Prodigal Son
“The Parable of the Prodigal Son” Jesus tells this story to illustrate, among other things, how people can be restored to a right relationship with God. ... The younger son represents those who have left a right relationship with the Father. The older son represents those who become self-righteous and bitter towards the injustice of it all. How did this younger son end up so far from the abundance of the father’s home? ... First the father saw the son while he was still a long way off. This could only happen if the father was looking and hoping for the wayward son’s return. Second the father was not filled with anger at the sight of his rebellious son; no he was "filled with compassion" so he "ran to his son. ... The father "threw his arms around the son and kissed him. ... The older son in this story illustrates the attitude the self -righteous often have about God’s abundant grace toward sinners.