Luke 15:17-18
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "came to himself" is a profound insight into the nature of sin; it's depicted as a state of being "out of one's mind," with repentance being the return to true consciousness. What's easily missed is the specific comparison he makes: even the lowest hired servants in his father's house have enough to eat, highlighting that his true degradation wasn't just the hunger, but the loss of his identity and place within his family's provision.
This verse marks a pivotal moment for the younger son in Jesus' parable. Having squandered his inheritance through reckless living in a distant land, he finds himself destitute and desperate, reduced to feeding pigs. It is in this lowest point, realizing the utter folly of his choices and his degrading situation, that he finally "comes to himself."
Ever feel like you're living a life that isn't really yours? The prodigal son did too, but his awakening was jarring.
The phrase 'came to himself' is incredibly powerful. It suggests that when we are living in sin, we are actually outside of our true selves, like we're insane or in a bad dream.
What does true emptiness feel like? For the prodigal, it was a brutal comparison that finally broke through his delusion.
In his lowest moment, the prodigal son looks at his desperate situation and compares it to the security and abundance back home. This contrast is the catalyst for his decision to return.
Understand the original words
limō · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, hunger often signifies physical deprivation but also carries a metaphorical sense of deep spiritual longing or the consequences of wandering away from God's provision. It frequently highlights the contrast between the emptiness of worldly life and the abundance found in relationship with the Father.
hēmarton · Greek Verb
To commit an offense against God's law or character. It signifies missing the mark of righteousness and breaking the relational covenant with the Creator, requiring repentance and reconciliation.
ouranon · Greek Noun
A metonymy used to refer to God Himself. It emphasizes the majesty, holiness, and supreme authority of the Almighty, indicating that sin is ultimately a violation of God's sovereignty regardless of who else is affected.
This parable vividly illustrates the common human experience of squandering blessings and the subsequent realization of their value, especially when faced with hardship and the stark contrast to what was once taken for granted.
c. 1st century AD
Roman Empire agricultural economy
The Roman Empire's economy, particularly in Judea, relied heavily on agriculture. Hired laborers, while not high in status, were essential for farming and would have received basic provisions like bread.
c. 1st century AD
Jewish societal structure and family inheritance
In Jewish society, a father's property was divided among his sons. The younger son's request for his inheritance early was considered disrespectful and indicated a desire for independence, severing ties with the family's legacy and responsibilities.
c. 1st century AD
Prodigal son squanders his inheritance
The younger son travels to a 'distant country' and wastes his entire inheritance through reckless and extravagant living, losing all his wealth and social standing.
c. 1st century AD
Famine strikes the distant country
A severe famine grips the land where the son is living, leaving him destitute and without any means of support.
This verse describes a similar realization of sin and the subsequent relief found in confession and forgiveness, mirroring the prodigal son's internal shift.
Isaiah 65:24This prophecy highlights God's eagerness to respond to His people even before they fully call out to Him, echoing the father's readiness to embrace his son.
Jeremiah 3:12This passage calls for unfaithful Israel to 'return, O backsliding children' and promises God's steadfast love, paralleling the prodigal's return and the father's mercy.
Romans 7:18Paul describes a similar internal struggle where the 'desire to do what is right is present, but not the ability to accomplish it,' reflecting the prodigal's awareness of his dire state and his former blessings.
1 Corinthians 6:11This verse lists former sinful practices and then declares believers have been washed, sanctified, and justified, showcasing the transformative power that awaits those who 'come to themselves'.
calvinLuke 15:11-24: "And he said, A certain man had two sons:"
- And he said, [514] A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of property which falls to me. And he divided between them the property. 13. And not many days afterwards, [515] the younger son, having gathered all together, set out on a journey to a distant country, and there wasted his property by living extravagantly. 14. But when he had spent all, a sore famine arose in th…
jfbLuke 15:17: "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!"
- came to himself—Before, he had been "beside himself" (Ec 9:3), in what sense will presently appear.How many hired, &c.—What a testimony to the nature of the home he had left! But did he not know all this ere he departed and every day of his voluntary exile? He did, and he did not. His heart being wholly estranged from home and steeped in selfis…
The phrase "came to himself" is a profound insight into the nature of sin; it's depicted as a state of being "out of one's mind," with repentance being the return to true consciousness. What's easily missed is the specific comparison he makes: even the lowest hired servants in his father's house have enough to eat, highlighting that his true degradation wasn't just the hunger, but the loss of his identity and place within his family's provision.
This verse marks a pivotal moment for the younger son in Jesus' parable. Having squandered his inheritance through reckless living in a distant land, he finds himself destitute and desperate, reduced to feeding pigs. It is in this lowest point, realizing the utter folly of his choices and his degrading situation, that he finally "comes to himself."
This verse marks a pivotal moment for the younger son in Jesus' parable. Having squandered his inheritance through reckless living in a distant land, he finds himself destitute and desperate, reduced to feeding pigs. It is in this lowest point, realizing the utter folly of his choices and his degrading situation, that he finally "comes to himself."
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c. 1st century AD— this verse
Son taken into service to feed swine
In his desperation, the son hires himself out to a Gentile farmer, a deeply humiliating position for a Jew, as feeding pigs was considered unclean. He is reduced to longing for the husks fed to the pigs.
c. 1st century AD
Son's realization and decision to return
Striken by hunger and degradation, the son 'comes to himself,' realizing the stark contrast between his current suffering and the abundance enjoyed by even the hired servants of his father's household, and resolves to return home.
"“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and b…" — The phrase "came to himself" is a profound insight into the nature of sin; it's depicted as a state of being "out of one's mind," with repentance being the return to true consciousness. What's easily…
