In the parable of the prodigal son, what do the setting details of the story mean to us readers?Any explanation why the setting is in a rich family?

In The Prodigal Son parable, the setting represents the
kingdom of God. Naturally, God's kingdom would be a rich setting. In Psalm 50: 10-11,
the Bible states that God owns it all:

readability="8">

10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the
cattle upon a thousand hills.

11I know all the fowls of the
mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are
mine.

The Prodigal Son
represents wayward children, those who have strayed away from God and his
kingdom.

In Luke Chapter 15, Jesus was sharing parables
about those who had strayed from God's kingdom. Then Jesus shares another parable along
the same lines. The parable is about the Prodigal Son who left his father's
home.

No doubt, the setting of the father's rich homeland
is a representation of the kingdom of God.

Remember, the
Prodigal Son is still his father's son. Although he had it all, he wanted another
setting--the world. He wanted freedom to see the world and all that it had to
offer.

After wasting all that his father had given him, the
Prodigal Son realizes that the world has nothing to offer but heartache and
disappoinment. The Prodigal Son returns home to a setting which has everything he
needs.

The two settings are compared--the father's house
and the world.

No doubt, he will wander no more. He will
most likely be grateful for all that he has in his father's
setting.

Truly, the setting in The Prodigal Son parable is
a representation of God who is our father and his kingdom which is our eternal
home.