Luke 15:31

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Son {G5043}, thou {G4771} art {G1488} ever {G3842} with {G3326} me {G1700}, and {G2532} all {G3956} that I have {G1699} is {G2076} thine {G4674}.

‘Son, you are always with me,’ said the father, ‘and everything I have is yours.

‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.

Commentary

Context

Luke 15:31 is part of Jesus' profound Parable of the Lost Son, often known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This particular verse represents the father's gentle and loving response to the elder son, who was resentful and angry about the celebratory welcome given to his wayward younger brother. The parable itself was told by Jesus to a crowd that included Pharisees and scribes who grumbled about Him associating with "sinners," aiming to illustrate God's boundless grace and joy over repentance, while also addressing the self-righteousness of those who felt they had always "done right."

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unconditional Love and Ever-Present Relationship: The father's opening words, "Son, thou art ever with me," underscore the continuous and unbroken fellowship he had with the elder son. Despite the elder son's complaints and self-pity, his position as a son who had always been by his father's side remained secure. This highlights God's constant presence and unwavering love for His children.
  • Full Inheritance and Abundant Provision: The powerful declaration, "and all that I have is thine," reveals a crucial point. The elder son already possessed full rights and access to the father's entire estate. He was not a hired servant working for wages, but a rightful heir with complete ownership and authority over everything the father owned. His perceived lack was a matter of perspective and understanding, not actual deprivation. This contrasts sharply with the younger son who had squandered his portion of the inheritance.
  • Grace Over Merit: The father's words challenge the elder son's legalistic mindset, which focused on his own performance ("these many years do I serve thee") rather than the inherent grace and privilege of his sonship. It teaches that true spiritual riches are not earned through tireless service but are freely given through relationship and divine adoption.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "thou art ever with me" translates the Greek πάντοτε μετ' ἐμοῦ εἶ (pantote met' emou ei), emphasizing a continuous, ongoing state of being in relationship. The latter part, "all that I have is thine," comes from πάντα τὰ ἐμὰ σά ἐστιν (panta ta ema sa estin), which literally means "all my things are yours." This phrasing strongly conveys that the elder son had full, complete, and unrestricted access to the father's wealth and resources at any time. His perception of being deprived was entirely self-imposed.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 15:31 offers profound comfort and challenge. It reminds us that as children of God through faith in Christ, we are "ever with Him" (John 15:4). We have full access to the spiritual riches and boundless resources of our heavenly Father. Our standing is not based on our performance or how "good" we've been, but on our secure identity as His beloved children. This verse encourages us to live from a place of abundance and gratitude, recognizing that every spiritual blessing is already ours in Christ, and to avoid the elder brother's mistake of feeling unappreciated or deprived while already possessing everything.

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Cross-References

  • Romans 9:4

    Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;

  • Mark 7:27

    But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] unto the dogs.

  • Mark 7:28

    And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

  • Matthew 20:13

    But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

  • Matthew 20:16

    So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

  • Romans 11:1

    ¶ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.

  • Luke 19:22

    And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
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