The Parable of the Prodigal Son
A man with two sons gives the younger his share, and the younger leaves for a distant country. There he wastes his wealth, falls into need during famine, and ends up feeding pigs while longing for their food.
T11hen Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
Verse 11Jesus begins with a man who has two sons.
The verse introduces the family at the center of the parable.
Verse 12The younger son asks for his share of the estate, and the father divides his property between them.
The verse sets the rupture in the household.
Verse 13The younger son leaves for a distant country and wastes his wealth in reckless living.
The verse shows the loss taking shape.
Verse 14After spending everything, he faces a severe famine and begins to need help.
The verse deepens his poverty.
Verse 15He hires himself out and is sent to feed pigs.
The verse shows his humiliation.
Verse 16He longs to eat the pigs’ pods, but no one gives him anything.
The verse shows his emptiness at its lowest point.
The younger son comes to himself, remembers his father’s servants have food, and resolves to return. He plans to confess his sin and ask to be treated as a hired servant.
17Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death! 18I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
Verse 17He comes to himself and remembers that his father’s servants have food to spare.
The verse marks the start of his return.
Verse 18He plans to go to his father and confess sin against heaven and against him.
The verse gives the shape of his confession.
Verse 19He plans to ask to be treated as one of the hired servants.
The verse shows his lowered expectation.
The father sees the son coming, runs to meet him, and receives him with compassion. He gives him robe, ring, sandals, and a feast, declaring that the dead son is alive again and the lost son is found.
20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’ 22But 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. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
Verse 20While he is still far off, his father sees him, runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him.
The verse shows the father’s welcome before the speech is finished.
Verse 21The son confesses that he has sinned and is no longer worthy to be called a son.
The verse repeats the son’s confession before the father answers.
Verse 22The father orders the best robe, a ring, and sandals for the son.
The verse shows restored honor.
Verse 23He orders the fattened calf brought and calls for a feast.
The verse turns the return into celebration.
Verse 24The father declares that the son was dead and is alive again, lost and found, and they begin to celebrate.
The verse states the meaning of the homecoming.
The older son hears the music, asks what is happening, and learns that his brother has returned safe and sound. The celebration centers on the restored son.
25Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
Verse 25The older son hears music and dancing while he is in the field.
The verse shifts attention to the son outside the feast.
Verse 26He asks a servant what is happening.
The verse begins his inquiry.
Verse 27The servant says the brother has returned and the father has killed the fattened calf because he is safe and sound.
The verse explains the feast to the older son.
The older son becomes angry and refuses to enter, so his father comes out and pleads with him. The son protests the father’s treatment, and the father answers that joy fits because this brother was dead and is alive again.
28The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29But 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. 30But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours. 32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Verse 28The older son becomes angry and refuses to go in, and the father comes out and pleads with him.
The verse shows resistance meeting fatherly appeal.
Verse 29The older son protests his long service and says he never received even a young goat for celebration with friends.
The verse gives his complaint in full.
Verse 30He condemns the returning brother for squandering the estate with prostitutes, yet receiving the fattened calf.
The verse sharpens the older son’s protest.
Verse 31The father says the older son is always with him and all he has belongs to him.
The verse answers with continued belonging.
Verse 32The father says it was fitting to celebrate because this brother was dead and is alive again, lost and found.
The verse closes the parable with the reason for joy.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 11-16
A man with two sons gives the younger his share, and the younger leaves for a distant country. There he wastes his wealth, falls into need during famine, and ends up feeding pigs while longing for their food.
The younger son moves from inheritance to ruin. - vv. 17-19
The younger son comes to himself, remembers his father’s servants have food, and resolves to return. He plans to confess his sin and ask to be treated as a hired servant.
The son turns from collapse to confession. - vv. 20-24
The father sees the son coming, runs to meet him, and receives him with compassion. He gives him robe, ring, sandals, and a feast, declaring that the dead son is alive again and the lost son is found.
The father answers repentance with public welcome and celebration. - vv. 25-27
The older son hears the music, asks what is happening, and learns that his brother has returned safe and sound. The celebration centers on the restored son.
The house feast becomes visible to the older brother from outside. - vv. 28-32
The older son becomes angry and refuses to enter, so his father comes out and pleads with him. The son protests the father’s treatment, and the father answers that joy fits because this brother was dead and is alive again.
The parable ends with the father speaking to the resentful son as well.