Should we expect the Lord Jesus to include a substitutionary atonement theory in every one of his parables? Not at all, contrary to what liberal theologians have suggested by their criticisms of the parable of the prodigal son. This article shows at the same time how the atonement is a series of historical events, and not simply that of the cross.

The claim of this article is that the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) is a parable of the atonement.