“But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in the land, and he began to be in want. The he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.” (Luke 15:14-16).

It is a familiar story. It is the Parable of The Prodigal Son or The Parable of the Lost Son. The purpose of this parable is obvious. We are told, “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And when the Pharisees and the scribes complained, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them saying…” (Luke 15:1-3). The purpose of this parable is to explain how valuable these people are to God and why they should be valued by others.

In the text above (Luke 15:14-16), the lost son is at a low point. He is working but the pay does not meet his basic needs. He is hungry. He is willing to eat the pods that he feeds to the swine. This is thought to be the pods of the carob or locust tree. It is edible but not choice food. It “is used for feeding swine and even for food by the lower classes” (A.T. Robertson, Robertson’s Word Pictures, studylight.org).

Not everyone in sin hits such a low point in this life. However, some do. It has been said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” There is a pay day someday (Galatians 6:7-8).

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:20-34).

What a welcome home! (1) He was dressed in the best robe. “The custom of that day involved robes. When you visited a man, he had a closet of robes. He would wash your feet, dirtied by travel, and would welcome you as a friend by the presentation or a robe. But in the houses of yesteryear there was, significantly, a best robe. This robe is the symbol of the highest honor” (Charles B. Hodge Jr., Will God Run, p. 51). (2) He had a ring put on his hand. “The ring is the symbol of restored wealth, power, authority, and position. The father received him as a son” (ibid, p. 50). (3) He had sandals put on his feet. “To be shoeless was the sign of an orphan” (ibid). Others have suggested that servants were sometimes without footwear (J.W. McGarvey, The Fourfold Gospel, p. 503). (4) The fatted calf was served and they feasted. This was not an everyday meal. This was a very special occasion. [Note: While the exact significance of the items mentioned may be uncertain and disputed, there are some things which are certain and beyond dispute. The father was welcoming his son. He was glad to have him home. He rejoiced in his return.]

If you have left the Father for a far-country, and are ready to come back home, He will welcome you home. He loves you.

“I’ve wandered far away from God, now I’m coming home; the paths of sin too long I’ve trod, Lord, I’m coming home… I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord, now I’m coming home; I’ll trust Thy love, believe thy word; Lord, I’m coming home [Song: Lord, I’m Coming Home by William J. Kirkpatrick (1892)].