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Parable #31 ~ Luke 15:11-32 ~ The Prodigal Son ~
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one
said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his
property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a
distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had
spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to
be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who
sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods
that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men
have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to
my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men
[skilled craftsmen].’
So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with
compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I
am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on
him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and
kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he
heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what
was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the
fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out
and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve
been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even
a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours
who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the
fattened calf for him!’
“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is
yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was
dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
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