A Fathers Love
Luke 15:20-24
20 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. 21 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.’ 22 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. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
give me the share of the property The younger son is demanding his share of the inheritance, which could be paid out at any time as permitted by his father. The older son would have received a double portion amounting to two-thirds of what belonged to his father (see
13 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. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
pigs Since pigs were unclean animals according to the law (
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”
15:19 no longer worthy to be called your son Since he already had received (and spent) his inheritance, this statement must refer to more than the son’s legal standing within the family. He regards his actions as being so reprehensible that he deserves to be cut off from his family in a relational sense.
20 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.
15:20 ran The father’s act of running toward his lost son alludes to the divine initiative to seek and welcome sinners (see v. 4 and note). Nothing in the text indicates that the father’s act of running was somehow shameful.
fell on his neck and kissed him—What! In all his filth? Yes. In all his rags? Yes. In all his haggard, shattered wretchedness? Yes. “Our Father who art in heaven,”
21 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.’ 22 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. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
worthy to be called your son The father does not let him finish the speech he prepared (vv. 18–19).
15:22 Quickly bring out the
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
15:24 He was lost and is found This phrase conveys the point of all three parables in ch. 15. Jesus is telling the scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees (vv. 2–3) that the Father rejoices over repentant sinners and embraces them as His children
