Luke 15:18 Commentary and Bible Study

In the parable he doesn't merely say, ‘I will arise.’ He does arise, and he goes to his father, and he repents of his sin, and he says, ‘I'm not worthy in the least.’ And he says these words. He says, ‘Father, make me as one of thy hired servants.’ Only his father could make him a servant; only his father could take him back, and this is what you have to remember if you come to Christ. If you want your sins to be forgiven, if you want your life to be changed, you have to realize this that only God can make you one of his servants. Only God can make you a Christian.There is only one place the prodigal can go. He knows his father is not like his so-called friends, who happily spent all his money for him, and then left him when all was spent; who gave him no faithful warnings of the dangers of evil. Nor was he like those he worked for who just took advantage of him, and did not care if he was reduced to level of pigs. His father was kind, honest, did not take advantage of people, did not pretend evil was good, and good evil. The prodigal must go and admit his sin, and face up to how unreasonable he has been, all this time pretending otherwise.He had treated his father in terrible way, and he could not return without admitting everything. He would have to repent of his former attitude, and admit that he deserved nothing. Perhaps his father would still remember he was once his son. In the same way the one returning to God is aware of a life spent at war with God, ignoring his standards, breaking his laws. There is no conversion without repentance – it is the first word of the gospel. He is deeply humbled now, and knows he is not worthy to be received by his father. He dare not ask to be reinstated as a son, he will ask to be made a servant. This is the mind of one who is under conviction.