Best Prodigal Son Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings

Source: Kingdom Fundamentals: What the Kingdom of God Means and What it Means for You | A Thorough and Biblical Exposition of the Kingdom of Heaven as Preached by Jesus

“I am the prodigal son every time i search for unconditional love where it cannot be found. Why do I keep ignoring the place of true love and persist in looking for it elsewhere? Why do I keep leaving home where I am called the child of God, the beloved of my Father?”

Art Religion Spirituality Christian Living Christian Quotes Commentary Prodigal Son

Book:The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

Source: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

“Since my visit to the Hermitage, I had become more aware of the four figures, two women and two men, who stood around the luminous space where the father welcomed his returning son. Their way of looking leaves you wondering how they think or feel about what they are watching. These bystanders, or observers, allow for all sorts of interpretations. As I reflect on my own journey, I become more and more aware of how long I have played the role of observer. For years I had instructed students on the different aspects of the spiritual life, trying to help them see the importance of living it. But had I, myself, really ever dared to step into the center, kneel down, and let myself be held by a forgiving God? The simple fact of being able to express an opinion, to set up an argument, to defend a position, and to clarify a vision has given me, and gives me still, a sense of control. And, generally, I feel much safer in experiencing a sense of control over an undefinable situation than in taking the risk of letting that situation control me. Certainly there were many hours of prayer, many days and months of retreat, and countless conversations with spiritual directors, but I had never fully given up the role of bystander. Even though there has been in me a lifelong desire to be an insider looking out, I nevertheless kept choosing over and over again the position of the outsider looking in. Sometimes this looking-in was a curious looking-in, sometimes a jealous looking-in, sometimes an anxious looking-in, and, once in a while, even a loving looking-in. But giving up the somewhat safe position of the critical observer seemed like a great leap into totally unknown territory. I so much wanted to keep some control over my spiritual journey, to be able to predict at least a part of the outcome, that relinquishing the security of the observer for the vulnerability of the returning son seemed close to impossible. Teaching students, passing on the many explanations given over the centuries to the words and actions of Jesus, and showing them the many spiritual journeys that people have chosen in the past seemed very much like taking the position of one of the four figures surrounding the divine embrace. The two women standing behind the father at different distances the seated man staring into space and looking at no one in particular, and the tall man standing erect and looking critically at the event on the platform in front of him--they all represent different ways of not getting involved. There is indifference, curiosity, daydreaming, and attentive observation; there is staring, gazing, watching, and looking; there is standing in the background, leaning against an arch, sitting with arms crossed, and standing with hands gripping each other. Every one of these inner and outward postures are all too familiar with me. Some are more comfortable than others, but all of them are ways of not getting directly involved," (pp. 12-13).”

Control Outsider Prodigal Son Observer Rembrandt

Book:The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

Source: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

“In his disobedience, your brother is alive. You, in your resentful subservience, are dead. Do you think God wants mindless worshippers who can only follow instructions?”

Resentment Disobedience Resentful Obedience To God Prodigal Son Following Instructions Father And Sons Parable Of The Prodigal Son Mindless Worshippers Resentful Son

Book:Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible

Source: Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible

“I have to let go of all comparison, all rivalry and competition, and surrender to the Father’s love. This requires a leap of faith because I have little experience of non-comparing love. I can only remain in the resentful complaint that results from my comparisons. In the light of God I can finally see my neighbor as my brother, as the one who belongs as much to God as I do. But outside of God’s house, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, lovers and friends become rivals and even enemies; each perpetually plagued by jealousies, suspicions, and resentments.”

Love God Faith Spirituality Theology Rivalry Parables Prodigal Son Comparisons Resentfulness

Book:The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

Source: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

“Dad, I’m not at all sure I can follow you any longer in your simple Christian faith’ stated the clergyman’s son when he returned from the university for holidays with a fledgling scholar’s assured arrogance. The father’s black eyes skewered his son, who was 'lost,' as C.S. Lewis put it ‘in the invincible ignorance of his intellect.’ ‘Son,’ the father said, ‘That is your freedom, your terrible freedom.”

Faith In God Prodigal Son Parenting Teenagers

Author:Ruth Bell Graham

“Turn back and seek the safety of the shore; tempt not the deep, lest, losing unawares me and yourselves, you come to port no more.”

Temptation Prodigal Son Wayward Rationalizations

Book:Inferno

Source: Inferno

“Never in my life did I dream that men and women with a mental handicap would be the ones who would put their hands on me in a gesture of blessing and offer me a home. For a long time, I had sought safety and security among the wise and clever, hardly aware that the things of the Kingdom were revealed to “little children”; that God has chosen “those who by human standards are fools to shame the wise.”

God Spirituality Wise Safety Theology Parables Fools Prodigal Son Mental Handicap Human Standards

Book:The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

Source: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

“The heroic quest typically highlights a seemingly average person (think Thomas Anderson before he becomes Neo) who embarks on a perilous undertaking, confronts challenges and temptations, and ultimately returns to his or her starting place, transformed and usually upgraded. This myth appears central to human experience. The Tarot, for example, which reads as a distillation of ancient mythology, is in essence about the heroic quest to become one’s true self. Even the parable of the Prodigal Son can be interpreted as a retelling of the Hero’s Journey. This journey isn’t merely external; it’s primarily internal. The Hero’s Journey, applied to our Matrix analogy, suggests that the only way out of the so-called simulation is into oneself. The hero’s ultimate inner battle is against the enemy within, the shadow self, our own Agent Smith, the unrecognized and unintegrated aspects of the psyche that only battle and hinder us until we make peace with them.”

Shadow Mental Health Simulation Tarot Matrix Shadow Work Prodigal Son Hero S Journey Neo Agent Smith

Book:Get Out of Here Alive: Inner Alchemy & Immortality

Source: Get Out of Here Alive: Inner Alchemy & Immortality

“Yes, I know. You don't understand—I love you because of what you did, not despite it.”

Forgiveness Unconditional Love Forgiveness Quotes Father And Son Prodigal Son Unconditional Acceptance Returning Home Parable Of The Prodigal Son

Book:Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible

Source: Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus: Prostitution and Religious Obedience in the Bible

“All roads out of hell lead home.”

“Both Simeon and the father of the returning son carry within themselves that mysterious light by which they see. It is an inner light, deeply hidden, but radiating an all-pervasive tender beauty. This inner vision, however, had remained hidden for a long time. Only gradually and through much anguish did he come to know that light within himself and, through himself, in those he painted. Before being like the father, Rembrandt was for a long time like the proud young man. It is the movement from the glory that seduces one into an ever greater search for wealth and popularity to the glory that is hidden in the human soul and surpasses death.”

Love Art Light Death Spirituality Theology Parables Prodigal Son Paintings

Book:The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

Source: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

“If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.”

Ifs Home Given Social Gone Son Bed Sandwiches Prodigals Prodigal Son

Author:Vance Havner

“There is a trend today that would put a new robe on the prodigal son while he is still feeding hogs. Some would put the ring on his finger while he still in the pigsty. Others would paint the pigsty and advocate bigger and better hog pens.”

Stills Today Son Bigger Fingers Paint Rings Pens Trends Laziness Feeding Robes Hog Prodigals Prodigal Son Bigger And Better

Author:Vance Havner

“I never understood redemption when I was young. Even before I was an atheist, I always thought with the prodigal son, "well, why's he getting the special treatment?"”

Wells Young Special Son Understood Atheist Redemption Treatment Prodigals Prodigal Son Special Treatment

Author:Ricky Gervais

“If the Prodigal Son's a parable, and if Adam and Eve are metaphors, then maybe God is just figure of speech.”

Ifs Atheism Figures Son Speech Metaphor Positive Atheism Adam Adam And Eve Parables Prodigals Prodigal Son Figures Of Speech

Author:Dan Barker

“The parable of the prodigal son, the most beautiful fiction that ever was invented; our Saviour's speech to His disciples, with which He closed His earthly ministrations, full of the sublimest dignity and tenderest affection, surpass everything that I ever read; and like the spirit by which they were dictated, fly directly to the heart.”

Heart Beautiful Spirit Fiction Son Speech Bible Dignity Affection Disciple Saviour Parables Prodigals Prodigal Son

Book:Letters of William Cowper; being a selection from his correspondence: with a sketch of his life, and biographical notices of his correspondents. [With a portrait.]

Source: Letters of William Cowper; being a selection from his correspondence: with a sketch of his life, and biographical notices of his correspondents. [With a portrait.]

“I'm a prodigal son. The black sheep of a white flock. I shall die on the gallows.”

Death Dies Black White Son Sheep Flocks Prodigals Gallows Prodigal Son Black Sheep

Author:William A. Drake

“I do not believe we can truly enter into our own inner pain and wounds and open our hearts to others unless we have had an experience of God, unless we have been touched by God. We must be touched by the Father in order to experience, as the prodigal son did, that no matter how wounded we may be, we are loved. And not only are we loved, but we too are called to heal and to liberate. This healing power in us will not come from our capacities and our riches, but in and through our poverty. We are called to discover that God can bring peace, compassion and love through our wounds.”

Believe Heart May Has Beens Matter Pain Order Father Healing Compassion Poverty Son Capacity And Love Riches Wounds Heal Touched Wounded Prodigals Prodigal Son

Author:Jean Vanier

“To my way of thinking, the concept drawings that Rembrandt did, the drawings he made that he used to model his artists, to work out the compositions of his paintings: those are cartoons. Look at his sketch for the return of the prodigal son. The expression on the angry younger brother's face. The head is down; the eyebrow is just one curved line over the eyes. It communicates in a very shorthand way. It's beautiful, expressive, and, in a peculiar way, it's more powerful than the kind of stilted, formalized expression in the final painting.”