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Parable of the forgiving father

A wayward son repents and returns to his forgiving father.
Contributed by Rev. Henry Martin
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Polish, German, Hindi
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Jesus said, ‘There is joy in heaven when one sinner repents.’ To prove this point He told this story. There was a man who had two sons. – Slide 1
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The older son was loyal and hard working. – Slide 2
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The younger son was rebellious. – Slide 3
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The father loved his two sons. – Slide 4
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The younger told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die!’ – Slide 5
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His father was shocked. – Slide 6
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Sadly he agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. – Slide 7
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A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land. – Slide 8
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He immediately hit the party scene. – Slide 9
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And wasted all his money on parties and prostitutes. – Slide 10
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About the time his money was gone … – Slide 11
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… a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. – Slide 12
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He persuaded a local farmer to hire him… – Slide 13
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… to feed his pigs. – Slide 14
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The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the swine looked good to him. – Slide 15
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And no one gave him anything. – Slide 16
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When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired men have food enough and to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! – Slide 17
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‘I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.”’ – Slide 18
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His father had kept hoping his wayward son would return. – Slide 19
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One day he looked into the distance and saw his son returning home. – Slide 20
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He was filled with loving pity and ran to embrace and welcome him. – Slide 21
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His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and you, and am not worthy of being called your son.’ – Slide 22
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His father hugged him. – Slide 23
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He called to his servants to fetch his son a new pair of shoes … – Slide 24
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… and to bring him the finest robe in the house… – Slide 25
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… and put a gold ring on his finger … – Slide 26
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… then kill the calf he was fattening. ‘We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found.’ So the party began. – Slide 27
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Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, and heard the dance music, he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the calf we were fattening to celebrate his coming home again.’ – Slide 28
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The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve been obedient and worked hard for you. But you never once gave me a feast. Yet when this son of yours comes back after spending your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.’ – Slide 29
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Look, dear son,’ his father said to him, ‘you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. – Slide 30
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But it is right to celebrate. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ – Slide 31
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Slide 32