And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And not many days after (intoxicated with his new-found resources, and eager for the luxury of using them at will), he took his journey into a far country - away from the paternal eye, beyond all danger rebuke or interference from home,
And there wasted his substance with riotous living, х asootoos (G811)] - or 'to the destroying of himself.' His brother's charge against him, that he had "devoured his father's living with harlots," shows what is meant, But ah! this reaches deeper than sensuality. Since the whole story is designed to set forth the degradation of our sonship, and the prostitution of our powers to purposes unworthy of our dignity and true destiny, we must understand the language as intended to express all that life of estrangement from God, self-seeking and low desire which are common, in different forms and degrees, to all who live "without God," who "have their portion in this life," who mind "earthly things." So long as his substance lasted, the inward monitor would be silenced, and the prodigal would take his ease, eat, drink, and be merry. At times, he would hear the whisper of expostulation, "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is net bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" (Isaiah 55:2). But though his means were fast fading, he would say to himself, "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars" (Isaiah 9:10). So long as anything remained, he would hold out, "Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way: ye saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand: therefore thou wast not grieved" (Isaiah 57:10).