Bible moment
The Bible moment
This scene comes from Jesus’ parable of the father and two sons in Luke 15:11–32. The younger son had asked for his share of the family property, left for a distant country, and wasted it in reckless living. After a famine left him needy, he decided to return home. He planned to confess that he had sinned against heaven and his father and ask to be treated as a hired servant. Before the son reaches the house, the father sees him, feels compassion, runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him. The son begins his confession and says he is no longer worthy to be called his father’s son. The passage presents the father’s compassionate welcome; it does not explain the son’s full future or remove every consequence of his earlier choices. This is a parable told by Jesus, so its characters are not named historical individuals.
Look closely
What children can notice
The younger son returns toward home, and his father sees him from far away, runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him. Show the father’s joyful compassion and the son beginning his honest confession.
Talk together
Talk about it
- What does the father’s welcome show about compassion?
- How might you respond when someone honestly turns back?
For families, church, and class
Use this page
Use this page with Luke 15:11–32 in family devotions, Sunday school, church classes, or homeschool lessons. Invite children to notice the son’s honest return and the father’s compassionate welcome. Avoid presenting the parable’s “dead and alive” language as a literal death and resurrection, and do not claim the older son’s final response.
Source note
From this passage
Luke 15:20-21 · The Lost Son
The younger son returns toward home, and his father sees him from far away, runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him. Show the father’s joyful compassion and the son beginning his honest confession.
