Our Christian identity is deeply connected to how we see God.
If our understanding of the Father is skewed, then our Christian identity will also be distorted.
Our understanding of God’s adoptive nature and the Father’s unconditional love for us is essential to living a healthy, victorious Christian life.
Maybe your church background portrayed God as stern and judgmental. Perhaps your father or a father figure was strict or absent. None of these images accurately reflects our heavenly Father. Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father, embodying love, mercy, and grace!
In John 14, Jesus said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” While Jesus is the way (John 14:6), the destination is the Father! Jesus shows us the love and nature of our Father to everyone.
The core of the gospel and our identity in Christ is not fear, judgment, or condemnation — it is rooted in God’s unconditional love. Our understanding of God must be based on His Word and as revealed by the Holy Spirit—not our theology, church culture, or life experiences!
Today, I want to continue our discussion about our heavenly Father’s love for us by examining the parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24)
The prodigal son was renewed and restored through a true understanding of his Father. He realized his father would accept him back. However, he had to reach the end of himself and humbly turn back to his father. It was his choice, not the father’s.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. God grants us free will and choices. The Father allowed the Son to choose, fully aware of what it would entail.
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. Luke 15:11-12 NKJV
The characters in this parable include the younger son, the older son, and the father.
The Younger Son
The younger son is asking for the unthinkable in Middle Eastern (or any) culture. Additionally, his request shows he is impatient for his father’s death. Asking for his share of the family wealth while his father was still alive would have been insulting to the father and the family.
This son is motivated by selfish pride and is only thinking of himself. He ends his relationship with his father, but not according to Levitical Law. Deut. 21:17 states that the younger son’s share is one-third, but it does not specify that the son must wait until the father’s death. However, it wasn’t the cultural norm, and taking one-third of the family’s wealth in the form of animals, land, and houses would have been difficult for the family.
He is ungrateful and rejects his father’s love. He lacks trust in his father, suggesting that the father cannot be trusted to manage his affairs, so he takes his fate into his own hands.
The prodigal demands privilege without responsibility. He avoids the word’ inheritance,’ which involves accepting leadership responsibility in the family. Instead, he asks for the “portion of goods that belong to me.” He just wants the money! By breaking fellowship with his father, he cuts himself off from his real wealth—his family—his security in the village.
The Older Son
In Middle Eastern culture, the older brother would receive most of the inheritance and assume responsibility for the family. The older brother was arrogant, which most likely contributed to the younger brother’s broken relationship with the father.
He knows the whole story, just like everyone in the village (see Eccl. 10:20). The older brother refuses to act as the mediator, which is usually expected of an older sibling. For the father’s sake, the older brother was supposed to try to reconcile with a wayward sibling, but he declines. This omission shows that the older son has a strained relationship with the father.
When the younger son leaves, the older brother should have pleaded with him to stay and reconcile, but he remains silent. He should have said, “My brother, your father is an old man, you may not see him again, and his heart is broken for you! Don’t leave us, your mother will weep night and day for you!” Then, if he refuses, the older brother would be expected to pray a blessing over him. The father couldn’t say these things because of the estrangement.
The Father
No village father would behave like this father does (as the Pharisees and scribes, as well as anyone hearing Luke’s gospel at the time, would understand). The father’s expected response is to refuse and punish the son who dishonors him. However, the father gives the son freedom, allowing him to reject and turn away.
God gives us the freedom to refuse His love and walk away voluntarily.
By the way, we often view the heavenly father through our earthly experience with natural fathers or father figures. For example, we might see God as distant because we had an absent father. Or we could view God as a harsh disciplinarian because of an authoritative or performance-driven father.
God is none of these, or any other distorted models of fatherhood we might have experienced. He is a loving, compassionate father who desires to restore us to himself through his son Jesus!
In this story, the father is still his father; he doesn’t sever the relationship with him. The relationship is broken because of the son’s actions; the father suffers but hopes for restoration.
Jesus challenges cultural norms with this story by showing God the Father as loving and compassionate—even when humanity rejects him.
Next, we read in Luke’s account:
“13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ Luke 15:13-19 NKJV
The phrase, “gathered all,” literally means he “turned everything into cash.” The entire community would have known he was quickly liquidating the family’s assets—it would have been scorned.
First-century Jewish custom was such that if a Jewish son lost inheritance among the Gentiles and later returned home, the community would break a large pot in front of him and cry out, “so-in-so is cut off from his people. This ceremony was called the Kezazah, meaning the “cutting-off.” After it was performed, the community would have nothing to do with the wayward person. 1
The son traveled far from his people, where he “wasted his possessions” or “squandered or scattered” his property. The Arabic translations read, “extravagant living,” not “prodigal.” It seems he was using the money to make new friends and build a reputation for generosity. He was likely hosting large banquets and giving out gifts. He was trying to earn status with new friends in a foreign land.
He spends everything, and then a great famine arises, leaving him in want. But he is not yet eager to go home. First, he must face his brother’s scorn, blame for his past, and the necessity of living off his brother’s inheritance—being indebted to both his father and brother. Second, he must confront the village. Not only has he broken relationships with his father and brother, but also with the entire community. The Kezazah ceremony now threatens him, and the village would be merciless toward him.
Next, he joins himself to one of the citizens. To “join himself to” literally means to “cling” or “attach himself to.” So, the man tries to get rid of him by offering this Jewish young man a job he would definitely refuse—feeding unclean swine! But the prodigal accepts. He is so desperate that he desires to eat the pig’s pods, but doesn’t. Then he tries begging, but no one helps. Now he is desperate and ready to return home after all other options are exhausted.
The son “came to himself” and decided to return home. Is he repentant? He shows little remorse, mainly just a desire to eat. He didn’t say, “I broke my father’s heart, shamed him and my family, I must return home and beg for his mercy.” He doesn’t even show guilt over the money lost. No, he’s simply scheming, just trying to survive.
He knows that if he goes home, the Kezazah ceremony awaits him. To be accepted back by his family and community, he must repay all the money lost. However, he lacks job skills. So, his plan is to have his father support him in an apprenticeship to learn a craft and repay the debt. His idea: a simple plea to his father for a job recommendation!
The prodigal doesn’t see that the issue isn’t the lost money (sin), but the broken relationship with the father. It’s not a broken law, but a broken relationship that needs healing. His plan is to manipulate his father into trusting him enough to help him find a job. He expects a servant—master relationship with his father. He’s not seeking restoration, but relief. The prodigal isn’t truly going home in the deepest sense; he’s returning to servanthood. He’s still lost!
Jesus continues,
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had 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 in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. Luke 15: 20-24 NKJV
The prodigal son arose and went to his father. The father sees him from afar and runs to greet him! As the son approaches the village, the father acts in an unexpected way. According to custom, he should stay away from the house. The son would then face the community’s shame and the Kezazah ceremony. But the father defies cultural norms!
The Greek word for ‘run’ is dramon, which is used in a stadium for foot races. The father raced toward the wayward son! A man over 25 wouldn’t run like this—undignified in the ancient Middle East. Picture him “hoisting his robe” between his knees and racing to the son—what a spectacle in the village! But it’s his compassion that leads the father to run to his son. He takes upon himself the shame and humiliation due to the son.
This parable depicts what God did when He sent his son, Jesus, to wayward humanity—He humbled Himself and came to earth to restore us in love!
The father shows compassion for the prodigal son. Middle Eastern men greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. The father repeatedly kisses him, demonstrating his deep love and compassion for his son. Can you picture the prodigal? He’s shocked! He expects shame and rejection from the village and his family. Instead, he gets an unexpected, costly display of his father’s love. The love has always been there, but the son never saw it.
The suffering on the cross was terrible for Jesus. But a greater pain was His love rejected by humanity. Every parent who has faced rejection from a child understands the depth of hurt and suffering shown here.
When we are hurt by evil, we face two choices. One option is to forgive. Doing so means we carry the very sufferings of Christ. The second option is to seek revenge. Vengeance avoids forgiveness, and the suffering that comes with it, but the pain still lingers.
In our story, the prodigal finds deep love and forgiveness that heals. Costly grace opens the way for reconciliation.
This is exactly how God handles humanity’s sin on Calvary. You and I need our sins forgiven, but our greater need is reconciliation with God—only through Jesus are both possible. Jesus is the way; the destination is the Father.
How does the prodigal respond? ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (vs. 21) Notice he doesn’t ask for a job. He is overwhelmed by his father’s love.
The prodigal is taken aback by this display of love and responds with genuine repentance and humility. His repentance takes place in his father’s embrace, as he recognizes the depth of his father’s love and forgiveness.
The prodigal surrenders to his father’s will (reconciliation), and his plan to become a craftsman and servant for his father falls away. For the prodigal to reject this grace or to indulge in false humility would keep him as a servant and in a spiritually distant land.
When the father sees his son’s repentance and acceptance of his love and grace, he arranges a celebration to mark their reconciliation. He gives him his finest robe to wear. The restored son will wear his father’s best robe to the feast, and all the guests will recognize the robe and treat him with respect, knowing he is fully restored as a son.
Through faith in Jesus, we are covered with His very righteousness! Paul states:
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—1 Cor. 1:30 NKJV
The ring was probably the family signet ring, meaning the prodigal is now trusted with the family seal to conduct business in the family name. This would have angered the older brother! He is given shoes because slaves go barefoot, but sons wear shoes.
The father carefully reintegrates the prodigal into relationships, family, servants, community, and village elders. Through selfless love, the son is restored! Without any effort on his part, he brought nothing home but his own brokenness and ragged clothing! Only the father can restore, and this restoration comes through grace alone.
Jesus accepts sinners and eats with them, challenging the Pharisees. He explains through a parable that “it’s our duty to accept people, restore them, and offer fellowship.”
This story reveals God’s deep love and tenderness toward us, eager to forgive! Remember that in Middle Eastern culture at the time of Jesus, this would have been shocking! The son dishonored his father, and a father would not have graciously welcomed him back, let alone run to him and show such mercy and love.
The robe, ring, shoes, and party—all assurances of the Father’s love! Robe—Birthdays or festival times. Ring—A mark of honor and dignity; it restores authority to conduct business on behalf of the father. Shoes—Captives had their shoes taken; shoes were restored when liberty was granted. Party—a celebration of his homecoming!
Repentance for the prodigal son started with a realization of the Father’s love! The son experienced a new understanding of his Father. He no longer viewed him as a strict taskmaster or judge. Many, like the lost son, stay far from the Father; they don’t see how loving and accessible He is.
Again, what does God’s Word say:
“Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT
With repentance, we receive the Mercy of God!
“Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6 NLT
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Rom. 2:4 NKJV
Our understanding of the Father must be based on the knowledge of His loving, merciful, and compassionate nature, along with His righteousness and holiness that demand His judgment on sin, which was ultimately fulfilled through Christ on the cross.
In Jesus, we don’t need to fear God’s anger or wrath; instead, we receive His love and walk with Him as His children, sharing in the abundant life He has planned for us.
Reflection
Take a moment to forgive your dad, your spiritual fathers, or anyone else who has let you down and perhaps misrepresented the true image of God for you. Don’t let your earthly experience prevent you from enjoying a wonderful relationship with Father God!
Prayer
Father, today I choose to forgive those who have hurt me, disappointed me, and helped shape a false image of You. I release them and break the agreement with judgments against them. Heal my heart from father wounds. Break the enemy’s power over my life caused by these hurts. I renounce my agreement with the enemy’s lies. Holy Spirit, come with Your healing presence. Heal my heart and renew my mind to the truth of who Father God is, in Jesus’ name!
Footnotes
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kezazah; Kenneth E. Bailey, Jacob and the Prodigal (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 102, n. 8.
