Luke 15:19

19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants."'

Luke 15:19 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 15:19

And am no more worthy to be called thy son
As all the Jews were; not only by creation, and providential care, as all men are; but by national adoption: and however worthy this man might think himself to be called a Son of God before, and value himself upon it; he now sees, and was ready to own his unworthiness to be called so in any sense; and much more to be called and accounted a Son of God by special adoption;

make me as one of thy hired servants;
this is said not from a servile spirit, but to express the mean thoughts he had of himself, and the great desire he had to be fed from his father's table, in the meanest way; and what an happiness and honour it would be to him, could he be the meanest in his family, a doorkeeper in his house; which was more eligible to him, than to dwell in the tents of sin, or continue in this hungry and starving condition.

Luke 15:19 In-Context

17 And when he came to himself, he said, `How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee,

19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants."'

20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, `Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.'