless, he begins to reconsider. He decides to go back to his father and apologize for his foolish behavior. He expects his father to accept him as only one of his servants. To his surprise, and the displeasure of his older brother, his father welcomes his youngest son, with a great celebration (Luke 15: 11-32).
When we understand that this parable is an imaginary story to illustrate a spiritual point, we can quickly perceive that Jesus is using this story to teach us of the love that God the Father has for each one of us. And, while we have all been sinners, as was the prodigal son, it is comforting, comforting, and yes, it is almost incomprehensible that God the Father is willing to accept us back, given the mistakes we have made.
This summary of the parable is well known and we are very moved to understand it. But now, let's analyze what is not so commonly perceived about this story and what this knowledge should motivate us to do.
Luke 15: 11-32 Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)
11 And he said, A man had two sons;
12 And the youngest of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that belongs to me: and he divided the property for them.
13 And not many days later, when the younger son gathered all together, he went away to a far country; and there he squandered his hacienda living in hopelessness.
14 And when he had squandered all, a great famine came in that province, and he began to be wanting.
15 And he went and came to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him to his farm to feed the swine.
16 And he desired to fill his belly with the carob that the swine ate; but nobody gave them to him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants in my father's house have an abundance of bread, and here I perish with hunger!
18 I will rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.
20 And rising up, he came to his father. And as he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring out the main garment, and clothe him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23 And bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make a feast:
24 For this my dead son was, and has been revived; He was lost, and he is found. And they began to rejoice.
25 And his eldest son was in the field; who, as he came, and came near the house, heard the symphony and the dances;
26 And calling one of the servants, he asked him what it was.
27 He said to him, "Your brother has come; and your father has died the thick calf, for having received him safe.
28 Then he got angry, and did not want to go inside. His father left, and begged him to enter.
29 But he answered and said to his father, Behold, I have served you so many years, never having pierced your commandment, and you have never given me a goat to rejoice with my friends.
30 But when your son came, who has consumed your property with harlots, you killed for him the thick calf.
31 He said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all my belongings are yours.
32 But it was necessary to make a feast and to rejoice, because this your dead brother was, and has been revived; He was lost, and he is found.
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