Luke 15:32

It was meet that we should make merry ,.... Both father, son, and servants; See Gill on 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.