In the wilderness. Not a desert place, but uncultivated plains, pasturage. Note that the sheep are being pastured in the wilderness. A traveler, cited anonymously by Trench, says : "There are, indeed, some accursed patches, where scores of miles lie before you like a tawny Atlantic, one yellow wave... [ Continue Reading ]
When he hath found it. Matthew, If so be that he find it. On his shoulders. Lit., his own shoulders. "He might have employed a servant's aid, but love and joy make the labor sweet to himself" (Bengel). the "Good Shepherd" is a favorite subject in early Christian art. " We cannot go through any part... [ Continue Reading ]
With me. "Not with the sheep. Our life is his joy" (Gregory, cited by Trench).... [ Continue Reading ]
Repenteth. See on Matthew 3:2. THE PARABLES OF THE LOST COIN AND OF THE PRODIGAL SON. Peculiar to Luke. 8 - 32.... [ Continue Reading ]
Pieces of silver [δ ρ α χ μ α ς]. Used by Luke only. A coin worth about eighteen cents, commonly with the image of an owl, a tortoise, or a head of Pallas. As a weight, 65. 5 grains. A common weight in dispensing medicines and writing prescriptions. Wyc., transcribing the Greek word, dragmes. Tynd.,... [ Continue Reading ]
Her friends. Female friends, for the noun is used in the feminine form. I lost. Through her own carelessness. Of the sheep, Jesus says "was lost." " A sheep strays of itself, but a piece of money could only be lost by a certain negligence on the part of such as should have kept it " (Trench). In the... [ Continue Reading ]
The portion. According to the Jewish law of inheritance, if there were but two sons, the elder would receive two portions, the younger the third of all movable property. A man might, during his lifetime, dispose of all his property by gift as he chose. If the share of younger children was to be dimi... [ Continue Reading ]
All. Everything was taken out of the father's hands. Took his journey [α π ε δ η μ η σ ε ν]. Answering to our phrase went abroad. Wasted [δ ι ε σ κ ο ρ π ι σ ε ν]. The word used of winnowing grain. See on Matthew 25:24. With riotous living [ζ ω ν α σ ω τ ω ς]. Lit., living unsavingly. Only here i... [ Continue Reading ]
Spent. See on cost, ch. 14 28. In that land. Want is characteristic of the "far country." The prodigal feels the evil of his environment. "He (with a shade of emphasis) began to be in want." To be in want [υ σ τ ε ρ ε ι σ θ α ι]. From usterov, behind. Compare our phrase of one in straitened circum... [ Continue Reading ]
Joined himself [ε κ ο λ λ η θ η]. The verb means to glue or cement. Very expressive here, implying that he forced himself upon the citizen, who was unwilling to engage him, and who took him into service only upon persistent entreaty. "The unhappy wretch is a sort of appendage to a strange personalit... [ Continue Reading ]
He would fain [ε π ε θ υ μ ε ι]. Longing desire. Imperfect tense, he was longing, all the while he was tending the swine. Filled his belly [γ ε μ ι σ α ι τ η ν κ ο ι λ ι α ν]. The texts vary. The Rev. follows the reading cortasqhnai, "He would fain have been filled," using the same word which is em... [ Continue Reading ]
Came to himself. A striking expression, putting the state of rebellion against God as a kind of madness. It is a wonderful stroke of art, to represent the beginning of repentence as the return of a sound consciousness. Ackermann (" Christian Element in Plato ") observes that Plato thinks of redempti... [ Continue Reading ]
His father. An affecting touch in the Greek : his own father. Ran. Trench cites an Eastern proverb : "Who draws near to me (God) an inch, I will draw near to him an ell; and whoso walks to meet me, I will leap to meet him." Kissed. See on Matthew 26:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
To be called thy son. He omits make me a servant. The slavish spirit vanishes in the clasp of the father's arms. Bengel suggest that the father would not suffer him to utter the news. I once heard Norman McLeod say in a sermon, "Before the prodigal son reached his home he thought over what he should... [ Continue Reading ]
To his servants. Bond - servants. There is a fine touch in throwing in the bond - servants immediately after thy son (ver. 21). Bring forth. Some texts add quickly [τ α χ υ]. So Rev. The best robe [σ τ ο λ η ν τ η ν π ρ ω τ η ν]. Lit., a robe, the first. Properly of a long, flowing robe, a festive... [ Continue Reading ]
The fatted calf. The article denoting one set apart for a festive occasion. Tynd., "that fatted calf.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is alive - is found [α ν ε ζ η σ ε ν - ε υ ρ ε θ η]. Both aorists, and pointing back to a definite time in the fast; doubtless the moment when he "came to himself." Wyc., hath lived. The Prodigal Son is a favorite subject in Christian art. The return of the penitent is the point most frequently chos... [ Continue Reading ]
Music [σ υ μ φ ω ν ι α ς]. A symphony : concerted music.... [ Continue Reading ]
Inquired [ε π υ ν θ α ν ε τ ο]. Imperfect. Began to inquire.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is come - safe and sound. Compare is alive - is found. "How nice is the observance of all the lesser proprieties of the narration. The father, in the midst of all his natural affection, is yet full of the moral significance of his son's return - that he has come back another person from what he was... [ Continue Reading ]
He was angry [ω ρ γ ι σ θ η]. Not with a mere temporary fit of passion, but, as the word imports, with a deep - seated wrath.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kid [ε ρ ι φ ο ν]. Some read the diminutive, ejrifion, "a little kid." In any event a contrast is intended between the kid and the fatted calf.... [ Continue Reading ]
This thy son. Not my brother, but with the bitterest sarcasm. Was come [η λ θ ε ν]. He says came, as of a stranger. Not returned. Devoured [κ α τ α φ α γ ω ν]. We say "eat up;" the Greek said "eat down" [κ α τ α]. The word is suggested, no doubt, by the mention of the calf, the kid, and the feasti... [ Continue Reading ]