法華義疏 7.204

7.204

「世尊！大富長者」，合父義也。「我等皆似佛子」者，合子義也。菩薩為真子，二乘非真故云似也。又過去始學大乘，位行猶淺，故言皆似佛子；若得真無生方是真子。「如來常說我等為子」者，釋上皆似佛子之言；如來常說我等為子，非我自稱也。又佛眼照知我等昔稟大乘而背化入於五道，今復得悟，雖復迷悟輪迴未始非子，故云常說也。

"World-Honoured One! The wealthy elder": matches the meaning of the father. "We are all like the Buddha's sons": matches the meaning of the sons. Bodhisattvas are true sons; those of the two vehicles are not true [sons], which is why it says "like." Furthermore, having begun studying the Mahāyāna in the past, their rank and practice were still shallow, which is why it says "all like the Buddha's sons"; only if they attain true non-arising are they true sons. "The Tathāgata constantly says that we are his sons": explains the statement above that "we are all like the Buddha's sons"; the Tathāgata constantly says we are his sons, it is not our own claim. Furthermore, the Buddha's eye illuminated and knew that we formerly received the Mahāyāna but turned against conversion and entered the five destinies, and now have awakened again; whether deluded or awakened, through transmigration we were never not his sons, which is why it says "constantly says."