Luke 15:20

He arose, and came. Apparently the prodigal acted without delay. No sooner had he made his decision than he carried it out. In the parable it is the son who takes the initiative in returning to the father. It appears to be the son’s choice rather than the father’s love that effects reconciliation. From this some have drawn the unwarranted conclusion that Jesus here teaches that the first step in reconciliation is that the individual must return to God of his own volition — that it is not the love of God that first draws him. Such a conclusion, however, violates more than one fundamental principle of the interpretation of Christ’s parables (see pp. 203-207). Furthermore, in the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, Jesus has clearly set forth the truth here called into question, that the initiative in effecting salvation and reconciliation is of God. Also, no parable based on ordinary human relationships can perfectly reflect all aspects of the love and mercy of God. God’s gift of His Son to the world was before men’s belief in that Gift (John 3:16), and the Scriptures specifically teach that even the desire to do right is implanted in the human heart by God (see Phil. 2:13).

His father saw him. Jesus implies that the father was looking for his son to return, even expecting him. The father seems to have known the boy’s character and disposition well enough to realize — even when bestowing upon the youth his share of the family fortune and when bidding him farewell — that he lacked those essential traits of character that would enable him to make a success of his venture. Apparently he reasoned that sooner or later the boy would come to himself (see on v. 17). He recognized his son, even in his tattered garments, and at a distance. In vs. 20-24 Jesus unfolds to His hearers the character of the father, even as in vs. 11-19 He dwells upon that of the younger son.

Ran. He might have waited for the boy to come up to where he stood. Instead, he made evident the eagerness and joy of his own heart by going forth to meet him.

Fell on his neck. That is, in an embrace. The son had not yet spoken, but his return in so sorry a state spoke more eloquently than any words he may have contrived to say. Nor is there any record of what the father may have said to his son, but his orders to the servants, together with his own manifestation of fatherly love, were likewise more eloquent than words could possibly have been.