Luke 15:30 Meaning and Explanation
“But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The elder son disowns his brother — "this thy son" — recites his sins, and protests the fatted calf killed in his honor.
What Does Luke 15:30 Mean?
He will not say "my brother." "This thy son," he says, "which hath devoured thy living with harlots" — details the story never reported. Whether rumor or bitter guesswork, he has kept the account, and he reads it aloud at the homecoming. To him the calf is not joy but injustice.
Resentment writes the harshest version of another's story and recites it at the worst moment. Set the two sons side by side: the wanderer's sins of appetite, and the stay-at-home's sins of the heart — contempt, scorekeeping, the refusal of joy. The parable does not mock the elder son; his ache is real, and the father never disputes his facts. But mercy is about to answer him — not with argument, but with tenderness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 15:30
What does Luke 15:30 mean?
The elder son disowns his brother — "this thy son" — recites his sins, and protests the fatted calf killed in his honor.