Luke 15:19

19 and no more am I worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hirelings.

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 having come to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father have a superabundance of bread, and I here with hunger am perishing!

18 having risen, I will go on unto my father, and will say to him, Father, I did sin -- to the heaven, and before thee,

19 and no more am I worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hirelings.

20 `And having risen, he went unto his own father, and he being yet far distant, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and having ran he fell upon his neck and kissed him;

21 and the son said to him, Father, I did sin -- to the heaven, and before thee, and no more am I worthy to be called thy son.