The Lost Son Returns Home - Rejoice! — July 15 [Description]Overview of Luke 15:11-32 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son):Jesus tells the story of a younger son who demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and squanders everything on reckless living. When a famine hits, he finds himself feeding pigs and starving. Broken and desperate, he decides to return home, ready to ask his father for a servant’s place.But instead of shame or rejection, his father sees him from a distance, runs to him, embraces him, and throws a joyful celebration. Meanwhile, the older brother—faithful but bitter—resentfully questions why such grace is given to someone who wasted so much.The father’s response highlights the heart of the message: God rejoices over the return of the lost, and His grace is not earned by performance—it’s poured out because of love. The story contrasts rebellion and self-righteousness, and shows that both sons need the Father’s grace.

Bible discovery

Luke 15:11-32365D 196.1

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.365D 196.2

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. ’ So he divided to them his livelihood.365D 196.3

13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with ^[d]wasteful prodigal living.365D 196.4

14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.365D 196.5

15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.365D 196.6

16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the ^{[e]carob pods} pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.365D 196.7

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!365D 196.8

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,365D 196.9

19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’365D 196.10

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.365D 196.11

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’365D 196.12

22 “But the father said to his servants, ^{[f]NU Quickly bring} ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.365D 196.13

23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;365D 196.14

24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.365D 196.15

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.365D 196.16

26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.365D 196.17

27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’365D 196.18

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.365D 196.19

29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.365D 196.20

30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’365D 196.21

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.365D 196.22

32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”365D 196.23