Luke 15:20

“And he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and running, he fell on his neck and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20 · direct translation from the Greek
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Jesus paints a father who runs to meet the son coming homeWho God IsThe father sees his son far off, runs and embraces himTurning back to GodThe father welcomes the son who returned and throws a feastForgivenessThe father sees the lost son far off, runs and embraces himParents and Children

With the Greek beneath

20

Luke 15:20, word by word

he got upἀναστὰςanastas

get up

To stand up, or set out somewhere.

Where else “anastas” appears
wentἦλθενēlthen

go

To set out toward a place.

Where else “ēlthen” appears
his own fatherπατέραpatera

parents

A family's father; sometimes father and mother.

Where else “patera” appears
farμακρὰνmakran

far

Far, far away.

Where else “makran” appears
awayἀπέχοντοςapechontos

be far

To be at some distance from a place or a person.

Where else “apechontos” appears
sawεἶδενeiden

see

To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.

Where else “eiden” appears
was moved with compassionἐσπλαγχνίσθηesplanchnisthē

have compassion

Be moved with compassion from deep within, feel pity.

Where else “esplanchnisthē” appears
runningδραμὼνdramōn

run

To move quickly on one's feet.

Where else “dramōn” appears
he fellἐπέπεσενepepesen

throw oneself

To throw oneself on someone, hug or press around them.

Where else “epepesen” appears
his neckτράχηλονtrachēlon

neck

Neck.

Where else “trachēlon” appears
kissedκατεφίλησενkatephilēsen

kiss

Kiss, kiss warmly.

Where else “katephilēsen” appears

The context

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired workers.”’

20 · This verse (above)

21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Read all of Luke 15

To study Luke 15 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does the father do when he sees the younger son returning from far away, and what does the older son do when he finds out? (vv. 20-30)

  2. 2. What it means

    The three parables are about something lost that is found. What do the shepherd, the woman and the father have in common? (vv. 4-10, 20-24)

  3. 3. How I live it

    The older son was angry about the feast, and his father pleaded with him to come in. With whom do you find it hard to rejoice today? (vv. 28-32)

How to use it