Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 15:20

"And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." — Luke 15:20 (ASV)

He arose, and came. He was coming. But here there is no indication of haste. He did not run, but came driven by his needs, and, as we may suppose, filled with shame, and even with some doubts about whether his father would receive him.

A great way off. This is a beautiful description—the image of his father happening to see him clad in rags, poor, and emaciated, and yet he recognized his son, and all the feelings of a father prompted him to go and embrace him.

Had compassion. He pitied him. He saw his condition—his poverty and his wretched appearance—and was moved with compassion and love.

And ran. This is contrasted with the manner in which the son came. The beauty of the picture is greatly heightened by these circumstances. The son came slowly—the father ran. The love and joy of the old man were so great that he hurried to meet him and welcome him to his home.

Fell on his neck. He threw his arms around his neck and embraced him.

And kissed him. This was at once a sign of affection and reconciliation. This must have immediately dispelled every doubt the son had about his father's willingness to forgive and receive him. A kiss is a sign of affection (1 Samuel 10:1; Genesis 29:13).

This is evidently designed to denote the readiness of God to pity and pardon returning sinners. In this verse of inimitable beauty is contained the point of the parable, which was uttered by the Savior to vindicate his own conduct in receiving sinners kindly. Who could blame this father for receiving his repenting son in this way? Not even a Pharisee could blame him; and our Savior thus showed them, so effectively that they could not resist it, that God received returning sinners, and that it was also right for him to receive them and treat them with attention.