Stories of the Kingdom: The Parables of JesusSample

Parable of the Prodigal Son

The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known stories of Jesus, and it describes a man who had two sons. The younger son asked for his share of the inheritance and went to a distant country, where he squandered all his wealth on reckless living. When a severe famine arose, he found himself in dire need and took a job feeding pigs, a task considered humiliating for a Jew. He eventually came to his senses and returned to his father, repenting and asking to be treated as one of his hired servants.

As the son returns home, his father sees him from a distance and runs to embrace him, showing compassion and forgiveness. The father throws a celebratory feast to welcome his son back, much to the dismay of the older son, who had remained faithful but felt overlooked.

What does the father's response to the returning son teach us about God's love for repentant sinners?