“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20 (KJV)

The story

A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. It was a request no son should have made, because an inheritance came when a father died. The father did not argue; he divided unto them his living. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke 15:11-13

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. He joined himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine, work that would have been unthinkable to him at home. He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. He had gone from a son with a fortune to a starving servant whom nobody helped. Luke 15:14-16

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! He planned exactly what he would say: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. He was not planning excuses. He arose, and came to his father. Luke 15:17-20

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son began his speech, but never reached the part about being a hired servant. The father called for the best robe, a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and the fatted calf, saying, For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. Meanwhile the elder son came in from the field, heard musick and dancing, and was angry, and would not go in. His father came out and intreated him, and told him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again. Luke 15:20-32

Quiz

1. What did the father do when the younger son asked for his portion?

   • He refused
   • He divided unto them his living
   • He sent him away empty
   • He called the elder son

2. How did the younger son spend his substance?

   • With riotous living
   • On a house and land
   • On servants
   • On a business

3. What did the citizen of that country send him to do?

   • To gather grain
   • To dig wells
   • To feed swine
   • To guard the gate

4. What would he gladly have eaten?

   • The bread of the servants
   • The husks that the swine did eat
   • The fruit of the field
   • The corn of the harvest

5. What did he realise about his father's hired servants?

   • They were unhappy
   • They had left him
   • They had bread enough and to spare
   • They were few

6. What did he plan to ask his father to make him?

   • One of his hired servants
   • A steward
   • A son again
   • A guest for one night

7. How far away was the son when his father saw him?

   • At the gate
   • In the courtyard
   • A great way off
   • In the next field

8. What did the elder son hear as he drew near the house?

   • Weeping
   • Musick and dancing
   • The voice of his father
   • Nothing at all

9. How did the elder son respond to the news?

   • He rejoiced
   • He ran to his brother
   • He was angry, and would not go in
   • He called the servants

10. What did the father say to the elder son?

    • Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine
    • Thou hast done well to be angry
    • Go thy way
    • Thou shalt have the calf