The Compassionate Father

The Bible says that many sinners came to Jesus to hear him speak about God. But the religious leaders complained about Jesus. They said, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus told them this parable.

A father had two sons. Before the father died, the younger son said, “Father, give me my inheritance.” The father divided his inheritance between the two sons. The younger son took all his inheritance, left his father, and went to a distant land. There he squandered his money in immoral living. He lost everything.

There was a severe famine in the distant land, and the younger son began to starve. He found work caring for pigs. He was very hungry and wanted to fill his stomach with the pigs’ food, but no one gave him anything.  When he came to his senses, he said to himself, “My father has plenty of food for his workers, and here I am dying of hunger. I will go back to my father and say to him, ‘Father, accept me as one of your workers.’”

So he got up and returned to his father. While he was still a distance away, his father saw him. The father took pity on his son, ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

His father said to his servants, “Quick, bring the best robe and dress him in it! Let’s have a feast!” So they began to enjoy themselves.

The older son was working in the fields. As he approached the house, he heard the celebration. “What’s going on?” he asked. A servant said, “Your brother has arrived. Your father is celebrating.”

The older son was angry and refused to go in. His father went outside and pleaded with him. But the older son replied, “Look, I have worked like a slave for you all these years, and you have never given me a feast. But when this unfaithful son of yours returns home, you celebrate.”

His father said to him, “My son, you are always with me. Everything I have is yours. But let’s rejoice! For this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found!”

That is the parable which Jesus told the religious leaders who felt like Jesus shouldn’t associate with lost sinners.