Luke 15:23 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: The fatted calf, and kill it - Θυσατε, Sacrifice it. In ancient times the animals provided for public feasts were first sacrificed to God. The blood of the beast being poured out before God, by way of atonement for sin, the flesh was considered as consecrated, and the guests were considered as feeding on Divine food. This custom is observed among the Asiatics to this day.