Luke 15:32

It was meet that we should make merry,.... Both father, son, and servants; Luke 15:23 Luke 15:24 and this elder brother also, because of the relation he stood in to him: and if he had had the same spiritual affection the apostle had for his brethren and kinsmen, according to the flesh, Romans 9:3 and he would have rejoiced at the conversion and return of sinners by repentance:

and be glad; as his father was, and the angels in heaven be; see Luke 15:10

for this thy brother, though he would not own him as such,

was dead, and is alive again, and was lost, and is found: Luke 15:24 and so the parable is concluded, the elder brother being silenced, and having nothing to say against such strong reasoning.