Symbolism & Salvation – The Parable of the Prodigal Son 

By Daniel Bobinski 

Many people will never darken the doors of a church because they think they’ve done things that are too horrible for God to forgive. Scripture is clear that nothing is further from the truth. The death of Jesus on the cross was a sacrifice that paid for all sins. Not some. Not most. All. 

A story Jesus tells in the 15th chapter of Luke is often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and it’s a story that addresses many aspects of life on earth. It starts out with a man who has two sons. The younger son was eager for independence, so he asked his father for his share of the inheritance. Surprisingly, the father gave his younger son half of the value of his estate, and thinking he had it made, the younger son set off for a distant country for what he thought would be a life free from obligations. 

Jesus said the young man indulged in a life of excess and recklessness, squandering his wealth in wild living. However, a severe famine came along, but because the young man had spent all his money, he found himself destitute and desperate. To survive, he took a humiliating job feeding pigs. 

The young man’s conditions were so bad he even considered eating what he was feeding the pigs. Eventually, the young man hit rock bottom and came to his senses. He knew he had already received his inheritance, but he realized his father’s servants were better off than he was. He decided to return to his father and beg that his father let him work as a hired servant. 

As the son approached his father’s property, his father saw him from a distance and was filled with both joy and compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. The son confessed his sins and humbly asked for forgiveness. 

However, before he could even finish making his request, the father ordered his servants to bring the finest robe, a ring, and sandals for his son. He also commanded them to prepare a feast to celebrate his return, declaring, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” 

The father was clearly overjoyed, but the older son heard what was going on and became angry. After all, why should the younger son be treated so well when it was the older son who remained faithful and obedient to his father? 

Thinking his younger brother did not deserve the treatment he was getting, the older son refused to join the celebration. In fact, he pointed out all the sins his brother had committed as reasons for why his return should not be celebrated. 

The father answered, saying, “My son, you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” 

At its core, this parable illustrates the boundless mercy and forgiveness of God. The father’s response to his wayward son’s return is representative of God’s unconditional love for every person on earth, no matter how far each may stray. Despite the younger son’s foolishness, recklessness, and wasteful extravagance to have fleeting sinful pleasures, the father eagerly welcomed him back with open arms. 

This characteristic of God is also explained in a similar parable, the Parable of the Lost Sheep (also in Luke 15), in which Jesus says, “[T]here will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” 

As I mentioned earlier, many people will never darken the doors of a church because they think they’ve done things that are too horrible for God to forgive. This parable of the prodigal son illustrates the ripple effects of repentance. God does not wag his finger at us. He welcomes people with open arms if they will only turn to Him. It’s never too late to do so, and there will be much rejoicing in the heavens, too. 

However, this parable also shows that even people who appear righteous and obedient can harbor sinful resentment and self-righteousness, things that Jesus warned us about. Hidden sins of the heart can severely hinder our ability to love others as Jesus would have us love them. 

The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the transformative power of repentance and redemption. It shows us the need for humility, even in those who outwardly appear faithful but inwardly may harbor unseen sins. But it also shows us that God stands ready to welcome us back with open arms, eager to forgive and restore us to wholeness. 

Whether you’re a non-believer or someone who’s been walking with the Lord for decades, it wouldn’t hurt to humble yourself before the Lord and ask that He clean you up and bless you. Repentance on earth brings rejoicing in God’s kingdom, no matter who you are or what you’ve done. 

Daniel Bobinski, Th.D., is an award-winning and best-selling author and a popular speaker at conferences and retreats. Reach him at [email protected] or (208) 375-7606.