I am Jesus, and I told this story to tax collectors, sinners, and the religious leaders who criticized Me for welcoming them. Listen carefully, for this parable reveals the very heart of God.
A certain man had two sons. The younger one came to his father and said, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' In essence, he was saying, 'I wish you were dead. Give me what I'm entitled to.' Yet the father, though heartbroken, divided his property between them.
Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and journeyed to a far country. There he squandered his inheritance in reckless living - wine, women, and waste. He spent everything.
Then a severe famine struck that land, and he began to be in want. He hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. For a Jewish boy, there was no lower degradation. He was so hungry he would have gladly eaten the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Finally, he came to his senses. 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'
He arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him. The father had been watching, waiting, hoping. And when he saw his son, he felt compassion. He ran - a dignified patriarch running, an undignified act - and fell on his son's neck and kissed him.
The son began his rehearsed speech: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son-'
But the father interrupted him. He called to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
Now the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. He learned what had happened and became angry. He refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him.
But the older son answered, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'
The father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'
Do you understand? The Father runs to meet returning sinners. He doesn't demand that they earn their way back. He restores them fully - robe, ring, sandals, feast. His love is not based on your performance but on His nature. And to those who think they've earned God's favor through obedience - beware that your self-righteousness doesn't keep you outside the celebration.
Come home. The Father is waiting.