It was meet that we should make merry
Both father, son, and servants; (See Gill on Luke 15:23) (See Gill on Luke 15:24) and this elder brother also, because of the relation he stood in to him: and if he had had the same spiritual affection the apostle had for his brethren and kinsmen, according to the flesh, ( Romans 9:3 ) ( 10:1 ) and he would have rejoiced at the conversion and return of sinners by repentance:
and be glad;
as his father was, and the angels in heaven be; see ( Luke 15:10 )
for this thy brother,
though he would not own him as such,
was dead, and is alive again, and was lost, and is found:
(See Gill on Luke 15:24) and so the parable is concluded, the elder brother being silenced, and having nothing to say against such strong reasoning.