Luke 15:21-25

Luke 15:21 (KJB)
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

The son carried through on what he was going to say to his father. He did not take advantage of his father’s affection for him and was willing to be reduced to a hired servant if he could just remain home. His repentance was true because he carried through on it. He had confessed the fact that he had sinned against his father and against Heaven. He then confessed to his father that he knew how he hurt his father and that he was no longer worthy to be called his son. This young man had truly repented of his sin against his father, there is no question about that. He could have just kept his mouth shut instead his honesty in repentance was real.

Luke 15:22 (KJB)
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

The father did not even give his son a chance to finish his statement. Instead, his joy was so overwhelming that he was about to treat him as if he was royalty. His father reacts to the statement that he is not worthy to be called his son by calling to his servants to bring him the best robe in the house and to place it on him as a sign that he is still his son and the servants are subject to him. Then he was given a ring which was probably a signet ring which would have been a sign of trust and authority. (Gen 41:42 KJV) And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; Just as Joseph received Pharaoh’s ring as a sign of authority, this son received his father’s ring. His son was no doubt very destitute and probably had no shoes or he had very bad sandals. His father took care of that by having the servants put a good pair of sandals on his feet.

Luke 15:23 (KJB)
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

The fatted calf was a special animal that was carefully fed and set aside for slaughter for special occasions. The father was now really going all out in his celebration of his returned son. The way he welcomed him, you would think that the son had done some great thing and was to be honored. This tells you something that Heaven looks at a person who comes out of sinful living into godly living as a celebration. So this father makes a huge feast just because his son has returned from an amoral lifestyle. (Luke 15:10 KJV) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 15:24 (KJB)
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

(1 Tim 5:6 KJV) But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. His son was dead to the godly things and was alive unto the world and all its evil. The Bible calls that being dead while you are living. It was like he had experienced a spiritual resurrection from death unto life. (Rom 6:4 KJV) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. The boy was dead but by coming home he was raised to newness of life. Then he was considered lost because of his debauched lifestyle but now he is found because he walks in newness of life. (John 17:12 KJV) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. Not one Christian will ever be lost, even if they sin and Solomon is a good example of this. The celebration then continued.

Luke 15:25 (KJB)
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

What was the elder son doing in the field. He had servants to do that type of field work. (Mat 13:38 KJV) The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The elder son represents the scribes and Pharisees who themselves are continuing to work in the field, which is the world, with all its sin and allurements. The son came home and is enjoying grace because he was forgiven for what he did. The elder son is out in the field working for his salvation as the scribes and Pharisees did who were trying to keep every tenet of the law and the oral tradition. So the elder son, started getting close to the house and he heard the music and saw the dancing. (Luke 7:32 KJV) They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

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