The Prodigal Son

Portrait of The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son appears in Jesus' parable in Luke 15, told to explain God's attitude toward sinners and the joy that accompanies repentance. In the account, a younger son requests his inheritance early, leaves home, and wastes the money on reckless living until he faces starvation and returns seeking only a servant's position. His father instead runs to meet him, restores his status, and holds a feast, while the older brother objects to the unearned welcome. The narrative highlights themes of unconditional forgiveness and grace that remain central to Christian teaching on salvation and the Father's heart toward the lost.

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Biography

Occupation
Son (parable character)
Father
The Father in the parable
Era
New Testament (c. AD 30)
Also Known As
The Lost Son, The Younger Son

Family

Parents
The Father in the parable
โ†“
The Prodigal Son
New Testament New Testament Era Luke

Did You Know?

1

In first-century Jewish culture, a younger son requesting his inheritance while his father lived was equivalent to wishing him dead, an unprecedented act of dishonor that would have left listeners stunned.

2

The father's undignified sprint toward the returning prodigal violated ancient Mediterranean norms, where elderly patriarchs maintained solemn dignity and never ran in public.

3

Restoration symbols like the robe, signet ring, and sandals reinstated the son with honor, legal authority, and freedom, reversing his self-imposed status as a hired servant.

4

The parable ends abruptly with the elder brother's refusal to enter the feast, leaving the narrative open-ended to challenge Pharisees who mirrored his resentment toward Jesus' outreach to sinners.

5

Feeding pigs represented the ultimate degradation for a Jewish man, as swine were unclean animals whose care violated Torah purity laws and reduced him to subhuman labor.

Key Passages

Parable of the Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

This parable shows God's boundless love and forgiveness, always ready to welcome home anyone who turns back to Him.

A11nd he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my fatherโ€™s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Read full chapter: Luke 15 โ†’

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