John Calvin Commentary Luke 15:31

"And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine." — Luke 15:31 (ASV)

Son,⁵⁴⁴ you are always with me. This answer consists of two parts. The first is, that the first-born son has no reason to be angry, when he sees his brother kindly received without any loss to himself;⁵⁴⁵ and the second is, that, without paying any regard to his brother’s safety, he is grieved on account of the rejoicing occasioned by his return.

All my property, he says, is yours: That is, “Though you have until now carried nothing away from my house, it has been no loss to you, for all is reserved for you undiminished.”⁵⁴⁶

Besides, why are you offended at our joy, in which you ought to have shared? for it was proper that your brother, who we thought had been lost, should now be congratulated on his safety and return.

Those two reasons deserve our attention; for, on the one hand, it is no loss to us,⁵⁴⁷ if God graciously receives into favor those who had been at variance with him on account of their sins; and, on the other hand, it is wicked hardness of heart not to rejoice, when we see our brothers returned from death to life.⁵⁴⁸

⁵⁴⁴ “Mon enfant;” — ;” — “my child.”my child.”

⁵⁴⁵ “Veu qu’il n’y perd rien;” — “since he loses nothing by it.”;” — “since he loses nothing by it.”

⁵⁴⁶ “Ta condition n’en est pas pire; car ie te garde tousiours ton droict entier;” — “thy condition is not the worse for it; for I always preserve thy rights entire.”;” — “thy condition is not the worse for it; for I always preserve thy rights entire.”

⁵⁴⁷ “Nous n’y perdons rien;” — “we lose nothing by it.”;” — “we lose nothing by it.”

⁵⁴⁸ “Voyans nos freres estre tirez de la mort, et ramenez au chemin de vie;” — “perceiving our brethren to be drawn from death, and led into the way of life.”;” — “perceiving our brethren to be drawn from death, and led into the way of life.”