Luke 15:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why this equal division? Because righteousness does not provide any advantage in this life: ‘He commands His sun to rise over the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous’ (Matthew 5:45). Reflecting on the prodigal son, the theme of repentance, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the thief—these thoughts are credited to St. John Chrysostom and noted in the Minya edition as Spuria. The younger son approached his father, who is this ‘younger’ son? He represents a person lacking spiritual stability, easily swayed by the whims of youth. Nature recognized its Creator as Father, yet the will did not honor its Maker. The son requested, Father, give me the share of the estate that belongs to me. It was commendable that he sought what was rightfully his from God, but regrettable that he squandered what he received. Thus, the father divided the inheritance. He bequeathed the entire world to them; as the Creator, he entrusted them with all of creation; he bestowed upon them, alongside their bodies, intelligent souls that, guided by reason, would act in accordance with rationality; he provided his law, both natural and written, as a divine guide, so that, nurtured by it, they might accomplish the will of the Lawgiver. This reflection on the parable of the prodigal son is attributed to St. John Chrysostom and categorized in the Minya edition as Spuria.

God bestows upon us reason, granting us the ability to utilize it freely as our true inheritance, sharing it equally among all, for all are endowed with reason and self-determination. Yet, while some embrace this noble gift for its intended purpose, others squander it. See Lk. 15:29.

For I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he turns from his wickedness and lives.’ Christ conveys the same message through a beautifully crafted parable, which I shall now explore by summarizing its main points and elucidating the ideas it presents. Some interpret the two sons as representing the holy angels, with the inhabitants of the earth corresponding to the younger son—who indulges in reckless living—while the elder, who lives responsibly, symbolizes the holy angels. Others suggest that the elder son represents Israel by birth, while the younger son, who chooses a life of indulgence and strays from his father, signifies the Gentile nations. However, I do not subscribe to these interpretations (see vv. 28 and 29); rather, I encourage those who seek wisdom to pursue what is accurate and sound. Thus, I affirm: ‘giving opportunity to the wise, and to the righteous bestowing knowledge,’ as Scripture directs, for they will scrutinize the interpretations presented to them for clarity. If we equate the righteous son with the holy angels, we will not find him speaking as they do or sharing their perspective regarding repentant sinners who transition from an impure life to one deserving of honor. For the Savior and Lord of all states, ‘in heaven the holy angels rejoice over one sinner who repents.’

"He divided the possessions." The Greek phrase expresses this more vividly, indicating that He bestowed upon them free will, granting them the autonomy of their own minds. Each individual is invited to live not solely by God's authority but through their own voluntary accord—not out of necessity, but by choice. Thus, virtue can flourish, allowing us to stand apart from other creatures and express our God-given freedom. In this context, we face the consequences of our actions: sinners receive just condemnation, while saints and the righteous earn appropriate rewards.

If you fear that you have wronged Him, He restores your honor; if you fear retribution, He exalts you with a kiss; if you dread His scorn, He hosts a celebration in your honor.

Now, let us examine the parable with attention. A certain man had two sons, and the younger one requested of his father, "Give me my share of the inheritance" (Luke 15:11-12). Here we see that a divine inheritance is granted to those who seek it; do not hold the father accountable for bestowing it upon the younger son. There is no age that is unworthy of entering the kingdom of God, and faith does not feel encumbered by the passage of time. Certainly, the younger son regarded himself as deserving of the inheritance! How tragic it is that he distanced himself from his father! Had he remained, he would not have sensed the lack that comes with age.

It's akin to saying, "I do not want to be burdened by the obligation to serve, for I wish to live according to my own desires; I can choose to obey if I wish, but I cannot be coerced." Hence, the father, acting out of goodwill, grants him this wish, as the Lord desires voluntary service. Afterward, the son departed—not physically, but in his heart he turned away from God, leading to a profound spiritual famine, which is not merely a lack of physical sustenance but a deprivation of the divine Word—“not a famine of bread, but a famine of hearing the word of God” (Am. 8:11). This famine is severe when one is cut off from such blessings. The father divided their possessions, signifying he permitted them to pursue their own wills, as dividing the estate translates to allowing one to follow their desires. God does not coerce anyone into obedience if they choose not to comply. Thus, the father also apportioned the appropriate gifts, as previously mentioned.

How can it be right for a father to owe anything to his child? Nature itself teaches us that children are indebted to their parents for the gift of life. His actions clearly demonstrate his immature understanding.

What about Him who provides for both the righteous and the wicked and sends rain and sunshine to all? It is noted that He distributed resources to both sons. Observe that this Father possesses everything. While another might divide the inheritance with reluctance, withholding a part for himself, God, as the Psalmist states, requires none of our possessions (Psalm 15:2). He generously divides His creation between these two sons, encompassing all of existence: the singular world is presented in various ways for different purposes. One individual says to God, "All day long I lift up my hands unto Thee" (Psalms 87:10); "I praise Thee during the day" (Psalms 118:164); "At midnight, I come to confess unto Thee" (Psalms 118:62); "I cry out in my sorrow" (Psalm 119:1); "I have placed my trust in Thy words" (Psalm 118:42); and "In the morning, I reject all sinful things" (Psalm 100:8), striving to overcome fleshly desires. In contrast, another person wastes the day in drunkenness, seeking drink, and spends the night in unholy acts, setting traps or scheming maliciously, seeking to steal and plot evil. Thus, did not these two types of individuals both partake of the same day and the same sun, yet their natures led them to utilize it in entirely different manners? God has evenly distributed all of creation to everyone, allowing it to be utilized according to each person's will.

Just as God grants humanity the freedom to choose between obedience to His commandments and pursuing their own paths, the father in this parable accommodates the unreasonable demand of the wayward younger son. He divides his estate between both sons and provides for their needs. However, while the elder son remains under his father’s care and lives not by his own desires but according to his father’s guidance, the younger son seeks complete autonomy from his father. He gathers all he has and travels to a distant land. This act symbolizes humanity's deliberate separation from God, neglecting all that could restrain them from sin, and fully indulging in their own desires and passions.

With hopes of receiving compassion, he resolved, “I will arise and go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you’” (Luke 15:18). He set off for home.

How frequently do we distance ourselves from God, feeling unworthy of His forgiveness due to the weight of our transgressions! How often do we claim, “My sins are too significant for God to pardon, no matter how earnestly I pray; thus, praying seems futile.” In thinking this way, we project our shortcomings upon God: if we struggle to forgive someone who has wronged us, we assume that God would also be unwilling to forgive us. However, a thoughtful reflection on the parable of the Lost Son reveals the boundless love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Let us keep this parable close to our hearts, reminding ourselves that regardless of our failings, we must not succumb to despair. Acknowledging the seriousness of our sins, we should turn away from our wrongful ways and remember that we have a Father who yearns for our return to His divine path. We should confidently proclaim, “I will go to my Father!” and approach Him with hope for His mercy.

In recognizing God’s grace, let us also extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us, remembering Jesus’ words: “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). Our forgiveness should be offered not with resentment, but with joy, knowing that those who have sinned against us are becoming aware of their actions and are therefore on the path to true freedom—much like the joy experienced by the father in the parable when he reconciled with his lost son.