Charles Ellicott 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)

When he was yet a great way off.—In the story of the parable, we must think of the wanderer as coming back weary, foot-sore, hungry, and in rags.

In the interpretation, the state of the penitent is that of one who is poor in spirit, hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Matthew 5:3, 6), with knees that are feeble and hands that hang down (Hebrews 12:12). He is conscious of his nakedness and needs something other than the “filthy rags” of his own righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) to cover it.

And he is yet “a great way off”—not yet near the home of peace or the light of the Father’s countenance. But even there, there comes to him the joy of all joys; the Father's love finds him, and he is conscious of the love.

This is the contact of his soul with the Divine Presence, which answers to the Father’s kiss.