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(a) How did the father react upon seeing his son? (b) What is signified by the robe, ring, and sandals that the father provided for his son? (c) What is shown by the father’s arranging for a feast?</p> <p id="p21" data-pid="21" data-rel-pid="[48]" class="sb"><span class="parNum" data-pnum="15"><sup>15</sup></span> <em>“While he was yet a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was moved with pity, and he ran and fell upon his neck and tenderly kissed him.</em> <em>Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.’</em> <em>But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quick! bring out a robe, the best one, and clothe him with it, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.</em> <em>And bring the fattened young bull, slaughter it and let us eat and enjoy ourselves,</em> <em>because this my son was dead and came to life again; he was lost and was found.’ And they started to enjoy themselves.”</em>—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1998724/32/0" data-bid="33-1" class="b">Luke 15:20-24</a>.</p> </article> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="results"> <li class="linkCard"> <a href="/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1998724#h=23:0-24:0" class="jwac showRuby publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1998724 pub-w98 pub- pub-w98 docClass-40 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr chrome cardContainer noTooltips cardLine1Prominent lnk" data-nav-scope-data="[]"> <div class="cardThumbnail "> <span class=" cardThumbnailImage thumbnail publication icon-default publication pub-w98 cat-w " data-pub-symbol="w98" ></span> </div> <div class="cardTitleBlock"> <div class=" cardLine1 ellipsized cardHalfHeight cardLine1Prominent"><span class="sectionIcon"></span> “Jehovah, a God Merciful and Gracious” </div> <div class=" cardLine2 ellipsized cardLine1Prominent"> The Watchtower—1998 | October 1 </div> </div> <div class="cardTitleDetail"></div> <div class="cardChevron"> <div class="icon"></div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="result"> <ul class="resultItems"> <li class="publicationCitation html5 pub- docId-1998724 pub-w98 pub- pub-w98 docClass-40 jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> <article class="scalableui"> <p id="p23" data-pid="23" data-rel-pid="[48]" class="sb"><span class="parNum" data-pnum="17"><sup>17</sup></span> When the father reached his son, he fell upon his son’s neck and tenderly kissed him. Then he commanded his slaves to provide his son with a robe, a ring, and sandals. This robe was not merely a simple article of clothing, but “the best one”—perhaps a richly embroidered vestment of the sort presented to an honored guest. Since a ring and sandals were not usually seen on slaves, the father was making it clear that his son was being welcomed back as a full-fledged family member. But the father did still more. He ordered a feast to celebrate the return of his son. Clearly, this man was not forgiving his son begrudgingly or simply because the return of his son made it obligatory; he <em>wanted</em> to extend forgiveness. 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