The Parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke 15:11-32.
This parable teaches us that the treasures of this world aren’t as great as they seem and that God’s grace and love are limitless.
Compassion seeks to love like Jesus by generously and unconditionally loving children in need.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Bible
In Luke 15, we find Jesus teaching a motley crew of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and teachers of the law. The self-righteous Pharisees and teachers were angry that Jesus was welcoming sinners and openly spending time with them.
Jesus’ answer to their indignation was a series of parables, one of which was the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
What is a parable? It’s a short story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson in a simpler way. Jesus taught over 30 parables throughout the Gospels, like the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Broke & Desperately Hungry
The parable starts in Luke 15:11. A man had two sons. One day, the younger son asked his father to give him his share of the family’s estate. After the father did so, the son went and squandered all his newfound wealth on worldly pleasures.
“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.” — Luke 15:14-16, NIV
Broke and desperately hungry, the son decided to go back home and plead for his father’s forgiveness. Even if his father would only treat him like one of the servants, that would at least give him some food. However, this was far from his father’s reaction.
Celebrating the Son’s Return
“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.” — Luke 15:20, NIV
While the son felt unworthy, the father called to his servants, asking them to give his son the best robe, a ring for his finger and sandals. He also commanded them to plan a feast to celebrate.
Alive Again
When the older son heard of the younger’s return, he became angry. After all, he had never sinned against his father, and yet he was never given a feast. But the father’s response? Full of unconditional love and joy for the son who had come home.
“‘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.’” — Luke 15:31-32, NIV
The Prodigal Son From a Child’s Perspective
Deep in the sunny rice fields of Bali, Indonesia lived a father named Bagus and his two sons, Wayan and Kadek. Dreaming of eating endless mangoes, swimming at private beaches and buying fancy new sandals, Kadek asked his father one day for his share of his inheritance.
Bagus gave his son what he asked for, and Kadek set off on an adventure — one that wouldn’t turn out quite like he expected. Watch as Compassion kids from Indonesia retell the Parable of the Prodigal Son below (you don’t want to miss the baby monkey).
3 Things We Can Learn From the Prodigal Son
Just like Jesus’ other parables, there are many lessons to learn from the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
1. Jesus Loves Us All
The father in this parable had two sons. One son was faithful and didn’t squander his father’s inheritance on worldly treasures. The other was the opposite, leaving his loving father and home to chase worldly things.
Did the father love one son more than the other? No. When the prodigal came home, the father gave him a feast, the best robe, a new ring and sandals. And in Luke 15:31, the father tells the faithful son that everything he has is his too.
Both received an equal share of the love of the father, regardless of their response. Jesus loves all of us the same way. He didn’t sacrifice himself on the cross just for the “good” ones, but for all the world.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. — John 3:16, NIV
Whether rich or poor, sinner or saint, faithful or fickle, Jesus loves all of us. And even when we run away, he’s always ready to welcome us back home in celebration.
2. Jesus’ Love Is Unconditional
When we read the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we might feel pain on behalf of the father. His own son took the inheritance the father worked so hard for and lost it. All of it. He traded his father’s love for the fleeting things of the world.
The father could’ve slammed the door in his son’s face when he returned. He could’ve said, “I told you so.” After all, the son had hurt him deeply — he would deserve all of that … wouldn’t he?
Instead, the father ran after his prodigal son when he saw him coming home. He threw open the door, called for a celebration and placed the son back in his rightful place instead of that of a servant. Despite the son’s mistakes, the father’s love was unconditional — without restrictions.
Jesus loves us in the same way. He knew we’d make mistakes. He knew we’d turn our backs. Even still, he willingly went to the cross to save us from sin and death. He’s with us in our darkest moments.
3. We’re Called to Love Others Just Like Jesus Does
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:34-35, NIV
Jesus tells us that to be known as his disciples, we must love like him. And according to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, that means we must love all our neighbors, and we must do so unconditionally.
That means loving those who hurt us just like those who love us. It means loving those who sit next to us in church and those who don’t. It means loving those who can’t do anything for us in return.
Regardless of who they are, what they’ve done, where they live and what they have, we must love without limits — just like Jesus.
How Compassion Seeks to Love Like Jesus
Compassion International takes Jesus’ call to love one another seriously. Each day, we’re sharing the love of Jesus generously and unconditionally with children living in poverty by caring for their needs.
Around the world, Compassion delivers necessities like medical care, nutritious food and education to children through local churches in their communities. We love and care for children regardless of who they are, what they have or where they’re from, sharing the hope of the gospel with each and every one.
By donating to a specific cause or becoming a sponsor, you can care for a child in desperate need. Just like the father in our parable and our Savior, Jesus, you’ll help us welcome a child with joy and love.
