“The Parable of the Prodigal Son” is one of the well-known stories in the Bible. It introduces the father who has two sons: the youngest asks for his inheritance and leaves the house, and the oldest stays at home and serves his family, obeying all commands (The Holy Bible, Luke 15:13, 29). The story’s main point is the unconditional love of God to all humans. When the youngest son regrets his past decisions and disobedience, returns, and asks for forgiveness, the father accepts him and celebrates his resurrection because “he was lost, and is found” (The Holy Bible, Luke 15:24). The author’s message is to believe that every lost soul has a chance to be found and forgiven in Heaven.
There are two aspects of the parable that stand out most to me. Firstly, people should never lose hope that God always waits for his children with open arms. Sometimes, it is impossible to avoid sins or predict mistakes. However, people need to believe that God will listen to them and forgive them if their repentance is sincere. Secondly, the relationships between the father and his two sons should not be the same to be true and fair. Father’s love, as well as God’s love, is absolute, but people must not compare their ties because each relationship is unique. If a person fails to enjoy the offered love but starts comparing it, envy is a sin that could damage a human soul.
At the same time, I think the oldest son’s reaction is one of the story’s most confusing aspects. The son is raised by a father who shares unconditional love, but he is not able to forgive his brother the way his father does (The Holy Bible, Luke 15: 29-30). It is expected to maintain common virtues and attitudes within a family, but the oldest son does not understand his father’s decision. Thus, the only situation that remains unclear is if the good son can follow the father’s position and forgive his brother or if his concerns provoke other sins.
Reference
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2016). ESV Online. Web.