Luke 15:29

KJV

And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he answering {G611} said {G2036} to his father {G3962}, Lo {G2400}, these many {G5118} years {G2094} do I serve {G1398} thee {G4671}, neither {G3763} transgressed I {G3928} at any time {G3763} thy {G4675} commandment {G1785}: and {G2532} yet {G2532} thou {G1325} never {G3763} gavest {G1325} me {G1698} a kid {G2056}, that {G2443} I might make merry {G2165} with {G3326} my {G3450} friends {G5384}:

Complete Jewish Bible

‘Look,’ the son answered, ‘I have worked for you all these years, and I have never disobeyed your orders. But you have never even given me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my friends.

Berean Standard Bible

But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

American Standard Version

But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 15:29 captures the elder brother's indignant complaint to his father after the return of his prodigal sibling. His words reveal a heart focused on dutiful service and adherence to commands, rather than the joyful, relational love of a son. He expresses resentment over his perceived lack of reward, highlighting a deep misunderstanding of his father's generosity and the nature of true sonship, contrasting sharply with the father's boundless grace.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in [the Parable of the Lost Son](/luke/15-11-32 "Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Lost Son"), the third of three parables in Luke 15, following the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. All three parables are told by Jesus to a mixed audience of tax collectors and sinners (who were drawing near to hear him) and Pharisees and scribes (who were grumbling about Jesus' association with sinners). The elder brother's reaction directly mirrors the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, who resented God's welcoming of repentant sinners. His complaint serves as a stark foil to the father's unconditional love and celebratory joy over the younger son's return, emphasizing the central theme of God's delight in repentance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish culture, the elder son held a position of honor and responsibility, often receiving a double portion of the inheritance. His decision to remain at home and "serve" his father was expected, and his sense of entitlement to a reward for his obedience was culturally understandable, though spiritually flawed. The father's actions throughout the parable—running to meet his younger son, embracing him, and throwing a lavish feast—were highly unconventional and demonstrated radical, unmerited grace. The elder brother's demand for a "kid" for his own feast with friends underscores his desire for a personal celebration distinct from the family's joyous reunion, reflecting a focus on individual gratification rather than communal reconciliation.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 15:29 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the chapter and the broader Gospel. It vividly portrays **self-righteousness and legalism**, where the elder brother believes his obedience has earned him favor, contrasting with the father's **unconditional grace**. His complaint highlights the theme of **bitterness and envy** towards those who receive unmerited favor, mirroring the Pharisees' attitude. The verse also underscores a profound **misunderstanding of sonship**, as the elder brother views himself as a servant rather than a beloved heir, failing to grasp the inherent blessings of his constant presence with his father (as the father later explains in [Luke 15:31](/luke/15-31 "Luke 15:31 - All I Have Is Yours")). This sets up the critical distinction between earning God's favor through works and receiving it through grace, a central tenet of the New Testament, as seen in passages like [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **serve (Greek, _douleúō_):** From G1398, meaning "to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)." The elder brother's use of this word is profoundly revealing. Despite being a son and heir, he perceives his relationship with his father as one of a bondservant, bound by duty and obligation, rather than one of loving sonship and intimate partnership. This highlights his works-based mentality, where his obedience is a means to earn favor, rather than a natural outflow of love and belonging.
* **commandment (Greek, _entolḗ_):** From G1785, meaning "injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription; commandment, precept." The elder brother's insistence that he "never transgressed... thy commandment" underscores his focus on external adherence to rules. His self-assessment is based on a checklist of obedience, not on the spirit of the law or the relational aspect of his duties. This legalistic emphasis reveals a heart that prioritizes performance over genuine connection and love for his father.
* **gavest (Greek, _dídōmi_):** From G1325, meaning "to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)." The elder brother's complaint, "thou never gavest me a kid," exposes his sense of deprivation and injustice. He views his father's resources as something to be distributed based on merit, rather than as a shared inheritance. His focus on what he was *not* given, despite having constant access to all his father's possessions, reveals a deep-seated ingratitude and a transactional view of their relationship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he answering said to his father":** This phrase sets the scene for the elder brother's direct confrontation, indicating that his words are a response to the celebration for his younger brother's return. His "answering" is not a polite reply but an indignant outburst, laden with accusation and self-pity, signaling the dramatic tension of the moment.
* **"Lo, these many years do I serve thee":** The exclamation "Lo" (Greek _idoú_) draws attention to his self-pitying declaration. He emphasizes the duration ("many years") and nature ("serve thee") of his dutiful, yet joyless, obedience. This statement is the foundation of his perceived righteousness, positioning himself as a loyal, hardworking servant who has earned a reward.
* **"neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment":** This clause further solidifies his claim of blamelessness. He asserts perfect obedience to his father's commands, implying that his faultless record should entitle him to special recognition or reward. This highlights his legalistic mindset, where adherence to rules is paramount and deserving of recompense.
* **"and yet thou never gavest me a kid":** Here, the elder brother articulates his specific grievance. Despite his years of faithful service and perfect obedience, he feels unjustly deprived of even a small celebration with his friends, while his profligate brother receives a lavish feast. This reveals his envy and his transactional understanding of his relationship with his father, expecting a quid pro quo for his good behavior.
* **"that I might make merry with my friends":** This final clause clarifies the purpose of the desired "kid." He longs for a celebration, not with his family or in joy over his brother's return, but with his "friends." This underscores his alienation from the family's joy and his preference for a self-centered, external validation, further contrasting with the father's inclusive and unconditional love.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 15:29 is rich with **Characterization**, vividly portraying the elder brother's self-righteousness, legalism, and envy through his own words. His speech serves as a dramatic **Irony**, as he, who has always been with the father and had access to everything, feels more deprived than the brother who squandered his inheritance. The verse employs **Contrast** by setting the elder brother's transactional, works-based mentality against the father's boundless, unmerited grace, which is the central theme of the parable. The elder brother's perception of himself as a "servant" rather than a "son" is a powerful **Symbolism** for those who live under the law rather than in the freedom of grace. His complaint also functions as a **Foil** to the father's character, highlighting the depth of the father's love by showing how profoundly it is misunderstood by someone so close.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The elder brother's complaint in Luke 15:29 serves as a profound theological commentary on the human tendency towards self-righteousness and a works-based understanding of God's favor. His attitude mirrors that of the Pharisees, who believed their meticulous adherence to the law earned them a privileged standing with God, leading them to resent Jesus's embrace of "sinners." This verse powerfully illustrates the tension between grace and works, highlighting that true sonship is not earned through obedience but is a gift received through relationship. It challenges us to examine whether our relationship with God is characterized by joyful communion or by a burdensome sense of obligation and a tallying of our good deeds.

* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - No One Justified by the Law")
* [Galatians 3:10](/galatians/3-10 "Galatians 3:10 - Under the Curse of the Law")
* [Matthew 20:1-16](/matthew/20-1-16 "Matthew 20:1-16 - The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The elder brother's words in Luke 15:29 offer a potent mirror for self-examination, challenging us to confront any lingering self-righteousness or legalism within our own hearts. It prompts us to ask whether we truly understand and embrace the radical, unmerited grace of God, or if we subtly believe that our good deeds, spiritual disciplines, or moral uprightness somehow earn us a greater share of His favor. Are we able to genuinely rejoice when others, especially those who have strayed far from God, are welcomed back into His loving embrace, or do we harbor resentment, feeling that our "faithful service" has gone unnoticed or unrewarded? This verse calls us to move beyond a transactional relationship with God, where we serve Him to get something in return, and instead, to live in the joyful freedom of sonship, understanding that all the Father has is already ours through His boundless love. It invites us to cultivate a heart of gratitude for the constant presence and abundant provision of our heavenly Father, and to extend that same grace and welcoming spirit to others, recognizing that true spiritual maturity celebrates repentance and reconciliation above all else.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Do I ever view my relationship with God as a contractual agreement, where my obedience earns His favor or blessing?**
* **Am I able to genuinely rejoice when others, perhaps those I deem less deserving, experience God's grace and restoration?**
* **What "kid" or reward do I feel I am owed by God, despite having constant access to His presence and all His blessings?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's unmerited grace in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What does the elder brother's statement, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee," reveal about his understanding of sonship?**

Answer: The elder brother's statement reveals a profound misunderstanding of true sonship, viewing his relationship with his father through the lens of a servant or slave rather than a beloved heir. The Greek word for "serve" (_douleúō_) literally means to be a bondservant or slave. Despite living in his father's house and having constant access to all his father's possessions, he perceives his life as one of dutiful obligation and labor, rather than one of joyful relationship and shared inheritance. This mindset is a stark contrast to the father's perspective, who later reminds him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours" ([Luke 15:31](/luke/15-31 "Luke 15:31 - The Father's Affirmation")). His focus on "serving" and not "transgressing" highlights a legalistic, works-based understanding of his position, rather than one founded on unconditional love and belonging.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The elder brother's self-righteous complaint in Luke 15:29 finds its ultimate resolution and rebuke in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The elder brother, much like the Pharisees and scribes he represents, embodies humanity's futile attempt to earn righteousness through adherence to the law, believing that their obedience merits God's favor. Yet, Christ reveals that true sonship is not achieved through "serving" or "not transgressing" commandments, but through grace received by faith. Jesus himself came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")). He perfectly fulfilled the law, not to earn His own place, but to become the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ, the End of the Law")). The "kid" the elder brother desired for his own merriment is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who was sacrificed so that all who believe might partake in the eternal feast of salvation, not based on their merit, but on His perfect sacrifice. Through Christ, we are adopted as sons and daughters, receiving an inheritance not earned, but freely given, allowing us to enter into the Father's joy and celebration over every repentant sinner, as seen in [Galatians 4:4-7](/galatians/4-4-7 "Galatians 4:4-7 - Adoption as Sons").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 18:11

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luke 17:10

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Luke 19:21

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

Isaiah 58:2

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Isaiah 58:3

¶ Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.