* Read Luke 15:11-32 (KJV) (The story of the prodigal son)

This is the very familiar story of the prodigal son. I have—and I’m sure you have as well—heard it preached many times. I have also heard songs inspired by this story, read it referenced in literature, and listened to it discussed in podcasts. This parable is renowned for its powerful themes of forgiveness and redemption. The Lord Jesus Christ told this story, and because of its importance, it was recorded for future generations.

Every time I have heard or read this story, the emphasis has always been on how the father forgave the prodigal son and demonstrated that forgiveness by clothing him in the best robe, placing a ring on his hand, and killing the fatted calf in celebration of his return.

However, while reading The Premier Study Bible—a KJV Bible with Apostolic/Pentecostal commentary and teaching articles (if you do not have this Bible, you should definitely consider purchasing one!)—I came across an insight I had never noticed or considered before in reading this story.

Let’s back up and review the story. The prodigal son demands his portion—his inheritance—takes it, and leaves his father’s house. He goes to a far country, spends everything on riotous (sinful) living, and eventually finds himself in a swine (pig) pen. If you are familiar with Jewish custom, you know that pigs were considered unclean and were forbidden to be eaten. So, the prodigal son had truly reached the lowest of lows.

At this point, he said to himself that even the servants in his father’s house lived better than this. He acknowledged that he was no longer worthy to be called his father’s son and believed he could only return as a servant. He resolved to go back to his father’s house, to live in servitude, simply to escape the mess he had made of his life.

With this settled in his mind, the prodigal son made his way back to his father’s house—head down, humbled, broken, poor, tired, hungry, and filthy from the environment of sin in which he had been living. He came only asking to be a lowly servant, expecting nothing more than food, shelter, and the most basic necessities of life.

But once the prodigal son began walking down that road of redemption toward his father’s house, something happened that he did not expect. He was not even close to home when his father came running toward him. The father had been watching and waiting.

Filled with compassion, the father embraced his prodigal son, kissed him, and rejoiced at his return. The son then confessed to his father that he had sinned against him—that he had fallen as far as a man could fall, wasted what his father had given him, and caused him great hurt. He acknowledged that he was no longer worthy to be called his son. One can imagine him saying, “Just make me a servant, Father, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for what I have done.”

But the Father’s actions and words said, “No—that is not how forgiveness works.” When the Father forgives, it is complete. There are no conditions to be met for forgiveness other than true, sincere repentance.

Psalm 103:12 (KJV) says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) declares, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

The father in the story did not call for a servant’s clothing. Instead, he called for the best robe, a ring to be placed on his son’s hand, and shoes for his feet. These were not the garments of servitude, but the marks of sonship—of favor, honor, and complete restoration. The father forgave his son fully and without reservation, restoring him not as a servant, but as a son.

What a beautiful story—but it does not stop there. When the father placed the best robe on the prodigal son and put the ring on his hand, he was also restoring responsibility.

In The Premier Study Bible, the commentary on Luke 15:22 explains this powerful detail:

“The father left the returning son with no choice. To be in the father’s house, he must accept what it means to be a son. The ring was a signet ring with the stamp of family authority. The robe and shoes were also tokens of sonship; these were not the attire of a servant.”

Restoration was not only about forgiveness—it was about identity, authority, and responsibility being fully restored.

All of this was not merely a sign of the father’s favor and blessing; it was a call back to the responsibilities that belong to a son. The prodigal was not restored so he could remain a lowly servant—doing only what was necessary to survive, keeping his head down, or living in lifelong servitude to the shame and guilt of his past.

He was no longer a prodigal or a servant. He was a son of the Father.

As a child of the Father—the Almighty God—you are still called to responsibility. You are called to walk in power, authority, and dominion through the Holy Ghost, using that power to overcome the flesh and the forces of hell that seek to gain authority over you by resurrecting your past, your guilt, and your shame.

You are called to love God and serve Him with all your heart. You are called to be a light to the world—to share your testimony and to be a soul winner. You are called to labor in the Kingdom of God. You are called to use the “talents” entrusted to you (see the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30, KJV). And you are called to fulfill the purpose and ministry the Father has given you

Do not let hurt, guilt, shame, self-unforgiveness, or unforgiveness from others keep you from walking in your purpose. When the Father forgives you, He also gives you renewed purpose and renewed ministry. He has still called you to be a light, to be a witness, and to be a soul winner. He still has a purpose for you in the Kingdom of God.

Do not let your past disqualify you from being used by God. There is always something for everyone to do in His Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

• A Redeemed Ruby