Jesus Tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son 

In March of 30 CE, at Jesus’ camp near Pella, he delivered a sermon on the "Grace of Salvation" to more than four thousand visitors. In this sermon, the Master included three parables, one of which was about a man with two sons. It is one of the most well-known parables, featuring a father who welcomed his unwise and sorrowful son back home after he had abandoned the family and wasted his inheritance. When the father saw his son coming, he ran out to meet him, and the son apologized for his behavior. The father forgave his son even before he asked and had a welcoming party for him.

The other son, the elder of the two, a hard-working and dedicated man, was hurt and angered when the father gave his younger, foolish, and lazy brother a welcome home party. He confronted his father, who subsequently explained his actions. The father then asked him to join in celebrating his brother’s homecoming. Jesus repeatedly used this parable to demonstrate God’s attitude toward those who come or return to him, no matter their failings or previous mistakes.

Jesus was very partial to telling these three parables at the same time. He usually led with the story of the lost sheep to show that God’s shepherds would go in search of his lost children. He then recited the story of a missing coin to illustrate how thoroughly God searches for all who are confused, confounded, or otherwise spiritually blinded. Then, he would tell the story of the lost or prodigal son who realized his error and came home. This parable demonstrated God’s joyful acceptance and welcoming embrace of those who strayed and returned to him.

Pella was an ancient Greek city about twenty miles south of the Sea of Galilee. It was near Pella that Jesus and his apostles established an encampment that hosted thousands from near and far, ones who had come to hear Jesus. It was on Thursday afternoon, March 9, 30 CE, when the Master delivered a sermon to this multitude. The sermon contained all three of these parables about someone or something that was lost and then recovered. The Prodigal Son was the Master’s favorite parable and perhaps his longest one.

Within the sermon, Jesus told a story about a son who returned home after realizing his error:

"And now I would like to tell you the story of a thoughtless son of a well-to-do farmer who deliberately left his father’s house and went off into a foreign land, where he fell into much tribulation. You recall that the sheep strayed away without intention, but this youth left his home with premeditation. It was like this:

"A certain man had two sons; one, the younger, was lighthearted and carefree, always seeking for a good time and shirking responsibility, while his older brother was serious, sober, hard-working, and willing to bear responsibility. Now, these two brothers did not get along well together; they were always quarreling and bickering. The younger lad was cheerful and vivacious, but indolent and unreliable; the older son was steady and industrious, at the same time self-centered, surly, and conceited. The younger son enjoyed play but shunned work; the older devoted himself to work but seldom played. This association became so disagreeable that the younger son came to his father and said: 'Father, give me the third portion of your possessions which would fall to me and allow me to go out into the world to seek my own fortune.' And when the father heard this request, knowing how unhappy the young man was at home and with his older brother, he divided his property, giving the youth his share.

"Within a few weeks the young man gathered together all his funds and set out upon a journey to a far country, and finding nothing profitable to do which was also pleasurable, he soon wasted all his inheritance in riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a prolonged famine in that country, and he found himself in want. And so, when he suffered hunger and his distress was great, he found employment with one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed swine. And the young man would gladly have filled himself with the husks which the swine ate, but no one would give him anything.

"One day, when he was very hungry, he said to himself: ‘How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare while I perish with hunger, feeding swine off here in a foreign country! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no more worthy to be called your son; only be willing to make me one of your hired servants.’ And when the young man had reached this decision, he arose and started out for his father’s house.

"Now this father had grieved much for his son; he had missed the cheerful, though thoughtless, lad. This father loved this son and was always on the lookout for his return, so that on the day he approached his home, even while he was yet afar off, the father saw him and, being moved with loving compassion, ran out to meet him, and with affectionate greeting he embraced and kissed him. And after they had thus met, the son looked up into his father’s tearful face and said: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no more worthy to be called a son’—but the lad did not find opportunity to complete his confession because the overjoyed father said to the servants who had by this time come running up: 'Bring quickly his best robe, the one I have saved, and put it on him and put the son’s ring on his hand and fetch sandals for his feet.'

"And then, after the happy father had led the footsore and weary lad into the house, he called to his servants: 'Bring on the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they all gathered about the father to rejoice with him over the restoration of his son.

"About this time, while they were celebrating, the elder son came in from his day’s work in the field, and as he drew near the house, he heard the music and the dancing. And when he came up to the back door, he called out one of the servants and inquired as to the meaning of all this festivity. And then said the servant: ‘Your long-lost brother has come home, and your father has killed the fatted calf to rejoice over his son’s safe return. Come in that you also may greet your brother and receive him back into your father’s house.

"But when the older brother heard this, he was so hurt and angry he would not go into the house. When his father heard of his resentment of the welcome of his younger brother, he went out to entreat him. But the older son would not yield to his father’s persuasion. He answered his father, saying: 'Here these many years have I served you, never transgressing the least of your commands, and yet you never gave me even a kid that I might make merry with my friends. I have remained here to care for you all these years, and you never made rejoicing over my faithful service, but when this your son returns, having squandered your substance with harlots, you make haste to kill the fatted calf and make merry over him.'

"Since this father truly loved both of his sons, he tried to reason with this older one: 'But, my son, you have all the while been with me, and all this which I have is yours. You could have had a kid at any time you had made friends to share your merriment. But it is only proper that you should now join with me in being glad and merry because of your brother’s return. Think of it, my son, your brother was lost and is found; he has returned alive to us!'"

Many times during his years of teaching, Jesus told and retold this story of the prodigal son. This was one of the most touching and effective of all the parables which Jesus ever presented. It impressed upon his hearers the Father’s willingness to receive all who seek entrance into the kingdom of heaven. This parable, and the story of the good Samaritan, were his favorite means of teaching the love of the Father.