A Lesson on Obedience: From The Parable of the Prodigal Son

May 24, 2011

One of my favorite stories in the bible is the parable of the Prodigal Son that Jesus shares in Luke 15:11-32. I have heard so many sermons and read so many things about the story that my mind is filled with different ideas about what Jesus was trying to say.

I can’t be certain when the first time I heard the story was. I would guess it was early on in my life as a Christian. I can assume that it was during some sort of lesson or sermon, as I truthfully wasn’t that into reading much of anything at that point in life. (It was middle school, and I would much rather watch the movie than read the book.) But I am still struck by how many different interpretations this simple story has. So many views, so many opinions… I may not know what the correct interpretation is, but I can at least add to the conversation. So I want to share a simple theme that I find in the story of the Prodigal Son, the Faith Son, and the Waiting Father.

The simple theme is Obedience.

The prodigal son’s representation of obedience is easy to see. In his case it was disobedience that was clearly exemplified in his actions. He was not obedient to his role as a son. Instead of being obedient to what was his role, he chose to walk away, separating himself from his identity as a son. It was this act of disobedience that cost him everything

The Faithful Son represents obedience in almost the complete opposite way than his brother does. This son assumed that his obedience would be enough. He did all that his father told him and he obviously thought that deserved some reward for all he did. But because he was simply obedient and never sought anything other than to do what he was told, he never experienced anything exciting. Perhaps this is why he was so jealous of the party thrown for his brother, when no parties were ever thrown for him. But the truth is that his obedience gained him everything his father had, which he merely had to ask for.

We also see obedience in the actions of the father. We often are quick to place the God card on the father, while at the same time we fail to see how human this character is. He was obedient to his role as a father,through that he was able to reflect his heavenly father. It was through this obedience that he was able to share forgiveness and love with his son, regardless of the the things his son had done

The Prodigal Son learned that his disobedience cost him greatly, so he to returned to his father, and he was welcomed home. The Faithful Son, through his obedience, gained all his father had. And the Father’s obedience to his title, gained back the one he lost.

I came across a quote from The Screwtape Letters a few weeks ago, and it struck me as something very in tune with this theme. C.S. Lewis Writes,“Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our enemy’s [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” Our obedience speaks to the very core of who we are in God, and though at times we feel like his presence is far from us, our willingness to obey shakes our enemy [Satan]. Obedience is one thing the parable of the prodigal son speaks clearly on. And it teaches us that obedience  leads us to God and his righteousness.

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18 ESV)