Luke 15:31 kjv
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Luke 15:31 nkjv
"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
Luke 15:31 niv
"?'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Luke 15:31 esv
And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Luke 15:31 nlt
"His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
Luke 15 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 8:16-17 | The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God... and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... | Believers are true sons/heirs of God with full inheritance. |
| Gal 4:6-7 | Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. | Sonship transforms identity from slavery to inherited blessings. |
| Jn 17:10 | "All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and in them I am glorified." | Mutual possession between Father and Son (Jesus), extended to believers. |
| 1 Cor 3:21-23 | Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours... whether the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. | Believers inherit all spiritual blessings through Christ. |
| Ps 16:5-6 | O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. | God Himself is the ultimate inheritance for His faithful ones. |
| Ps 73:23-26 | Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand... My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. | Constant presence and unfailing strength for those near God. |
| Isa 58:14 | Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. | Delight in God leads to full enjoyment of blessings and inheritance. |
| Jn 15:4-5 | "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit..." | Emphasizes continuous union and active connection for fruitfulness. |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ... | All spiritual blessings are already bestowed in Christ. |
| Eph 1:11-14 | In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will... | Believers are guaranteed an inheritance through Christ. |
| Col 2:9-10 | For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. | Believers are fully complete and lacking nothing in Christ. |
| Heb 1:2 | but in these last days has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds... | Christ is the ultimate Heir, and believers are co-heirs. |
| Rev 21:7 | "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." | Future inheritance promised to the faithful in the new creation. |
| Mt 20:1-16 | The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard | Illustrates envy and self-righteousness regarding divine generosity. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector | Condemns self-righteousness and highlights the heart for humility. |
| Php 3:7-9 | But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... | Emphasizes forsaking self-gain for true spiritual wealth in Christ. |
| Lk 15:29 | But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look, 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.' | The elder son's perspective of self-service and grievance, a contrast to the father's statement. |
| Lk 12:29-31 | "And do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink... For all these things the nations of the world seek. But your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." | Prioritizing God's kingdom ensures all necessary provisions are given. |
| 2 Cor 6:18 | "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." | God's promise of intimate relationship and parental care. |
| Rom 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | God's blessings and standing for His children are unwavering. |
| Js 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. | God's unwavering goodness and constant flow of blessings. |
| Eph 2:4-7 | But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us... and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. | God's overwhelming grace provides spiritual riches, seating us with Christ. |
Luke 15 verses
Luke 15 31 Meaning
Luke 15:31 conveys the Father's steadfast love, abundant provision, and unrecognised blessings upon the elder son, revealing his constant presence and full inheritance. It highlights the son's failure to embrace his existing status and relationship, emphasizing a father-son connection based on being, not just on doing or earning. The verse acts as a gentle, yet poignant, rebuke to self-righteousness and a reminder of the unending generosity available to those who remain in fellowship with the Father.
Luke 15 31 Context
Luke 15 presents three parables (the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost sons) that collectively reveal the heart of God towards sinners and those who stray. These parables are Jesus' direct response to the murmuring of the Pharisees and scribes, who complained that He welcomed "tax collectors and sinners and ate with them" (Lk 15:1-2). The "parable of the lost sons" (commonly known as the "Prodigal Son") uniquely illustrates two distinct responses to the Father's grace and identity: the younger son who openly rebels and then repents, and the elder son who maintains dutiful obedience but lacks true understanding of sonship and the Father's joyous heart. Luke 15:31 occurs during the father's attempt to reason with the elder son, who is angered and self-righteously bitter about his younger brother's welcome home and the celebration given for him, contrasting it with his own unrewarded faithfulness. The Father's statement underscores the core issue: the elder son's misunderstanding of his established place, relationship, and inheritance within the family, despite his continuous physical presence.
Luke 15 31 Word analysis
- And he said: (Kai eipen) - Simple past tense, direct statement, conveying a tender yet firm communication from the Father to His son, cutting through the son's anger and self-pity.
- to him: (autō) - Directly to the elder son, personal address, showing the Father's continued outreach even amidst the son's stubbornness.
- Son: (Teknon / τέκνον) - A deeply affectionate term for a child, signifying familial relationship and endearment, rather than just huios (υἱός) which refers more to a legal or mature son. This highlights the father's unchanging affection despite the elder son's disgruntled attitude, emphasizing sonship regardless of behavior.
- you are always: (su pantote ei) -
- you: (su) - Personal pronoun, highlighting the individual relationship.
- always: (pantote / πάντοτε) - This Greek word signifies "continually," "at all times," "without ceasing." It emphasizes an unbroken, uninterrupted presence and relationship. It's a key word showing the enduring reality of the son's status and closeness to the Father, which he himself has overlooked.
- are: (ei) - Present tense verb, indicating an ongoing state of being.
- with me: (met' emou) - Expresses intimate companionship, closeness, and shared life. The elder son was physically present with the Father, constantly having access, fellowship, and involvement in the household. He had what the younger son had forfeited for a time and sought to regain.
- and all that is mine: (kai panta ta ema) -
- all: (panta) - All-encompassing, signifying the entirety, everything without exception.
- that is mine: (ta ema) - Literally, "the things that are mine," implying not just material possessions (which were substantial) but also privileges, authority, blessings, honor, security, and relationship.
- is yours: (sa estin) -
- is: (estin) - Present tense, indicating a current and perpetual reality.
- yours: (sa) - Possessive pronoun, reinforcing the son's complete entitlement to the father's estate and all that came with it. This was not a future promise but a present reality, though perhaps not formally documented as full legal possession yet.
Words-group Analysis
- "Son, you are always with me": This phrase underlines the father's unchanging affection and the continuous, unbroken relational presence of the elder son. It speaks to a relationship grounded in being, not earning, challenging the son's focus on service without heart. The constant closeness implied an inherent share in the father's life, authority, and prosperity.
- "and all that is mine is yours": This declarative statement clarifies the elder son's full inheritance and access to the father's resources. It means that the son already possessed all the privileges, assets, and honor of a co-owner, dispelling any notion of deprivation or unfairness. The "all" includes not just material wealth, but spiritual riches, the father's joy, honor, and identity, all readily available had the son chosen to embrace them in fellowship. The lack was not in the father's provision but in the son's perception and enjoyment.
Luke 15 31 Bonus section
This verse offers a profound critique of religious legalism and self-righteousness, directly challenging the Pharisees' objections to Jesus welcoming sinners. The elder son embodies the mindset of those who believe they've earned their standing with God through strict obedience, and thus feel entitled to special recognition or resent grace given to others they deem less worthy. The father’s statement highlights that the elder son’s presence and privilege were not conditional on his "goodness" but inherent in his sonship. He already had access to everything he coveted—a feast, music, fellowship—but chose to stay outside, dwelling in his grievance rather than participating in his own blessings. This illustrates that spiritual richness and joy come not just from duty, but from recognizing and participating in the generous, life-giving relationship offered by the Father. The lack was never the father's unwillingness, but the elder son's inability to perceive and receive the ongoing blessings due to his judgmental and legalistic perspective. This principle extends to how believers relate to God: operating from fear of failure or seeking to earn God's love prevents genuine intimacy and enjoyment of His inheritance, which is already irrevocably theirs in Christ.
Luke 15 31 Commentary
Luke 15:31 reveals the Father's profound heart for His children, underscoring His perpetual presence and generosity that far exceeds what His children often perceive. The elder son, despite his physical proximity and diligent service, was spiritually distant and emotionally alienated from his father's true heart. He operated from a slave's mentality, fixated on merit and what he "deserved," rather than a son's joy in his inherent position and shared inheritance. His bitter complaint showed he had never truly "known" his father in the way the father desired to be known. He failed to grasp that his faithfulness entitled him to enjoy the father's constant love, shared blessings, and resources.
The father's words, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours," are not a reprimand but a tender, sorrowful declaration of an already existing reality that the son had consistently ignored or misunderstood. It serves as an invitation for the elder son to open his eyes, release his self-pity and envy, and step into the joy of his unfathomable inheritance. The lesson for believers is crucial: our standing with God is based on grace and sonship through Christ, not on performance. We often struggle, feeling inadequate or unblessed, when in reality, we are always "with Him" in Christ (Jn 14:20; Eph 2:6), and "all things" pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pt 1:3), even "all things" (1 Cor 3:21-23), are inherently ours through His divine power and rich kindness. This verse urges us to shift from a "worker's" mentality, constantly striving for approval, to a "son's" posture of resting in God's completed work, His constant presence, and His limitless provision, embracing the joyful celebration of God's redemptive work.
Examples:
- A Christian who diligently serves in church but feels unnoticed or resentful when new converts are warmly celebrated, failing to grasp their inherent identity as co-heirs with Christ.
- Someone feeling spiritually dry and lacking, despite regular Bible study and prayer, because they haven't fully appropriated the "all things" they already possess in Christ's spiritual riches.