What does a prodigal son mean to Christians?

Answer 1

The prodigal son is the person who goes off on his own, not minding his father and doing what he feels like doing. But when he can go no lower (as in the parable in the Bible when he ate with the pigs), then he returns to his father who welcomes him with open arms.

That is the same as a person who rejects God as His Father and goes off and does his own thing. Sometimes a person has to go real low (eating with the pigs) before he thinks of God and comes to Him where He welcomes him with open arms.

Answer 2

The prodigal son refers to a parable about a man with two sons, the younger son, greedy and selfish, demands his share of his inheritance while his father was alive. He was given this, and he disappeared, blowing all his money on who knows what and eventually had to take a job of pig herding.

Eventually he gets sick of it and returns home, to a very glad and welcoming father. The older brother is furious that he is being welcomed so warmly after what he had done, but his father explains that they should be joyous in finding that he is alive, rather than dead, which they had assumed happened to him.

It's not exactly a tale of forgiveness or repentance, since the boy did do no good while he was gone, and his returning home does not mean it's an act of repentance for his wrongs. Though I personally think the parable is more about the father's capacity for forgiveness in his heart, rather than anything to do with the son.

Answer 3

The classical prodigal son from the bible, took the inheritance his father gave him and lost it all to foolish things. When he realized what he'd done he came to his father and offered to work for him as his lowliest servant rather than as a son, truly sorry for his actions. His father forgave him and welcomed him back. So someone who wanders from the path and finds his/her way back and is truly willling to make amends for the wrongs they have done is often thought of as the prodigal son.

Answer 4

A prodigal son means that the one who has strayed is sorry and returning to his home

Answer 5

I always think where the Prodigal son is concerned that when he came to himself, it meant that he came to his senses as we would say. I think it must have happened to all of us at some time or other though not necessarily spiritually as well as naturally as it did with the Prodigal son. Anybody can have those moments for example in life when they might suddenly come to their senses and realise for example that they are eating too much and putting on too much weight, causing ill health in their bodies and future problems, or too much alcohol, gambling which has got out of control. Or with a Christian, it can be that we realise suddenly that we haven't been as close to the Lord recently and we realise it is because of our laxness - we haven't been reading the Word as much or praying as intimately to our heavenly Father or attending Church as regularly and staying in touch with other believers as Hebrews states we should, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some but exhorting one another and so much the more as we see the Day approaching." We used to call these times of coming to our senses 'A eureka moment' because once we come to our senses and make up our mind what we must do to alleviate the problem at hand, we feel energised and excited at the prospect ahead, even though there may be a few moments of intrepidness due to the sin in our life. With the Prodigal son, he realised suddenly how much better off he could be, well fed and well clothed etc., if he only humbled himself, asked God and his father (who represented God in the Parable) for forgiveness for what he had done against them both (sinning against God and his father) wasting his young life and the father's inheritance money etc on wine women and song. The wonderful thing we can glean from this is that God is always looking for the lost sheep to come back. His arms are for ever open to their cries and He will always forgive and restore the one who is willing to admit that they have messed up, gone off the path, sinned and will be humble enough to ask for forgiveness. Then the best is yet to come as there is no condemnation

Answer 6

The story of the Prodical Son is my favorite in the New Testament. Thinking about how we are like all three of the characters in the story. The father, the older brother, and the younger brother of course. It is so awesome that He is there waiting for you with open arms as soon as you decide to come home, no matter where you have been, or what you have done.

Answer 7

Prodigal son means everything to Christians.

It portrays the first conversion. The first choice made by non believers to return to God the Father..

It portrays the attitude of God the Father towards us, sinners.
(can you imagine God running to you the first thing He saw you)

It portrays how low we can be without God.

It portrays many other deep meaningful things.

Sometimes I wonder... how does this parable reflect my life with God?

Answer 8

i somewhat agree with it, that a prodigal son could get somewhat better treatment, but thats to celebrate his coming back to the correct path! and it's not going to last for too long that all other sons would want to leave, but to celebrate his salvation.

Answer 9

It is someone who left the family to find "their own" way and finally realize there way was not the answer. In other wards they have seen the error of their way and return home. They are humbled adn much more willing to listen. His family welcomes him home despite the fact he had been a brat

Answer 10

Wayword child. A person confused in this life and gone astray.