MPV Commentary

12. The younger son, more thoughtless and impulsive.

Said to his father, "I want my share of the inheritance." This is a person impatient of divine control, desiring independence from God, seeking to be their own master; it's the sin that includes all subsequent sins as its germ, for they are but the unfolding of this one.

He divided his father's property between them. Thus, when God's service no longer appears perfect freedom, and man promises himself something better elsewhere, God allows him to make the trial; he will discover, if need be by saddest proof, that to depart from Him is not to throw off the yoke but to exchange a light yoke for a heavy one, and one gracious Master for a thousand imperious tyrants and lords.

13. Not many days later, intoxicated with his newfound resources and eager to use them at will, he left home.

He traveled to a distant country, beyond all danger of interference from home.

Wasted his inheritance on riotous living. This reaches farther than the sensualist; in Scripture's deep symbolic language, fornication is the standing image of idolatry; they are spoken of as one and the same sin, considered now in its fleshly, now in its spiritual aspect.

14. When he had spent all his money, a severe famine struck the land. This was a mysterious providence holding back the famine until he was in circumstances to feel it in all its rigor. Thus, like Jonah, whom the storm did not overtake till on the mighty deep at the mercy of the waves, does the sinner feel as if "the stars in their courses were fighting against" him.

He found himself in want, the first stage of his bitter experience and preparation for a change.

15. He joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. His pride was not yet humbled; he couldn't bear the shame of returning home.

16. The only food he could get was the husks the pigs ate. He would fain have filled himself with them, eating greedily of this poor nourishment.

No one gave him anything better. This was his lowest depth – perishing unpitied, alone in the world, and ready to disappear from it unmissed! But this is just the blessed turning point; midnight before dawn of day.

17. He came to himself. Before, he had been "beside himself" (Ec 9:3), in what sense will presently appear.

How many hired servants have more than they need, while I am perishing here with hunger! What a testimony to the nature of the home he had left! But did he not know all this ere he departed and every day of his voluntary exile? He did, and he didn't. His heart being wholly estranged from home and steeped in selfish gratification, his father's house never came within the range of his vision or but as another name for bondage and gloom.

18. Now empty, desolate, withered, perishing, home starts into view, fills all his visions as a warm and living reality, and breaks his heart. "I will arise and go to my Father." The change has come at last, and what a change! Couched in terms of such exquisite simplicity and power as if expressly framed for all heart-broken penitents.

"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Though "no more worthy to be called his son," the prodigal sinner is taught to claim the defiled but still existing relationship, asking not to be made a servant but remaining a son to be made "as a servant."

19. The father saw him while he was still far off and ran to meet him.

20. He 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," is this Thy portraiture? It is even so (Jer 31:20). And because it is so, I wonder not that such incomparable teaching hath made the world new.

21. The son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son." This confession is uttered after the kiss of reconciliation.

22. But the Father said, "Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him; bring also a ring and shoes for his feet." The father's demonstrations had rekindled the filial feeling, swallowing up all servile feeling.

23. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." This is a threefold symbol of freedom and honor restored as the fruit of perfect reconciliation – the best robe, a ring, and shoes for his feet.

24. The father ordered a fatted calf to be killed for a feast, and they began to make merry. "My son," now twice his son, was dead but is alive again; he was lost but is found.

25. But the elder brother became angry when he saw the celebration. He had stayed behind to work in the field.

26. The father came out and entreated him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours."

27. The elder son said, "Look! These many years I have served you faithfully without ever disobeying your commands." This is not to be pressed too far; he is merely contrasting his constancy of love and service with the conduct of his brother.

28. The father attests the truth of all he says: "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours."

29. But this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." This is a tranquil lifelong satisfaction in him as a true-hearted faithful son in his father's house.

30. The elder brother became angry and refused to join the celebration.

31. The father calmly expostulated with him, "Son, listen to reason. What need for special joy over you? Didst thou say, 'Lo, these many years do I serve thee?' In that saidst thou truly; but just for that reason do I not set the whole household a-rejoicing over you."

32. It was meet that they should make merry and be glad on this occasion, for this brother had been dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." The lessons are obvious: (1) The deeper sunk and the longer estranged any sinner is, the more exuberant is the joy which his recovery occasions. (2) Such joy is not the portion of those whose whole lives have been spent in the service of their Father in heaven. (3) Instead of grudging the want of this, they should deem it the highest testimony to their lifelong fidelity that something better is reserved for them – the deep, abiding complacency of their Father in heaven.