Luke 15 - Introduction
_THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP: OF THE PIECE OF SILVER: AND OF THE PRODIGAL SON._ _Anno Domini 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP: OF THE PIECE OF SILVER: AND OF THE PRODIGAL SON._ _Anno Domini 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DREW NEAR—ALL THE PUBLICANS, &C.— To do good unto all sorts of men, was the employment and highest pleasure of the Son of God; accordingly, when the tax-gatherers and sinners came to hear him, he rejoiced at the opportunity, received them courteously, and, though they were persons of infamous c... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WILDERNESS,— Uncultivated ground, used merely as common pasture, was called _wilderness,_ or _desart,_ by the Jews, in distinction from arable, or inclosed land, as we have had occasion more than once to observe. Some would read, _Doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the wildern... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE JOY SHALL BE IN HEAVEN— _Greater joy will be in heaven over one converted sinner, than over,_ &c. The design of this parable being to represent divine things by images taken from the manners of men, what is here said of God and of the angels, (see Luke 15:10.) must be understood suitably to... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE CALLETH HER FRIENDS, &C.— Her female friends, —τας φιλας. It might seem hardly worth while to ask the congratulation of her friends on so small an occasion as finding a _drachma;_ (for that is the piece of coin here mentioned, in value not above nine-pence;) but it is represented as the _tenth p... [ Continue Reading ]
A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS:— Our Lord next delivered the parable of the lost or prodigal son, which of all his parables is perhaps the most delightful; not only as it enforces a doctrine full of inexpressible comfort, but because it abounds with the tender pardons, is finely painted with the most be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE YOUNGER OF THEM, &C.— Our Lord with great propriety makes use of the youngest son as an example of a depraved mind, youth being naturally impotent in self-government, not only through natural depravity, but through want of experience; hurried away by the impetuosity of the passions; not only... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH RIOTOUS LIVING.— The phrase Ζων ασωτως implies, that he lived in every degree of luxury and sensuality. The account before us is short.—The interesting and affecting passages with which sucha transaction would necessarily be connected, are left to be supplied by the heart. The story is silent,—... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT AND JOINED HIMSELF, &C.— _So he put himself into the service of one of the inhabitants, who sent him to his farm to keep swine._ Heylin. It is true, that among the ancient Greeks, the chief swine-herd was looked upon as an officer ofnoinconsiderablerank, as evidently appears from the figure... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WOULD FAIN HAVE FILLED HIS BELLY WITH THE HUSKS— The version of 1729 renders the word κερατιων, by _Carruways,_ or the fruit of the _Carub_ tree, which bore a mean, though sweetish kind of fruit, in long crooked pods, which by some is called _St. John's bread._ But if the account which Saubert (w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, &C.— That is, to a true sense, through grace, of his present state, and the right use of his reason, which had before been dethroned and extinguished by the mad intoxications of sensual pleasure. When he says, _I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,_ means, that God... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS YET A GREAT WAY OFF,— _But he keeping yet at a distance._ When he came within sight of home, his nakedness, and the consciousness of his folly, made him ashamed togo in; he skulked about, therefore, keeping at a distance, till his father spied him, and shewed the most affecting paternal... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING FORTH THE BEST ROBE,— It is observed by Ferrarius, that the στολη, or _long robe,_ was a garment which servants never wore; so that his father's ordering any such garment, and especially the best, to be brought, was declaring in the most moving manner that can be imagined, how far hewas from i... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING HITHER THE FATTED CALF, AND KILL IT;— _And sacrifice it._ Elsner.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, AND IS ALIVE, &C.— It is by a very common and beautiful emblem, that vicious persons are represented as dead, both by sacred and prophane authors; (Compare 1 Timothy 5:6. Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 5:14.) and the natural death of their children would certainly be less grievous to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE CAME HIS FATHER OUT,— This act of condescension gives a great heightening to the character of the father, and adds an inexpressible beauty and elegance to the parable; and when we consider it as referring to the love and condescension of our Almighty Father, it must certainly diffuse the h... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, THESE MANY YEARS DO I SERVE THEE, &C.— This is the young man's own testimony concerning _his dutifulness:_ in which respect it fully represented the self-righteous Pharisees. It is his testimony also concerning the _returns_ which _his father_ had _made_ to him for his services; nevertheless his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, &C.— "But the father replied, Son, what cause is there forall this discontent, and all these murmuring complaints? you have constantly eaten at my table, which has been supplied with rich provisions every day, and have continually lived under the peculiar tokens of my favour; a... [ Continue Reading ]