Luke 15:15-16 Meaning in Context of Prodigal Son
Luke 15:15-16 describes the dire circumstances of the prodigal son after he has squandered his inheritance: "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything" (ESV). This passage is part of the larger parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32, which illustrates God's readiness to receive repentant sinners [1].
The parable is one of three in Luke 15, all occasioned by the murmuring of the scribes and Pharisees against Jesus for associating with "publicans and sinners" [4, 7]. The preceding parables are those of the lost sheep and the lost coin, which similarly emphasize the joy in heaven over a sinner's repentance [1]. The prodigal son's journey begins with his demand for his inheritance, signifying a desire for independence from his father's authority, which some interpreters see as man's impatience with divine control [3].
After leaving home, the son "wasted his substance with riotous living" (Luke 15:13), leading to the extreme poverty described in verses 15-16. His employment feeding pigs would have been particularly abhorrent to a Jewish audience, as pigs were considered unclean animals under Mosaic law. This detail underscores the depth of his degradation and destitution. The desire to eat the pigs' food—carob pods, which were typically animal feed—highlights his severe hunger and the complete lack of provision from others [5]. The phrase "no one gave him anything" emphasizes his utter isolation and the absence of compassion from those around him.
The patristic writer Macarius Chrysocephalus interpreted the prodigal son as representing a rational creature who makes wicked use of what God has given him, particularly the benefits of baptism [2]. The son's subsequent reflection and decision to return to his father (Luke 15:17-18) mark a turning point, demonstrating repentance and a willingness to accept even the lowest position in his father's household [5]. This return is met with overwhelming joy and acceptance from the father, who represents God's boundless grace towards those who repent [1, 6].
Sources
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 15:11: We have here the parable of the prodigal son, the scope of which is the same with those before, to show how pleasing to God the conversion of sinners is, of great sinners, and how ready he is to receive and entertain such, upon their repentance; but the circumstances of the parable do much more largely and fully set forth the riches of gospel grace than those did, and it has been, and will be while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, both to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. Now, I. The parable represents God as a com”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — MACARIUS CHRYSOCEPHALUS: PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON, LUKE XV. ORATION ON LUKE XV., TOWARDS THE CLOSE. (part 5): Christ represents in the parable,--as a rational creature, with his reason darkened, and asking from the Divine Being what is suitable to reason; then as obtaining from God, and making a wicked use of what had been given, and especially of the benefits of baptism, which had been vouchsafed to him; whence also He calls him a prodigal; and then, after the dissipation of what had been given him, and again his r”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 15:12: III. THE PRODIGAL SON. (Luke 15:11-32) the younger--as the more thoughtless. said, &c.--weary of restraint, panting for independence, unable longer to abide the check of a father's eye. This is man impatient of divine control, desiring to be independent of God, seeking to be his own master; that "sin of sins, in which all subsequent sins are included as in their germ, for they are but the unfolding of this one" [TRENCH]. he divided, &c.--Thus "God, when His service no longer appears a perfect freedom, and man promises himself something far better e”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 15 (introduction): Evil manners, we say, beget good laws; so, in this chapter, the murmuring of the scribes and Pharisees at the grace of Christ, and the favour he showed to publicans and sinners, gave occasion for a more full discovery of that grace than perhaps otherwise we should have had in these three parables which we have in this chapter, the scope of all of which is the same, to show, not only what God had said and sworn in the Old Testament, that he had no pleasure in the death and ruin of sinners, but that he had great pleasure in their return and repentance, an”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 15:18: I will arise and go to my FATHER--The change has come at last, and what a change!--couched in terms of such exquisite simplicity and power as if expressly framed for all heart-broken penitents. Father, &c.--Mark the term. Though "no more worthy to be called his son," the prodigal sinner is taught to claim the defiled, but still existing relationship, asking not to be made a servant, but remaining a son to be made "as a servant," willing to take the lowest place and do the meanest work. Ah! and is it come to this? Once it was, "Any place rather than ho”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 15:32: This thy brother - Or, This brother of Thine. To awaken this ill-natured, angry, inhumane man to a proper sense of his duty, both to his parent and brother, this amiable father returns him his own unkind words, but in a widely different spirit. This son of mine to whom I show mercy is Thy brother, to whom thou shouldst show bowels of tenderness and affection; especially as he is no longer the person he was: he was dead in sin - he is quickened by the power of God: he was lost to thee, to me, to himself, and to our God; but now he is found: and he will be a comfort to”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 15 (introduction): Publicans and sinners draw near to hear our Lord, at which the Pharisees are offended, Luk 15:1, Luk 15:2. Christ vindicates his conduct in receiving them by the parable of the lost sheep, Luk 15:3-7. The parable of the lost piece of money, Luk 15:8-10; and the affecting parable of the prodigal son, vv. 11-32.”