6 – The Selfish Son

Jesus story about a father and his two sons

11 Jesus then told another story: ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son went to his father and said to him, “Father, please give me now my part of your things.” So the father gave both sons the part of his things that each of them should have.

13 After a few days, the younger son sold what his father had given to him. Then he took all the money and he left home. He went on a long journey to a country far away. There he did whatever he wanted to do and he wasted all his money. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a famine in that country. So the young man had nothing to eat. 15 He went to a man who lived in that country to ask him for help. So the man sent him into his fields to give food to his pigs. 16 Nobody gave the young man anything to eat. He even wanted to eat the food that the pigs were eating. But he had nothing.

17 Then he began to think about what he had done. He said to himself, “My father has many servants, and they have plenty of food. They have more food than they can eat. But I will die here because I do not have any food. 18 So I will go to my father. I will tell him, ‘I have done bad things against God, and I have done bad things against you. 19 So I am not good enough for you to call me your son any longer. Instead, please accept me as one of your servants.’ ”

20 So he started off to return to his father. But he was still a long way from the house when his father saw him. The father felt very sorry for his son and he ran towards him. Then he put his arms around his son and he kissed him. 21 The son said to him, “Father, I have done bad things against God and against you. So I am not good enough for you to call me your son.”

22 But the father said to his servants, “Hurry! Go and bring the most beautiful coat that we have. Put it on him and also put a ring on his finger. Put shoes on his feet. 23 Bring the young cow that we keep ready to eat on a special day. It is already fat. Kill it and prepare it. We will eat a big meal and we will be happy together. 24 I thought that my son was dead. But now he has returned to me and he is alive! I thought that he had left me for ever. But now he has come home.” Then they all began to be happy together.