Luke 15:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God often teaches lessons through actions rather than words—this was noted in His correspondence with the Jews. After sending many prophetic messages that fell on deaf ears, He resolved to impart wisdom through discipline, stating: ‘Thy backsliding shall punish thee, and thy wickedness shall reprove thee’ (Jer. 2:19). They ought to have placed their trust in Him prior to the events unfolding; however, due to their stubbornness in ignoring His guidance against wrongdoing, God permitted circumstances to enlighten them so that they may return to Him. Conversely, the son, embodying righteousness, chose not to exploit the division of his father’s wealth, instead remaining under his father's authority. The righteous consistently submit to God and do not claim anything for themselves. If you seek proof that a righteous person does not demand from God but wholly yields to the will and providence of his Father, consider David’s proclamation on behalf of the righteous: ‘Who am I in heaven? And with Thee I want nothing on earth’ (Psalm 72:25). Observe how the countenance of a just person does not seek dominion over creation but aspires for all to be within the care and providence of the Father. The youngest son, having received his portion, ventured to a distant land—not in miles, but in moral standing. Indeed, brethren, the sinner distances himself from God not by physical space but by his mindset, reflected in the words: ‘they that remove themselves from Thee perish’ (Psalm 72:27). Upon receiving his inheritance, he wasted it on reckless living; the blessings of creation given to him were sullied by sin. The sun, intended for his good, he idolized; the springs meant for his sustenance, he revered. The Creator was neglected, while all honor was given to the gifts, as Paul indignantly states, ‘and the creatures served in the place of the Creator’ (Rom. 1:25). The same creation, the same paternal inheritance, yet one embraced it wisely while the other squandered it. Humanity can be categorized into two types: those who treat God’s gifts rightly and those who stray into error. The pious individual appreciates the beauty of the heavens and, captivated by that beauty, directs his thoughts to the Creator: ‘I look upon the heavens,’ he expresses, ‘the work of Thy fingers’ (Psalms 8:4). He perceives beauty and honors the One who created it; he gazes upon the world and blesses its Creator. The devout likewise praises the creation but worships the Creator alone. The faithful do not dishonor creation by refusing to worship it; instead, they elevate the honor due to the Creator. It is not out of disdain for the sun that the faithful abstain from its worship, but rather out of reverence, recognizing it as a divine gift. If you seek evidence that the godly reflect on creation with awe while worshiping only the Creator, consider the remark of a wise person—wise in piety—who stated: ‘The sun, when it appears, proclaims them at sunrise: marvelous creation, the work of the Most High!..... The sun scorches the mountains: breathing flames of fire and shining rays, it dazzles the eyes,’ and immediately adds, “Great is the Lord who created it” (Sir. 43:2, 4-5). Thus, the Wise One acknowledged the beauty of creation without neglecting its Creator. The wicked also gaze upon the heavens, which declare the glory of God—not through words but through their beauty (Psalm 18:2)—leading to their own demise. Truly, the heavens do not sound forth vocally, yet they testify more profoundly than words through their brilliance. Does the silent expanse not declare the glory of God? Certainly it does! Your writings may convey meaning without words, yet God’s creation cannot speak without their silent testimony. Have you partaken of godliness? Then discern the truth in all its fullness based on your experiences. Consider how the wicked excel in the very aspects that validate the righteous. They observe the moon and engage in its worship; they regard the stars and accord them honor; they behold the sea and reverence it. The young men cast into the furnace in Babylon, during their ordeal, glorified God with a beautiful and saving praise, calling upon all creation, ‘Bless, all the works of the Lord’ (Dan. 3:57). Was it not sufficient, after declaring this, to cease their song? For God cares not for the length of praises but for the hearts of the singers. Since it is affirmed, ‘all things,’ everything is encompassed, and there needed not any further additions. But since they were praising God rather than preaching to themselves, and their reverence illuminated the surrounding Chaldeans, it was vital for all creatures to take part in their praises, so the misguided Chaldeans might comprehend both the singers and the song. Reflections on the prodigal son, repentance, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the thief represent powerful themes. After a short while, the younger son, having gathered all he could, departed for distant lands. He distanced himself from God, and in turn, God refrained from intervening, as He does not coerce those unwilling to serve Him. For the practice of virtue is grounded in free will, not compulsion. In this foreign land, he squandered his resources through reckless living. There, he depleted the treasure of his soul; overwhelmed by indulgences, he met ruin; lost in the swift changes of pleasures, he became impoverished; there, consumed by soul-destroying desires, he inundated himself with sorrow; the virtues he once possessed faded, replaced by vices he had never encountered before. This parable serves as a message for us, encouraging all to avoid despair even in the face of great sin, so long as one approaches God in repentance, seeking His mercy—especially if any among you have become, through faith in the Lord, a child of God. ‘And to them that received him, to them that believe on his name, he gave power to be the children of God’ (John 1:12).

It was because he “went to the far side.” When a person turns away from God and discards the reverence due to Him, he then misuses all divine gifts. In proximity to God, our actions are safeguarded from destruction, as indicated by the scripture, “I have always seen the Lord before me, for He is at my right hand; I will not be shaken” (Psalm 15:8). Conversely, when we distance ourselves from God, we engage in and endure various forms of evil, as stated, “Behold, they that remove themselves from Thee perish” (Psalm 72:27). It is thus unsurprising that he squandered his inheritance. Virtue has a singular essence and boundary, while wickedness is multifaceted and breeds numerous temptations. For instance, courage has defined limits concerning when, how, and against whom anger should be exercised, while evil manifests in two forms: fear and arrogance. Do you see how the mind is diminished and the integrity of virtue is lost? See Luke 15:29.

For I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather that they turn from their wickedness and live." This same truth is also imparted by Christ in a beautifully composed parable, which I shall now endeavor to discuss, outlining its main themes and interpreting the ideas it presents. Some interpret the two sons as representing the holy angels, while humanity is seen as the earthly inhabitants; in this view, the elder son, who lived righteously, symbolizes the assembly of angels, whereas the younger, reckless son symbolizes humankind. Others suggest a different interpretation, contending that the elder, upright son signifies Israel according to the flesh, while the younger son, who chose a life of indulgence and strayed from his father, represents the Gentiles. I find little agreement with these interpretations (consider vv. 28 and 29), but I encourage those who cherish wisdom to seek the truth that is sound and valid. Therefore, I propose the following: "giving occasion to the wise, and to the righteous offering knowledge,” as the Scriptures direct, for they will evaluate the meanings of the explanations provided. However, if we identify the righteous son with the holy angels, we shall not hear him speak in the same manner as they do, nor will he share their sentiments towards repentant sinners who transition from a life of impurity to one of commendable behavior. For the Savior of all and Lord states that "in heaven the holy angels rejoice over one sinner who repents."

28:20); in a similar manner, He addresses those consumed by pride and unworthy of His presence, saying: “Depart from me; I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23). Thus, the younger son took his inheritance and distanced himself from his father. Cain, after leaving the presence of the Lord, settled in the land of Nod (Gen. 4:16), a name that signifies turmoil. Anyone who turns away from God quickly finds themselves tossed by the tempests of this world, and their footing becomes unstable. After people turned away from the east and the true light, they constructed a tower of rebellion against God and developed prideful doctrines, vainly seeking to ascend to the heavens. This place was named Babylon, meaning confusion. You will find your possessions laid waste, indulging in a life of excess. Opposed to God and resistant to virtue, luxury consumes all that the Father has provided; ensnared by its delights, it prevents any consideration of future want.

Let us welcome back those who return from afar, for we too have experienced that distance, as it is written in Isaiah: A light has shone upon those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death (Isaiah 9:2). The distant land lies in the shadow of death, but we, for whom the breath of life is Christ the Lord (see Lamentations 4:20), dwell under His shadow. Thus, the Church proclaims: Under His shadow I desired and took my rest (Song 2:3). The prodigal son, indulging in excess, forfeited the radiance of his being, yet you, who have been made in the image of God (see: Gen. 1:26; 2:3), must not recklessly and disrespectfully squander it. You are a creation of God! And do not say to a tree, ‘You are my father’ (Jer. 2:27), lest you begin to resemble a tree, as it is written, ‘Let those who make them become like them’ (Ps. 113:16).

God is omnipresent, yet evil, which is a result of sin, creates a chasm that separates us from Him. "The lawless shall not stand before Your eyes" (Psalm 5:6), David avows to God. Therefore, the younger son distanced himself from his Father and ventured into a far country, "where he squandered" his inheritance on reckless living. How did he squander his wealth? Primarily, our true wealth consists of our God-given intellect. As long as we remain on the path of salvation, our thoughts are aligned with ourselves and with the ultimate intellect—God. However, once we allow our passions to take control, our intelligence becomes lost, wandering amidst earthly desires and various pleasures along with passionate distractions. Our gift of discernment persists only as long as we recognize right from wrong, as long as we abide by God's commandments and remain united with the Almighty Father. Should we cast off this moral restraint, we squander our wisdom on lust and folly, divided among various vices. This holds true for all our virtues and strengths, which are indeed our treasures. When subjected to myriad temptations, they can easily falter and be wasted. The mind, by its very nature, longs for the one true God, seeking the ultimate goodness and joy, untainted by sorrow. Yet, if we relax our vigilance, our soul's genuine love, which is directed towards this worthy pursuit, will disperse into trivial pleasures: craving fleeting foods, lusting after unwholesome bodies, yearning for trivialities, and sometimes seeking hollow praises lacking in true glory. Consequently, the unfortunate soul becomes fragmented, consumed by such thoughts, inhaling the very air and sunlight—common blessings for all—without savoring joy. Our mind, still tethered to God, can only feel anger towards the devil and harness its inner courage to battle the evil inclinations and the forces of darkness. But if one strays from the divine commandments set forth by the Lord, they become adversarial towards their neighbors, lose their temper with kin, and rage against those who do not endorse their misguided ambitions, ultimately becoming harmful. Alas, humanity can devolve into a state of murder, resembling not merely unthinking beasts but also venomous creatures—those called to be children of God becoming like scorpions and serpents, the spawn of a viper. Observe: in what way did he squander and destroy his own wealth?

In his hunger, he resolved: "I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you’" (Luke 15:18). He then set off for home.

How often do we distance ourselves from God, feeling unworthy of His forgiveness due to the weight of our sins! We may think, "My transgressions are too great for God to forgive, regardless of my prayers; therefore, my prayers are in vain." In doing so, we wrongly project our own limited capacity for forgiveness onto God: since we struggle to forgive a brother who has wronged us deeply, we assume that the Lord will not forgive us either. However, a thoughtful contemplation of the parable of the Prodigal Son reassures us of God’s boundless love and mercy.

Let us frequently recall this parable; regardless of our sinful state, we must not give in to despair. We should acknowledge the seriousness of our sins, turn away from our misdeeds, and remember that our Father is yearning for our return to the path of righteousness. We should confidently declare, "I will go to my Father!" and approach Him with boldness, trusting in His grace. Furthermore, as we count on God’s mercy, let us also extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us, keeping in mind the words of Jesus Christ: "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15). May we forgive not with resentment but with the joy that comes from recognizing that the sinner is aware of his wrongdoing and is thus nearly free from it, rejoicing as the father did when he welcomed back his wayward son.