A Story of True Repentance The Prodigal Son Breakdown

by Maximilian Bork
02/13/25
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A Story of True Repentance - The Prodigal Son Breakdown

By Maximilian Bork

Introduction

This article dissects the popular parable of Jesus, The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24). Jesus told This fictional story to the tax collectors, sinners, and Pharisees, revealing a message that everyone can benefit from. This article will explore topics about: free will, reckless living, false prophets, and other crucial lessons. Readers will also learn how to analyze complex biblical passages. 

God has Provided Every Man the Freedom to Dictate the Life they Desire

 “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.” -  Luke 15:11-12
The son demanded his inheritance prior to the father’s death. He essentially says he desired to not be affiliated in any way with his family. He hoped to abandon his father and believed he was able to create for himself a better life. This is the first reason many reject Christianity and accept sin. Astonishingly, his father fulfilled all of his requests without hesitation. This is symbolic of the free will God has granted to man. When the Pharisees had heard this they must’ve been astounded. For a father, especially in Jesus’ day, would never act like that. God lets humans choose who to serve due to his great love for humanity. If one decides to live his life with God on Earth, God will let him live close to Jesus for eternity. The contrary also applies.

A Prodigal Life Leads to Destruction

“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.” - Luke 15:13-16
He left for a gentile country to start a prodigal life. A famine arose, and he got a job feeding pigs, he began eating what a pig eats. Swine are considered unclean animals in Judaism. He had no food, no shelter, and was likely not going to survive. He was dead. He had sinned and sinned and did receive temporary satisfaction, but that satisfaction went away and was outnumbered by the great affliction he was suffering from. Sin is filled with materialistic gain but leads to eternal damnation. It feels great to sin on earth but the incomparable torture will outweigh the short-term entertainment. Sin feels good until it doesn’t. 

The Expectation of Returning to God

“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.” - Luke 15:17-18
In Middle Eastern culture, if a man returned from abandoning his father for a reckless life, the entire village would humiliate him. He would also have to work for his father for numerous years to earn his way to his father. It would take a lot of humility to conclude to go back. But he realized even his father’s servants lived a better life than he did. He reflected on his life and understood that he was at the lowest of the low. It takes an abundance of humility and courage for a sinner to admit his state of life. This passage illustrates an expectation of repentance. The Pharisees believed this illustration to be how repenting to God truly is. However, you don’t have to earn your way back to the father. Repentance requires the sincere realization that you are incapable of life without the father and a determination to devote your life to him without looking back at your past life.

God’s Joy of Repentance

"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." - Luke 15:19-24
This verse's first, and most easily overlooked sentence states: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him.”  This shows that his father was actively looking for his son. Just as when man leaves God, God will never give up on him but rather search for him. This idea is demonstrated vividly in the parable of the lost sheep. (Luke 15:1-7) Then the father ran to embrace him. And threw a huge party for his son’s return. The Pharisees likely would’ve heard this and criticized the father. The Pharisees would’ve expected what was explored in the previous paragraph. Most people wouldn’t imagine God rushing to a sinner. A perfect being embracing the lowest of the low. This picture is crucial to understand as a Christian.

Not All Who Appear to Be of God Are as They Seem
 
“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.” - Luke 15:25-32
In those days, older brothers were seen as figures of authority, responsibility, and leadership. The older son criticized his father for treating someone who was seen as the lowest of the low better than his father treated him. Even though the older son was seen as a much more righteous man than his brother, his brother received more from his father. This concept was likely shocking to the Pharisees listening to this parable. Regardless of what many thought it is probable that the older son didn’t truly love God. Just like many “Christians”, the older son appeared to be with his father his entire life, however, he didn’t truly love his father like his brother. Many people will claim to be close to God and appear as true disciples of Christ but will be far from the Lord in their hearts.

Conclusion

To summarize the article, The Prodigal Son is a story told by Jesus to sinners and Pharisees. Everyone is in control of the life they wish to live and who they serve. A life without the father leads to destruction. The expectation of returning to God is incredibly different from reality. Not all people who claim their devotion to Christ are true Christians. This parable represents a story with countless meaningful details, a story of a compassionate father, and a story of true repentance.