Luke 15 29

Luke 15:29 kjv

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

Luke 15:29 nkjv

So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

Luke 15:29 niv

But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

Luke 15:29 esv

but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

Luke 15:29 nlt

but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.

Luke 15 verses

Luke 15 29 Meaning

The older son's words reveal his resentful and self-righteous heart. He boasts of his consistent, unquestioning obedience ("these many years... neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment"), emphasizing a relationship of dutiful service rather than loving sonship. He complains that despite his faithfulness, he has never received even a small symbol of celebration (a kid) to share with his friends, implying that his loyalty has gone unrewarded. This statement serves as a stark contrast to his father's unconditional love and joy over the lost, exposing his focus on legalistic performance and the expectation of merited reward, alongside envy towards his wayward brother.

Luke 15 29 Context

Luke Chapter 15 contains three parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—all teaching about God's passionate search for and joyful reception of those who are lost and repent. This entire chapter is set against the backdrop of Jesus sharing meals with "tax collectors and sinners," leading the Pharisees and scribes to grumble, "This man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:1-2). The older son in the final parable directly represents these self-righteous religious leaders. His complaint in verse 29 comes after the father joyfully welcomes the prodigal son, highlighting the older son's indignation, self-pity, and inability to share in his father's joy for his brother's return, mirroring the Pharisees' displeasure at Jesus's compassion for sinners. Historically, sons were expected to be dutiful and respect their father's authority and inheritance decisions; the older son’s public outburst demonstrates a deep underlying disrespect and resentment.

Luke 15 29 Word analysis

• And he answered (ἀποκριθεὶς, apokritheis) his father, saying: Not merely a polite reply, but an argumentative and challenging response. It conveys a deep sense of wounded pride and complaint, signifying the emotional weight behind his words.
• Lo (ἰδοὺ, idou): An exclamation meaning "Behold!" or "Look!". It emphasizes and draws immediate attention to his assertion, indicating a dramatic revelation of his long-held grievances and self-perceived virtues.
• these many years (τοσαῦτα ἔτη, tosauta etē): Stresses the duration of his perceived faithful service, underlining his belief that his sustained obedience should have earned him significant recognition or reward.
• do I serve (δουλεύω, douleuō) thee: This verb specifically means "to serve as a slave or bondservant." It implies a service based on duty, obligation, and potentially fear, rather than a joyful, spontaneous service of a free son rooted in love and affection. It reflects his perception of their relationship as one of labor for reward, not familial intimacy.
• neither transgressed (οὐδέποτε ... παρῆλθον, oudepote ... parelthon) I at any time thy commandment (ἐντολή, entolē): He declares his absolute and perfect obedience to every rule. This reveals a legalistic mindset, focusing on outward adherence to law and a proud assertion of self-righteousness. "Parelthon" (from παρέρχομαι) means to "go past" or "disregard," so he claims he never deviated from his father's instructions.
• and yet thou never gavest (οὐδέποτέ μοι ἔδωκας, oudepote moi edōkas) me a kid (ἔριφον, eriphon): Highlights his strong sense of injustice and deprivation. He believes he is owed a tangible reward, contrasting his lack of recognition with the lavish celebration given to his brother. A "kid" (young goat) was a modest animal for a feast, further underscoring his perceived neglect even in small matters.
• that I might make merry (εὐφρανθῶ, euphranthō) with my friends (φίλων, philōn): This exposes his desire for personal enjoyment and social validation, which he feels his obedience has not afforded him. It also shows a self-centered focus on his own social life and pleasure rather than joy in his brother's return.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And he answered his father, saying, Lo, these many years do I serve thee": This phrase introduces the older son’s bitter self-pity. The "Lo" or "Behold" signifies an aggrieved exclamation, drawing attention to his long period of what he considers impeccable, self-sacrificing service. The "serve thee" using "douleuō" (slave's service) implies a transactional relationship, where his loyalty is an exchange for expected reward.
• "neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment": This is his boast of flawless legalistic obedience. It emphasizes his outward conformity to rules, reflecting a works-based understanding of righteousness and merit. It is an indictment of his brother's obvious sin, and an implicit judgment against his father's perceived unfair grace.
• "and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends": This reveals the deeper grievance behind his seemingly obedient facade. His heart is not motivated by love for his father or joy in family; rather, he seeks personal gain, recognition, and enjoyment. The longing for a small feast with friends stands in stark contrast to the father’s spontaneous lavish feast for the returned prodigal, fueling his envy and sense of injustice. He has misinterpreted sonship as slavery, focusing on duty without fully comprehending the privileges and spontaneous joy inherent in his position within the family.

Luke 15 29 Bonus section

The older son's inability to enter the celebration is the true tragedy of the parable, more so than the younger son's initial wanderings. The younger son's repentance brings him home to grace; the older son's self-righteousness keeps him outside the house of joy and communion, despite always being physically present within his father’s household. He viewed himself as deprived while being heir to all his father's wealth and blessings (Lk 15:31), highlighting that one can be physically close to God but spiritually far from His heart. His focus on "thy commandment" reflects a common pitfall of seeing the Law as a means to earn favor, rather than a guide for relationship that points to one's need for grace. The "kid" signifies his limited view of joy and friendship, whereas his father desired to give him abundant life and joy within the family. His self-assertion of righteousness stands in stark contrast to the humility required for true entry into God's kingdom.

Luke 15 29 Commentary

Luke 15:29 powerfully unveils the tragic condition of the older son's heart. He personifies the legalistic and self-righteous individual who meticulously observes external rules but harbors bitterness, envy, and a lack of understanding regarding grace and genuine love. His service to his father was a "slave's service," duty-bound and resentful, motivated by a sense of obligation and expectation of merit, rather than a joyful outflow of a son’s love. He completely misses the inherent blessings and fellowship of simply being in his father’s house and having "all that the father has" as his own (Lk 15:31). His grievance over a mere "kid" reveals a soul starving for joy and genuine connection, paradoxically alienated from joy because of his rigid adherence to performance and his inability to embrace the father’s overflowing mercy. This serves as a warning against measuring God’s love by perceived reward or by comparing oneself to others, rather than recognizing His boundless grace already present.

• A diligent worker who feels their consistent effort is overlooked while a colleague who made mistakes but made a visible recovery is publicly celebrated, neglecting the joy in their colleague's progress.
• A long-time member of a spiritual community, perfectly adhering to its doctrines, grows resentful when an outwardly rebellious individual experiences a dramatic spiritual transformation and is openly embraced, failing to see the hand of grace.