15:13-16
The younger son collected his inheritance and left the family home, setting off for a distant land and squandered his inheritance on wild living. For a time he partied, but then the money had all gone and a severe famine came upon the land. The son had to hire himself out and ended up looking after pigs, a humiliating task for a Jew. The son was desperate for food, the pods that the pigs ate. No one would help him. Such is the fate of those who leave the care and concern of God.
15:17-19
Here we have the response of the son to the situation. He realised that his father’s servants were better off than he was. He would go back to his father in humility, admitting his guilt. See how different this is from the attitude of many today who think that God has a duty to accept us back. God is under no obligation to accept anyone back. If we have a proud entitlement attitude then we can expect nothing from God.
15:20
The son set off back. While he did this the father saw him and ran out to greet him and welcome him. We do not appreciate how much this goes against middle eastern culture. The son had humiliated the father and the father had every right, even duty, to be angry against the son, but instead he welcomed him with open arms.
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