The father says this to his older son in the story of the prodigal son. The older son was angry that his brother got a party. He had kept every rule and felt he was never paid for it. The father tells him he was always home, and everything was already his.
The brother in the field
This line comes near the end of the story of the prodigal son, in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15. Jesus told the story to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They were upset that he welcomed sinners.
The younger son had come home after wasting his father's money. The father ran to him and threw a feast. The older son was out working in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. A servant told him the news. He got angry and would not go inside.
So the father came out to him. The older son said he had served for years and had never broken a single command. And his father had never given him even a young goat for a party with his friends.
He thought all those years of rule-keeping should have paid him.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Luke 15:31 · King James Version
What the father says
The father does not send him away. He does not argue about rules. He tells his son two plain things. You have always been with me. Everything I have is yours.
The older son had been living like a hired hand in his own home. He was counting days and waiting for wages. But he was a son the whole time.
Then the father says they had to celebrate, because his brother was lost and now is found. The story stops there. Jesus never says whether the older brother went in.
What it means
Jesus left the ending open for the rule-keepers listening to him. God's love is not a wage. If you have worked hard to be good and still feel empty, you are already home, and all of it is already yours.
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Read the whole chapter: Luke 15
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8¶ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13And 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.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
King James Version