Luke 15:1
All the publicans — That is, all who were in that place. It seems our Lord was in some town of Galilee of the Gentiles, from whence he afterward went to Jerusalem, Luke 17:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
All the publicans — That is, all who were in that place. It seems our Lord was in some town of Galilee of the Gentiles, from whence he afterward went to Jerusalem, Luke 17:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
He spake — Three parables of the same import: for the sheep, the piece of silver, and the lost son, all declare (in direct contrariety to the Pharisees and scribes) in what manner God receiveth sinners.... [ Continue Reading ]
Leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness — Where they used to feed: all uncultivated ground, like our commons, was by the Jews termed wilderness or desert. And go after — In recovering a lost soul, God as it were labours. May we not learn hence, that to let them alone who are in sin, is both unch... [ Continue Reading ]
Joy shall be — Solemn and festal joy, in heaven — First, in our blessed Lord himself, and then among the angels and spirits of just men, perhaps informed thereof by God himself, or by the angels who ministered to them. Over one sinner — One gross, open, notorious sinner, that repenteth — That is, th... [ Continue Reading ]
Give me the part of goods that falleth to me — See the root of all sin! A desire of disposing of ourselves; of independency on God!... [ Continue Reading ]
He took a journey into a far country — Far from God: God was not in all his thoughts: And squandered away his substance — All the grace he had received.... [ Continue Reading ]
He began to be in want — All his worldly pleasures failing, he grew conscious of his want of real good.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he joined himself to a citizen of that country — Either the devil or one of his children, the genuine citizens of that country which is far from God. He sent him to feed swine — He employed him in the base drudgery of sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
He would fain have filled his belly with the husks — He would fain have satisfied himself with worldly comforts. Vain, fruitless endeavour!... [ Continue Reading ]
And coming to himself — For till then he was beside himself, as all men are, so long as they are without God in the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will arise and go to my father — How accurately are the first steps of true repentance here pointed out! Against Heaven — Against God.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose and came to his father — The moment he had resolved, he began to execute his resolution. While he was yet a great way off, his father saw him — Returning, starved, naked.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the father said — Interrupting him before he had finished what he intended to say. So does God frequently cut an earnest confession short by a display of his pardoning love.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us be merry — Both here, and wherever else this word occurs, whether in the Old or New Testament, it implies nothing of levity, but a solid, serious, religious, heartfelt joy: indeed this was the ordinary meaning of the word two hundred years ago, when our translation was made.... [ Continue Reading ]
The elder son seems to represent the Pharisees and scribes, mentioned Luke 15:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy father hath killed the fatted calf — Perhaps he mentions this rather than the robe or ring, as having a nearer connection with the music and dancing.... [ Continue Reading ]
He was angry, and would not go in — How natural to us is this kind of resentment!... [ Continue Reading ]
Lo, so many years do I serve thee — So he was one of the instances mentioned Luke 15:7. How admirably therefore does this parable confirm that assertion! Yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends — Perhaps God does not usually give much joy to those who never felt the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine — This suggests a strong reason against murmuring at the indulgence shown to the greatest of sinners. As the father's receiving the younger son did not cause him to disinherit the elder; so God's receiving notorious sinners will be no loss to those... [ Continue Reading ]
This thy brother was dead, and is alive — A thousand of these delicate touches in the inspired writings escape an inattentive reader. In Luke 15:30, the elder son had unkindly and indecently said, This thy son. The father in his reply mildly reproves him, and tenderly says, This thy brother — Amazin... [ Continue Reading ]