John Calvin Commentary Luke 15:25

"Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing." — Luke 15:25 (ASV)

This latter portion of the parable charges those people with cruelty who would wickedly choose to set limits to the grace of God, as if they envied the salvation of wretched sinners. For we know that this is pointed at the haughtiness of the scribes,⁵⁴³ who did not think that they received the reward due to their merits if Christ admitted tax collectors and the common people to the hope of the eternal inheritance. The substance of it therefore is that, if we desire to be considered the children of God, we must forgive in a brotherly manner the faults of brothers, which He forgives with fatherly kindness.

And his elder son was in the field. Those who think that, under the figure of the first-born son, the Jewish nation is described, indeed have some argument on their side; but I do not think that they pay sufficient attention to the whole of the passage. For the discourse was occasioned by the murmuring of the scribes, who took offense at Christ's kindness towards wretched people who had led a wicked life.

He therefore compares the scribes, who were swelled with presumption, to good and modest men, who had always lived with decency and sobriety, and had honorably supported their family; indeed, even to obedient children, who throughout their whole life had patiently submitted to their father’s control.

And though they were utterly unworthy of this commendation, yet Christ, speaking according to their belief, attributes to them, by way of concession, their pretended holiness, as if it had been virtue; as if He had said, Even if I were to grant you what you falsely boast of, that you have always been obedient children to God, still you should not so haughtily and cruelly reject your brothers when they repent of their wicked life.

⁵⁴³ “L’orgueil et la presomption des Scribes;” — “the pride and presumption of the Scribes.”;” — “the pride and presumption of the Scribes.”