Luke 15:19

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Make me like one of your hired workers.'

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 "But [when he] came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have an abundance {of food}, and I am dying here from hunger!

18 I will set out [and] go to my father and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and {in your sight}!

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Make me like one of your hired workers.'

20 And he set out [and] came to his own father. But [while] he was still a long way away, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran {and embraced him} and kissed him.

21 And [his] son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and {in your sight}! I am no longer worthy to be called your son!'