Luke 15:29
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
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.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- 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:
- WEB
- But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
- ASV
- 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:
- DARBY
- But he answering said to his father, Behold, so many years I serve thee, and never have I transgressed a commandment of thine; and to me hast thou never given a kid that I might make merry with my friends:
- BLB
- But answering, he said to his father, ‘Behold, so many years I serve you, and never did I transgress a commandment of yours, and never did you give to me a young goat so that I might be merry with my friends.
- ÅB
- men han svarte og sa til sin far: Se, i så mange år har jeg tjent deg, og aldri har jeg gjort imot ditt bud, og meg har du aldri gitt et kje for at jeg kunne være glad med mine venner;
- OTB
- Men han svarte faren: ‘Se! I alle disse årene har jeg tjent deg og aldri overtrådt dine bud, men du har aldri gitt meg så mye som et kje for å feire med vennene mine.
- B1930
- men han svarte og sa til sin far: Se, i så mange år har jeg tjent dig, og aldri har jeg gjort imot ditt bud, og mig har du aldri gitt et kje forat jeg kunde være glad med mine venner;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 15:7
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Read in contextZechariah 7:3
by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?”
Read in contextLuke 18:11–12
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
Read in contextMalachi 3:14
You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
Read in contextLuke 18:20–21
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
Read in contextIsaiah 65:5
They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
Read in context1 Samuel 15:13–14
When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”
Read in contextLuke 17:10
So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Read in context