Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known stories told by Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible. Found in Luke 15:11-32, this parable is a profound lesson about forgiveness, repentance, and the boundless love of a father for his children.

The Story

The story begins with a wealthy man who has two sons. The younger son, impatient and seeking adventure, asks his father for his share of the inheritance. This request is highly unusual and disrespectful in their culture, as the inheritance is typically given only after the father's death. Nevertheless, the father grants his younger son's request and divides his property between the two sons.

The younger son gathers all he has and sets off for a distant country. There, he squanders his wealth in reckless living. He indulges in all sorts of pleasures and eventually finds himself penniless. To make matters worse, a severe famine strikes the land, leaving him in desperate need.

In his dire situation, the younger son takes a job feeding pigs, a degrading task, especially for a Jew, as pigs are considered unclean animals. He is so hungry that he longs to eat the pods that the pigs are eating, but no one gives him anything. It is at this lowest point that he comes to his senses. He realizes that even his father's hired servants have food to spare, while he is starving to death.

Determined to return home, he prepares a speech for his father. He plans to confess his sin and unworthiness, hoping to be accepted not as a son, but as a hired servant. With this humble resolution, he sets off for his father's house.

While he is still a long way off, his father sees him and is filled with compassion. He runs to his son, embraces him, and kisses him. The son begins his prepared speech, but the father interrupts, instructing his servants to bring the best robe, put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. He orders the servants to prepare a feast, for his son who was dead is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Meanwhile, the older son is working in the fields. When he hears music and dancing, he asks one of the servants what is happening. The servant tells him that his brother has returned and that his father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate his safe return. The older son becomes angry and refuses to join the celebration.

His father comes out and pleads with him, but the older son expresses his frustration. He has served his father loyally and never received such a celebration, while his brother squandered his inheritance and is now being honored. The father gently responds, explaining that everything he has belongs to the older son, but they must celebrate because the younger brother was lost and is now found.

The Meaning

The Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches several important lessons. Firstly, it highlights the destructive nature of sin and the consequences of living a reckless and selfish life. The younger son's journey represents the spiritual and moral decline that occurs when one strays from the right path.

Secondly, the parable emphasizes the power of repentance and forgiveness. The younger son's decision to return home and seek forgiveness symbolizes genuine repentance. The father's unconditional love and acceptance demonstrate the boundless mercy and grace of God, who is always ready to forgive those who repent.

Lastly, the parable addresses the theme of jealousy and self-righteousness through the older son's reaction. It serves as a reminder that one should not begrudge others the grace and forgiveness they receive. Instead, we should rejoice when someone who was lost returns to the right path.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a timeless story that resonates with people of all ages. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of humility, repentance, and the unconditional love that binds families and communities together.

Kids Version

The Story of the Prodigal Son

Once upon a time, there was a rich man with two sons. The younger son was very adventurous and didn't want to wait to have fun. So, he asked his dad for his share of the family's money right away. Can you believe it? He didn't even want to wait until he was older!

The dad, being very kind, gave the younger son his share of the money. The younger son was super excited and took off to a faraway place. He spent all his money on parties, fancy clothes, and lots of fun things. But soon, he ran out of money. Uh-oh!

Just when things couldn't get worse, a big famine hit the land. That means there wasn't enough food for everyone. The younger son was really hungry and had no money left. He was so desperate that he got a job feeding pigs. Imagine that! He was so hungry that he even wanted to eat the pigs' food.

One day, the younger son had a big idea. He remembered how even the servants at his dad's house had plenty of food. He decided to go back home and say sorry to his dad. He thought maybe his dad would let him be a servant because he didn't feel like he deserved to be called a son anymore.

As he was walking home, feeling nervous, his dad saw him coming from a long way off. Guess what? His dad ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him! The son started to say sorry, but his dad was so happy to see him that he threw a big party. He gave him a beautiful robe, a ring, and new sandals. They celebrated because the son who was lost had come home.

Now, the older brother was out working in the fields. When he heard the music and dancing, he was confused. A servant told him that his younger brother had come back and that their dad was having a party. The older brother was really angry. He felt it wasn't fair because he had always been good and never got a party.

The dad went out to talk to the older brother. He said, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we need to celebrate because your brother was lost and now he's found."

The Lesson

The story of the Prodigal Son teaches us some important things:

1. Making Mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes, but it's never too late to say sorry and try to do better.

2. Forgiveness: The dad in the story shows us that love and forgiveness are very powerful. No matter what, he loved his son and welcomed him back.

3. Jealousy: The older brother was jealous, but we learn that it's important to be happy for others when they get a second chance.

So remember, if you ever make a mistake, you can always go back to the people who love you, and they'll be there to help you start again. And if someone else needs a second chance, be happy for them and show them kindness.