(a) Narrate the parable of the prodigal son. (b) State how the action of the father illustrates the nature of God.

Answer Details

(a) The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)

A certain man had two sons. The younger son asked his father to give him his share of the inheritance. The father divided the property between them. Not many days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a far country, where he wasted his substance in riotous living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that land, and he began to be in want. He joined himself to a citizen who sent him into the fields to feed pigs, and he longed to eat the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.

When he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, while I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants." So he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and had compassion, ran to him, fell on his neck and kissed him. The son confessed his sin, but the father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate.

The elder son, returning from the field, heard the music and dancing and was angry, refusing to go in. The father came out and pleaded with him, saying, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive, was lost and is found."

(b) How the action of the father illustrates the nature of God

• The father's readiness to welcome back the son shows that God is loving, compassionate and full of mercy toward sinners.
• His running to meet the son and forgiving him fully shows that God is patient and eagerly forgives all who genuinely repent.
• The restoration of the son to full sonship, with robe, ring and shoes, shows that God fully restores the repentant sinner, and the celebration shows the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.