Parable of the Prodigal Son

A parable in Luke 15:11–32 tells of a father welcoming home his younger son, who squandered his inheritance, while his resentful elder brother refuses to celebrate.

Repentance: Repentance is a change of mind and conduct in response to wrongdoing. The younger son acknowledges his failure and returns to his father.
Gospel of Luke: The Gospel of Luke is a New Testament narrative of Jesus's life, teachings, death, and resurrection. The parable appears only in this Gospel's account.
The Younger Son: The younger son is the character who claims his inheritance, squanders it, and returns home. His journey from departure to return drives the parable's plot.
The Elder Brother in the Parable: The elder brother is a character in Luke 15 who objects to the welcome given to his returning sibling. His refusal to join the feast contrasts with the father's unreserved celebration.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness is the release of resentment or a claim for retribution against someone who has caused harm. The father's welcome precedes any repayment or demonstrated change.
Luke 15: Luke 15 is a chapter containing three parables about finding what was lost. The story concludes this chapter's progression from lost sheep to lost son.
The Elder Brother: The elder brother is the character who stays home but resents his father's welcome of their sibling. His anger challenges the celebration and leaves the story's ending unresolved.
Merit: Merit is the quality of deserving reward or recognition through one's actions or qualities. The elder brother measures belonging by service, unlike the father's generous response.
Divine mercy: Divine mercy is God's compassion toward people in need or guilty of wrongdoing. Many Christian readings understand the father's welcome as an image of God's mercy.
Parable: A parable is a brief narrative that conveys a moral or religious teaching through comparison. Jesus teaches through a family story whose meaning exceeds its plot.

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Parables of JesusBroader topic: The father's welcome and the elder brother's resentment complicate the story's picture of mercy.