The Prodigal Son: Two Sons and a Party

A younger son asks for his inheritance early, leaves home, and spends it all in a distant country, until he is so hungry he envies the pigs he's been hired to feed. He heads home rehearsing an apology. His father sees him coming from far off, and runs.

We read Jesus's parable from Luke 15 in full, then step into its world: what it meant to ask for your share while your father still lived, why feeding pigs was the lowest a Jewish listener could imagine, why a grown man running would have startled the village, and the robe, ring and sandals that said more than any speech. We also meet the elder brother, standing outside the party, and look at how Rembrandt painted the scene near the end of his life. We close with one question to carry with you.

Scripture reading: Luke 15:11–32, from the World English Bible (British Edition), public domain.

Made with the assistance of AI, using an AI model of the host's voice.