Doesn't the parable of the Prodigal son teach us to live a dissolute life and as long as you repent in the

Question

end you still get all the rewards?

So why lead a virtuous life like the other son in the parable?

Answer 1

Jealousy is bad, but overall the other son definitely lived a happier existence...he chose to react the wrong way in the end of the story but he too could've had a heart full of pity and compassion and love for his brother like his father did..Living a dissolute life is pursuing eternal happiness from mortal meaningless thrills thus coming up empty....a party isn't going to fix that either..

Answer 2

The story isn't about which brother you should live like, the point of the story is to teach people to forgive no matter what. The details as to what they did is simply a Goofus and Galant analogy as to what a good and bad person does and to let you know what choices the father had in front of him.

Except the Bible is telling you to forgive Goofus no matter what he did, and not to hold it against him, to welcome him back into your home. It isn't a "be like this not like this" for the brothers. Its telling you to be like their father.

Nor is this parable there to let you know you can act like Goofus until the last second then change and still go to heaven.

Its unfortunate that this parable has come to mean that you can repent to get rewards just as easily as you get rewarded for being good. If the choices one makes are made for the reward they get from God, then they're living a real bad lie.

Answer 3

Most gentile Christians completely misunderstand this parable. Actually, BOTH sons are symbolic of sinners.

According to Jewish custom at the time, a father's wealth would not be divided until he had died. When the younger son came to his father and demanded his share of the estate, he was saying, in essence, "Father, you are dead to me. I don't want to ever see you again." The normal reaction at the time would be to disown the son without any part of the inheritance. However, God, in His love, allows His children the free will to make bad choices. In this instance, the younger son eventually repented and asked his father's forgiveness. This illustrates the reaction of the penitant sinner seeking God's forgiveness.

However, we also see the older son's response, who stayed with the father, yet accepted his share of the father's wealth (since he was the eldest, he would have received a "double portion") yet he did nothing to stop his sinning younger brother -- so he was FAR from virtuous. Jesus uses this older son to reveal the ungodly attitude of the Scribes and Pharisees towards sinners (which they of course were).

So in summary, we have one son who repented and was restored and another son who shared in the younger son's sin, yet never asked for forgiveness.

Answer 4

No, it teaches that God rejoices when a person truly repents and turns from a bad lifestyle. The Bible doesn't teach that deathbed repentance is acceptable to God, nor does it teach that continued willful disobedience after having knowledge of God's standards will be acceptable to him. For instance, some religions feel you can do what you want during the week as long as you come in on Sunday and confess your sins. TOTALLY untrue! According to scripture, there is no longer any forgiveness for them if you're doing such a thing.

Answer 5

The prodigal son, so called from verse 13, has a deep ethical meaning, but likewise a dogmatic, in which the two sons are the Israelite, staying at home in his father's house, and the Gentile who has wandered away. As the message of pardon it deserves to be called the very heart of Christ's gospel.

Answer 6

The other son got to inherit all of the fathers land.

The prodigal son got a party.

Which would you rather have?

Answer 7

Yes it is one of the great myseteries.

One repentent sinner is better than 99 of the faithful is the old axiom. but obviously you can't plan to repent, because you can't plan true repentence. that comes when you feel guilt, remorse and then a willingness to change yourself

remember God knows what you're thinking

Answer 8

Wrong, he spent all his inheritance. In the end the father said to the other son 'All that I have is yours..." The Bible speaks much about those who get in to heaven, but have no rewards.

Answer 9

Because you never know when you are going to heave in your last breath and die! If you die suddenly and don't have a chance to make that plea for God to forgive you of your sins - then what? It is better for us to be prepared of the LORD to re-enter earth as a thief in the night as He has told us before leaving this earth and for good reason.
God Bless You

Answer 10

It Teaches how stupid the Prodigal was to waist his life that way, and how Merciful Our LORD and Savior is to take us back after we've been so stupid !