Analysis Of Psalm 23: The Parable Of The Prodigal Son

In reading all of these sermons and songs you are taught many different life lessons. In Psalm 23, you are taught to trust in and rely on the lord. Psalm 137 talks about forgiving your enemies, Sermon on The Mount teaches us that the Lord will provide for us if we stay faithful in him. Finally the Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us that work and humility are necessary. My favorite passage is the Parable of the Prodigal Son because humility is a vital part of life, people always make mistakes, and being able to forgive someone is always tough.

In this parable the younger son spent all of his inheritance and came back asking his father to take him back in and give him a job and food. When the older son came from out in the field he was mad. “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends” (Luke 15: 29) The older son didn’t see why he didn’t get a celebration because he never disobeyed his

father. It was explained to him that all the father owned was his and he didn’t need to worry. Once counseled the older son was able to forgive the younger son and join the celebration. Because of the jealous nature of us humans we tend to jump straight to conclusions without knowing all the facts. Once we learn all the facts or it is explained to use we can see that we were wrong. This son was humbled when the father came and talked to him and explained the situation. In a way the younger son was also humbled by the loss of inheritance and the famine that hit. He realized that he could live on his own so he had to go back and lower himself to his father.
Both of the sons made mistakes by either taking the inheritance before he was ready or getting mad at their father for accepting the younger son back and throwing him a party and not having one for the older son. The younger son admitted his mistake by coming back to the family and telling his father that he blew his inheritance. The older son didn’t really admit his mistake, but was nicely put in his place by his father. “And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” (Luke 15: 31) Everyone makes mistakes in their life but it takes a certain kind of person to admit that they made that mistake and they try to correct it. It seems like it is always easier to make up an excuse. The younger son could have said he was mugged or something but he told them he blew the money and had nothing left. People aren’t defined by their mistakes but what they do after the mistake.
Forgiveness is always very tough, well for me anyways.

For some it may be a pride type of thing others it may be awkward. Our brains come up with all of these different reasons for why we shouldn’t say sorry. In the parable the father forgives not only one but both of his sons. He is able to forgive his younger son and throws him a party. He forgives the older son for over reacting to the party and the return of the younger brother. “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15: 20, 32) I think that forgiving someone is one of the hardest things to do if you are really offended. Most times though the other person wants to say sorry too but feels the same way you

do.
This one of my favorite parables because it teaches so many important life lessons. Humility, forgiveness, and admitting your mistakes are all things that will aid your day to day social involvement. This parable is kind of teaching you, in a way, to be a better human being. You can always read into this parable more and sort of pick out different things in it rather than just reading the same parable.