Luke 15:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."’

NIV: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

NASB: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.'?’

CSB: I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers."’

NLT: and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.'’

KJV: And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

NKJV: and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

The title of "prodigal" son is applied to this young man because he foolishly wasted all his money with sinful pleasure and wild living. Here, he continues rehearsing what he will say to his father when he returns home (Lukes 15:18). He has treated his father horribly, demanding his inheritance as if his father was already dead. He took the money and ran far away where the shame of what he'd done couldn't reach him. Now, the money is gone, spent on unwise and immoral things (Luke 15:30). His new home is under a terrible drought. Once the son of a wealthy landowner, he is now jealous of the pigs he's been hired to tend because they get more food (Luke 15:11–17).

Standing among the pigs, the son has come to his senses. His father's day-laborers—seasonal hires who receive minimal pay—have more to eat than he does. His best option is to go home, grovel, and beg that his father accept him as a servant.

In this parable, Jesus is explaining the act of conversion. He speaks to Pharisees and scribes who belittle Him for associating with sinners and tax collectors (Luke 15:1–2). Like the prodigal son, the sinners took advantage of the blessings God gave them and acted as if He was nonexistent. Inevitably, they found life unfulfilling and longed to reconcile with God. So, like the son, they repent: they acknowledge they are wrong and God is right. They then act on that understanding by asking for forgiveness with the desire to change (Luke 15:17–18).

"Conversion" is a word used often enough that it can start to lose meaning. The parable of the prodigal son beautifully describes the concept. To "convert" is to turn away from one thing and turn toward another, giving this new thing all your attention. The wayward son converts his priorities: from the lie of unending pleasure and irresponsibility to submission under his loving father. He'll soon find the result of such a conversion is restoration of his position as beloved son.

Luke 15:11–32 records the famous parable of the prodigal son. To be "prodigal" is to be wastefully extravagant. Jesus is speaking to Pharisees who condemn His association with sinners. His point is that God seeks sinners so they can be saved (Luke 15:1–10). In this parable, Jesus presses others to join God's celebration over the return of repentant sinners. This is one of the most detailed and developed parables in the Bible, almost on the level of allegory, and is unique to Luke. Next, Jesus teaches how the lives of Christ-followers should differ from those in the world (Luke 16:1—17:10).

To answer criticisms that He associates with sinners, Jesus tells three parables. A shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to rescue a single lost member. A woman searches diligently to locate a lost coin. A father eagerly forgives his wayward son when the young man returns in humility and repentance. All these lead to celebration. In the same way, Jesus teaches that God cares about restoring those who have fallen, and we should mirror His joy whenever that happens.

Luke 15 contains three parables with the theme of something "lost." The lost sheep, coin, and son represent sinners who leave God foolishly, unknowingly, or rebelliously. God seeks the foolish and the ignorant and waits patiently for the rebel to return to Him in humble repentance. Next is a collection of teachings on the differences between worldly and kingdom living (Luke 16:1—17:10). After two more groups of a miracle, teachings on the kingdom, and teachings on salvation (Luke 17:11—19:27), Jesus will enter Jerusalem and prepare for the crucifixion.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.