Everyday sayings of Jesus
The prodigal returns
This little sarcastic phrase is often used when someone turns up after being away too long. If you’ve just come back to work after an extra long lunch break, or a lengthy, envy-inducing holiday, you might be greeted by your boss with, “The prodigal returns!”
The prodigal son features in one of the most famous parables of Jesus. He’s called “prodigal” (an old English word for someone who is a waster, a reckless and irresponsible person) because he squanders the inheritance given him by his father. Here’s the opening of the parable…
Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons. Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living.
Luke 15:11-13 (click here for the full story)
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About this module
The salt of the earth… on the straight and narrow… a baptism of fire… many everyday sayings started with Jesus. Here are 30 of them. We’ve gathered the best known modern sayings and included some notes on what they mean and where you can find them in the accounts of Jesus’ life.
Module contents
Index of sayings
A baptism of fire
The blind leading the blind
Casting your pearls before swine
Coming back from the dead
Counting the cost
A crown of thorns
A den of thieves
Do to others as you would have them do to you
Doubting Thomas
Falling on stony ground
Going the extra mile
A good samaritan
Having a cross to bear
Hiding your light under a bushel
Jesus wept!
Killing the fatted calf
The kiss of Judas
Left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing
Man cannot live by bread alone
A millstone around your neck
Moving mountains
On the straight and narrow
The prodigal returns
The salt of the earth
Separating the sheep from the goats
Sweating blood
Thirty pieces of silver
Turning the other cheek
Until kingdom come
A wolf in sheep's clothing
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