Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 15:27-28

"And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him." — Luke 15:27-28 (ASV)

And he said to him, Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound. And he was angry,

It did not seem to him right that one who had acted so badly should be so honored: He was angry,

And he said to him, Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and treated him.

I hardly know which to admire most: the love of the father when he fell upon the neck of the prodigal, or the love of the father when he went out to talk with his elder son: Therefore came his father out, and treated him.

Oh, our God is very good to us when we give way to bad tempers!

If we begin to think that we are very holy people, that we have been long the servants of God, and that there ought to be some little fuss made over us as well as over great sinners who come into the church, then our Father is very gentle, and He comes out and entreats us.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come: and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound, And he was angry, and would not go in.

No, I dare say he was glad his brother was back, but he did not like such a fuss made over him. He was glad to see a wandering one restored, but why, why, why should there be all this extravagance of joy concerning this wandering young fellow, who had been no better than he should be? Why all this delight?

And there are some kinds of Christians who always feel that when there is a sinner introduced into the church, "Well, I hope that it will turn out a genuine case," and always that is the first thought. They are afraid that it cannot be.

They have never sinned in that way. They have been kept, by the grace of God, from outward transgression, and they are half afraid to hear of these outrageous sinners being brought in, and so much joy made over them. He was angry, and would not go in.