What Does the Bible Say About Prodigal Brother?

Luke 15:11-32 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ...

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ...

Luke 15:32 ESV / 7 helpful votes

It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Luke 15:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Luke 15:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

Luke 15:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

Luke 15:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.

Luke 15:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Luke 15:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Luke 15:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Luke 15:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

Luke 15:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Deuteronomy 21:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

Genesis 41:42 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

John 6:44 ESV / 3 helpful votes

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 15:31-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Luke 15:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Luke 15:29-30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Luke 15:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

Luke 15:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

Luke 15:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Titus 1:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Galatians 6:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

John 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 5:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 16:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ...

Luke 15:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

Luke 15:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luke 15:25-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. ...

Luke 15:25-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. ...

Luke 15:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

Luke 15:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

Luke 15:18-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

Luke 15:8-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luke 14:1-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” ...

Matthew 18:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

Matthew 12:50 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

Proverbs 29:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Proverbs 20:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

2 Samuel 14:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

60 Bible Verses about Prodigal Brother

Luke 15:11-32 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:32 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 21:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 41:42 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 6:44 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:31-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:29-30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 1:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 5:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 16:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:25-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:25-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:18-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:8-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 14:1-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:50 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 14:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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