Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 15:22

εἶπεν δὲ ὁ πατήρ. He at once issues his commands to the servants; he answers his son by deeds not by words. It is as though he had purposely cut short the humble self-reproaching words of shame which would have entreated him to make his lost son like one of his hired servants. “While they are yet speaking, I will hear,” Isaiah 65:24.

ἐξενέγκατε. The true reading is probably ταχὺ ἐξενέγκατε אBL &c. (Vulg[292] cito proferte); but in any case the ‘quickly’ is implied in the aorist.

[292] Vulg. Vulgate.

στολὴν τὴν πρώτην. The talar or στολὴ ποδήρης, Luke 20:46; John 19:23; Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 3:18. Compare the remarkable scene of taking away the filthy rags from the High Priest Joshua, and clothing him with change of raiment, in Zechariah 3:1-10. It is literally ‘the first robe’ and some (e.g. Theophylact) have explained it of the robe he used to wear at home—the former robe. It means however τὴν τιμιωτάτην (Euthym.).

ὑποδήματα εἰς τοὺς πόδας. Another sign that he is to be regarded as a son, and not as a mere sandalled or unsandalled slave (see on Luke 10:4). Some have given special and separate significance to the best robe, as corresponding to the ‘wedding garment,’ the robe of Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:9); and have identified the seal-ring with Baptism (Ephesians 1:13-14); and the shoes with the preparation of the Gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15; Zechariah 10:12); and in the next verse have seen in the ‘fatted calf’ an allusion to the Sacrifice of Christ, or the Eucharist. Such applications are pious and instructive afterthoughts, though the latter is as old as Irenaeus; but it is doubtful whether the elaboration of them does not weaken the impressive grandeur and unity of the parable, as revealing the love of God even to His erring children. We must not confuse Parable with Allegory. The one dominant meaning of the parable is that God loved us even while we were dead in sins, Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Luke 15:22

Old Testament

New Testament