Do the specific gifts the father gives to the prodigal son have any special significance?

Question

What is the significance of the robe, ring & sandals in Luke 15:22?

‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. — NIVUK

I know that, by giving those gifts, the father distinguished his son from the servants. (The son had said he no longer deserved to be called a son (v21) and so these gifts showed that he was still a son to his father (e.g. the servants probably did not wear sandals).)

But did each gift have a particular significance to Jesus' varied audience (v1-2)? And / or did the number of gifts (three) have any meaning?

Answer 1

The robe, ring & sandals help show the father’s high level of love, honor and authority for the son. The robe and the ring are symbolic of how well the father will be treating his son (i.e. somewhat like Jacob and Pharaoh treated the favorite son Joseph). Jacob honored Joseph by getting him a long tunic, and the jealous brothers saw how Jacob was the favorite son. (Gen 37:3-4)

They hated him so much they sold him into Egypt. When in Egypt, Joseph heard of Pharaoh’s dreams and interpreted them for him, saying there would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. With that Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt, and while doing so, Pharaoh placed his own ring on Joseph’s finger. He then had him dressed in robes of fine linen. (Gen 41:41-43)

“In that ancient world a ring was not simply a matter of vanity. It was no mere item of excess wealth. A ring carried as great a significance to them as an engagement or wedding ring does in our world.” (prodigalprof)

“What does this giving of a ring mean? It is the granting of authority to a person. Whoever has such a ring has the power of attorney for his master. He has authority, his master’s authority, to make decisions and to help the master govern his realm. And when the father places the ring on the hand of his son, he not only welcomes him back home as a son, as was indicated by the robe, but he welcomes him back to responsibility and authority.”

The sandals signified he was NOT a servant but the son of the father. Servants wore no sandals so when the father refused to let his son be a mere servant, this is indicative of the benevolence and love of the father.

Answer 2

there were five gifts

1. The robe: a sign of royalty in the house of the Father, a protection as well from the elements and danger

2. The sandals: the son is not a servant but also the sandals to protect and guide our way back home.

3. The ring: the commitment between God and man and father and son that has no beginning and no ending. It is also a representation of God's love. No beginning and no end.

4. The sacrificed calf: in order for the sin to be forgive and repentance and sacrifice had to be offered. for Humanity that sacrifice was our Lord Jesus Christ. For without that sacrifice there is no salvation

5. the Feast: to celebrate returning from the dead. For us the resurrection and Easter.

Answer 3

The significance is a sign of restoration for the son, and preservation of authority, power, and status for the father. It was a shameful and rebellious action for the younger son to ask for the inheritance before the father passed. Shameful, because the father had to sell part of his property in order to satisfy the whim of the child, and secure sufficient cash. Notice that when the son decides to go back and ask for a place as a servant, he never acknowledges the damage he caused to his father. The father's reputation was sullied. Notice, how the father in a preemptive move acts in a way to stop the townspeople from gossiping. As a person in a position of authority, the father rushed to encounter his son out of the gates of the town, with new robes, a ring, and sandals, all of those items are symbols of social status. By doing so, he silences the town. By embracing and kissing the son, he also forgives his sin--and by doing so redeems his child, and restores him to his former position, and status. This is a powerful parable depicting humanity's redemption, and restoration. Both Jew and Gentile are pictured here, both need redemption and restoration.