John Calvin Commentary Luke 15:17

"But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father`s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!" — Luke 15:17 (ASV)

And when he came to himself. Here is described for us the way in which God invites people to repentance. If they were wise of their own accord and became submissive, He would draw them more gently; but since they never stoop to obedience until they have been subdued by the rod, He chastises them severely.

Accordingly, to this young man, whom abundance ⁵³⁴ rendered fierce and rebellious, hunger proved to be the best teacher. Instructed by this example, let us not imagine that God deals cruelly with us if at any time He brings heavy afflictions upon us; for in this way, those who were obstinate and intoxicated with pleasure are taught by Him to be obedient.

In short, all the miseries we endure are a beneficial invitation to repentance. ⁵³⁵ But since we are slow, we hardly ever regain a sound mind unless we are forced by extreme distress. For until we are pressed by difficulties on every side and driven to despair, the flesh always indulges in frivolity, or at least recoils.

Therefore, we infer that there is no reason to wonder if the Lord often uses violent and even repeated strokes to subdue our obstinacy and, as the proverb says, applies hard wedges to hard knots.

It must also be observed that the hope of improving his condition, if he returned to his father, gave this young man courage to repent. For no severity of punishment will soften our depravity or make us displeased with our sins until we perceive some advantage. Therefore, just as this young man is led by confidence in his father’s kindness to seek reconciliation, so the beginning of our repentance must be an acknowledgment of God's mercy to inspire in us favorable hopes.

⁵³⁴ “L’aise et la trop grande abondance;” — “ease and too great abundance.”;” — “ease and too great abundance.”

⁵³⁵ “Ce sont autant d’avertissemens proufitables, par lequel Dieu nous convie a repentance;” — “they are so many profitable warnings, by which God invites us to repentance.”;” — “they are so many profitable warnings, by which God invites us to repentance.”