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The Prodigal Son

Illustration of The Prodigal Son

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes, portraying a younger son who demands his inheritance, wastes it in riotous living far from home, and returns destitute after feeding swine, only to be met by a father who runs to embrace him with compassion and restores him amid great rejoicing. The lavish celebration underscores God's joyful welcome of repentant sinners, while the elder brother's resentful refusal to join the feast warns against the self-righteousness that rejects such grace. Within the redemptive narrative this account displays the Father's initiative in forgiveness, drawing the lost into restored fellowship rather than allowing pride to exclude them from the feast.

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Luke Overview (Part 2: Ch. 10-24)

Jesus tells parables about God's radical grace, including the prodigal son.

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Category: Grace & Forgiveness

Meaning: God joyfully receives repentant sinners, and warns against the self-righteousness of the elder brother.

Audience: Pharisees & Scribes

Key Passages

The Parable

Luke 15:11-32

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.

Did You Know?

1

The younger son asking for his inheritance while his father was still alive was deeply insulting in that culture.

2

The father runs to meet the son. an undignified act for a patriarch, showing extravagant grace.

3

The older brother is angry at the father's mercy, revealing his own self-righteous 'slavery' in the father's house.

4

The story ends without resolving whether the older brother enters the feast. leaving the listener to decide.