How the Prodigal Son Teaches Us God’s true heart about Reconciliation.

The bible is not just a book about forgiveness but it is also about reconciliation as well. It teaches us how to be reconciled to God and it gives us instructions about how to be reconciled to others. In Matthew 5:23-24 the bible says: 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Another example of reconciliation is found in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). In this story the younger son asks for his share in his father’s inheritance, while his father is still alive, in order to travel to a distant country. While he is there, he spends all the money on loose living and partying. He becomes destitute and reasons with himself that if he returns to his father’s house, he would be provided for and wouldn’t starve to death. The bible says he came to his senses, which means he repented. He decides to go back in humility, acknowledging his sin, and asking for a low position in his father’s house. His father forgives him, and even throws a big welcome back party for him because, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:24)

This story is not just about a sinner getting saved and forgiven, but it is also about reconciliation as well. It shows us that true repentance involves not just a turning away from our sins, but also a true effort to be reconciled to the ones we injured by our sin. True repentance is demonstrated through reconciliation. The father could have forgiven his son without his son returning home, which probably was the case initially, because the story implies that the father would wait for his son to return, despite not knowing this for sure, (v.20).

When we forgive someone, that doesn’t mean that we are reconciled to that person. The person who sinned needs to take responsibility for their sin, and in some cases needs to demonstrate their sorrow. It must be the free choice of the forgiven sinner to do this, as the son in the story demonstrated his true contrition for his sins, by a successful attempt of reconciliation! I believe his father had already forgiven him, so his son’s confession demonstrated his sorrow over his sins and facilitated not only his forgiveness from the father, (and from God as well), but their family reconciliation too.

God shows us his true heart about reconciliation. Not only does God want us to forgive one another, but He ultimately wants us to be reconciled to each other as well! This is Mike.

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