Parable of the Lost Son

Jesus had another parable to tell the people about lost and found. He knew this parable would be difficult for the Pharisees and scribes to hear because they clung to teachings such as this in the Book of Deuteronomy:

If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, his father and mother shall take hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of his town, and say to the elders, "This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard."

Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death. So, you shall purge the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear and fear.

But Jesus knew that all the people needed to hear this parable, especially the Pharisees and scribes. And so, He began: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger son knew he would get an inheritance when his father died, but he didn’t want to wait. So, he said, ‘Father, give me the share of your property that is coming to me.’ So, the father divided his property between his sons.

“Soon after, the younger son gathered everything he was given and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.

“Now, when he had spent everything he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to do without and be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent the son into his fields to feed the pigs. And he longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.

“Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But I am here, starving to death! I will get up 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. Treat me like one of your hired servants.” ’

“So, he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

“The son began the speech he had prepared: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father interrupted the son and 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 us 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 working in the field. And as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. So, he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

“And the servant said, ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has your brother back safe and sound.’

“The older son became angry and refused to go in. So, his father came out and pleaded with him.

“But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ ”

See Luke 15:11-32; Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Notes: “pods”: This is a generic term, commonly identified with the long bean-like pods of the carob tree.