This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Luke 15:11-32, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Jesus told a story about a man who had two sons.
One day, the younger son went to his father and said, “Father, I want my share of the property that belongs to me.” The father was very sad to hear this because he loved his son very much. But he gave him his share of the property anyway.
A few days later, the younger son gathered all he had and left for a faraway country. He spent all his money on foolish things and became very poor. He didn’t have any money left when a terrible famine struck the land. He was very hungry and had to work as a pig farmer.
One day, the son realized he had made a big mistake. He thought to himself, “My father’s servants have more than enough food to eat, and here I am, starving. I will go back to my father and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have done wrong. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Please treat me like one of your hired workers.'” The son got up and went back to his father’s house.
As he was walking home, his father saw him from a long way off and felt very happy to see him. He ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he called his servants and said, “Quick! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked, “What’s going on? Why is there music and dancing?”
The servant replied, “Your brother has come back, and your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate his return.”
The older son was very angry and refused to go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come inside. The older son said, “Look, all these years I have worked for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
The father said, “My son, 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.”
Biblical Lessons
- God is always waiting for us to come back to Him.
- It’s never too late to ask for forgiveness.
- We should forgive others when they ask for forgiveness.
- We should be happy when someone who was lost is found.
- We should be grateful for what we have and not be jealous of what others have.
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