Luke 15:13

Luke 15:13. Not many days after. The course of open sin soon began.

Gathered all together. This indicates the entire surrender of all the powers and possessions to sin.

Into a far country. Like the wandering sheep. The ‘far country ‘represents the outward separation from God, the breaking loose from restraint.

Waited his substance with riotous living. The natural result of selfish separation from God is sensuality, seeking gratification in earthly objects. However disguised by noble names, all such gratification is sensual; a wasting of God's gifts in riotous (incorrigible) living. Young men impatient of control seek liberty as they think, and obtain license; that licentious is a kindred word is not an accident. The lost piece of money also represents this state, the sinner unconscious of his true worth, in the dust of earth. Some artists in portraying the scenes of the parable have given undue prominence to the ‘riotous living;' but our Lord tells the story with one phrase.