The Prodigal Son, also known as the Lost Son and the Prodigal Father, is one of the parables of Jesus

Parables of Jesus

The parables of Jesus can be found in all the Canonical gospels as well as in some of the non-canonical gospels but are located mainly within the three synoptic gospels. They represent a key part of the teachings of Jesus, forming approximately one third of his recorded teachings...

. It appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament

New Testament

The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

. According to the Gospel of Luke

Gospel of Luke

The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...

  a father extravagantly gives his sons their inheritance before he dies (the word 'prodigal' means 'wastefully extravagant'). The younger son, after wasting his fortune, repents and returns home, where the father gives him even more in celebration of his return.