He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on. He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him. But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
A younger son asks his father for his share of the inheritance, leaves home and squanders it. Destitute in a famine and reduced to feeding pigs, he resolves to go back and ask to be a hired worker. His father runs to meet him, embraces him and throws a feast. The elder son, who has always served faithfully, refuses to join in, and the father pleads with him that they had to celebrate, because his brother was dead and is alive, was lost and is found.
What does this mean?
"Riotous living" (KJV) means reckless, wasteful living. The "husks" (KJV) or "pods" were probably carob pods, used as animal feed. The best robe, a ring and sandals signal honour and restored status as a son; slaves went barefoot.
Historical context
Under the Law the elder son received a double share (Deuteronomy 21:17), so the younger would receive a third. Some scholars argue that asking for it while the father lived was a grave insult, almost wishing him dead, and that a dignified older man running in public would have been shameful. Pigs were unclean for Jews, so tending them marks the son's lowest point.
Why does it matter?
The story ends without saying whether the elder brother goes in, leaving the grumbling Pharisees and scribes of verse 2 to see themselves in him. It is traditionally called the parable of the prodigal ("wasteful") son.
Editorial notes, not scripture.