The+Parable+of+the+Prodigal+Son

And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to //his// father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth //to me//. And he divided unto them //his// living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty [|famine] in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his [|belly] with the [|husks] that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his [|neck], and [|kissed] him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put //it// on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on //his// feet: And bring hither the fatted [|calf], and kill //it//; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard [|musick] and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to //his// father, Lo, these many years do I serve [|thee], neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with [|harlots], thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.


 * Review and Assess:**

1. **Resopond:** If you were the elder son, how would you have reacted to the father's response at the end? Why? 2. **a)** **Recall:** What causes the younger son to return home? 3. **a) Recall:** How does the younger son express his repentance? 4. **a) Recall:** What specific complaint does the older son make? 5. **a) Interpret:** Why does the father saythat the youger son is "alive again" ? 6 **Take a position:** Do you think mercy and forgiveness are more important than, less important than, or equal in importance to justice? Explain, using examples from the parable.
 * b) Compare and Contrast:** Contrast the father's and the older son's responses to the younger son's return. Why do they respond differently?
 * b) Deduce:** How truly repentant do you think the younger son is?
 * c) Draw Conclusions:** What does the parable suggest about the importance of the motives for repentance?
 * b) Asses:** How effectively does the father address his concerns?
 * b) Apply:** In what circumstances might the lesson of the parable apply today?