The Prodigal Son

The word prodigal means "spendthrift", but thanks to the tale of The Prodigal Son, one of the best-known of the parables of Jesus, many people now mistakenly believe it to mean "one who leaves (especially his family) and then returns". The story deals with filial faithfulness and faithlessness, most of narrative centres on a young man who asks his father for his inheritances while he is still young enough to enjoy it, foolishly squanders it on high living and fair weather friends, and eventually finds himself penniless and forlorn. He returns to his father and is forgiven and feted. A sub theme considers the reaction of the steadfast older son, who naturally resents the attention lavished on the prodigal.

The tale of the Prodigal

In Jesus' story, an unnamed young man from a wealthy family asks his father to give him the share of the inheritance that would normally come to him only upon his father's death. The father reluctantly agrees, and the son, who is the younger of two brothers, goes off into the world and lives extremely well, spending his money lavishly.

When his money is all spent, he finds that the friends he thought he had are no longer interested in him, and he finds himself alone and destitute, unable to find any work, except for tending pigs, a plight made even more significant by the "untouchable" status of pigs in ancient Hebrew culture.

Finally realising that even the meanest of his father's household servants is in a better situation than he is, the young man decides to go home, aplogise to his father, explain that he understands that his actions have made him unworthy to be considered as a son, and to humbly ask for a job.

The father, meanwhile, has been ever-vigilant, hoping for his boy's return. He sees his son which he is still "afar off" and recognises him despite the dirt and rags. He runs to him and embraces him, and the boy barely has time to get through the beginning of his prepared speech before his father is ordering servants to prepare a bath and clean clothes and jewellery. Further, he decides to throw his son a huge party, and orders the killing of "the fatted calf", animals kept for special celebrations.

The older son returns in the middle of the preparations, and when he asks and is told what is happening, he becomes hurt and resentful. He goes to his father and asks why the younger son is getting all the attention, pointing out that he is the one who has stayed and done all the work, and yet his father has never thrown such a party for him, but the young wastrel is being treated as though he has behaved admirably.

His father tells him not to be upset, and explains that he knows how faithful his older son has been, and that all the father has will eventually be his. He exhorts his son to understand his joy, "this my son was dead and is alive, he was lost and is found."

The idea of something lost being found again, and the celebrations it brings, was a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings.

Word use

To "act the prodigal" means to run away from a position or responsibility.

"The Prodigal returns!" is used of a person who has left and come back.