1ησανG2258{V-IXI-3P} δεG1161{CONJ} τσβεγγιζοντεςG1448{V-PAP-NPM} αυτωG846{P-DSM} αεγγιζοντεςG1448{V-PAP-NPM} παντεςG3956{A-NPM} οιG3588{T-NPM} τελωναιG5057{N-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} αμαρτωλοιG268{A-NPM} ακουεινG191{V-PAN} αυτουG846{P-GSM} 2καιG2532{CONJ} διεγογγυζονG1234{V-IAI-3P} οιG3588{T-NPM} ατεG5037{PRT} φαρισαιοιG5330{N-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} γραμματειςG1122{N-NPM} λεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} οτιG3754{CONJ} ουτοςG3778{D-NSM} αμαρτωλουςG268{A-APM} προσδεχεταιG4327{V-PNI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} συνεσθιειG4906{V-PAI-3S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} 3ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} προςG4314{PREP} αυτουςG846{P-APM} τηνG3588{T-ASF} παραβοληνG3850{N-ASF} ταυτηνG3778{D-ASF} λεγωνG3004{V-PAP-NSM} 4τιςG5101{I-NSM} ανθρωποςG444{N-NSM} εξG1537{PREP} υμωνG5216{P-2GP} εχωνG2192{V-PAP-NSM} εκατονG1540{A-NUI} προβαταG4263{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} απολεσαςG622{V-AAP-NSM} τσβενG1520{A-ASN} εξG1537{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPN} αενG1520{A-ASN} ουG3756{PRT-N} καταλειπειG2641{V-PAI-3S} ταG3588{T-APN} αβενενηκονταG1768{A-NUI} αβεννεαG1767{A-NUI} τσεννενηκονταεννεαG1768{A-NUI} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ερημωG2048{A-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} πορευεταιG4198{V-PNI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τοG3588{T-ASN} απολωλοςG622{V-2RAP-ASN} εωςG2193{CONJ} ευρηG2147{V-2AAS-3S} αυτοG846{P-ASN} 5καιG2532{CONJ} ευρωνG2147{V-2AAP-NSM} επιτιθησινG2007{V-PAI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} ωμουςG5606{N-APM} ααυτουG846{P-GSM} τσβεαυτουG1438{F-3GSM} χαιρωνG5463{V-PAP-NSM} 6καιG2532{CONJ} ελθωνG2064{V-2AAP-NSM} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} οικονG3624{N-ASM} συγκαλειG4779{V-PAI-3S} τουςG3588{T-APM} φιλουςG5384{A-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} τουςG3588{T-APM} γειτοναςG1069{N-APM} λεγωνG3004{V-PAP-NSM} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} συγχαρητεG4796{V-2AOM-2P} μοιG3427{P-1DS} οτιG3754{CONJ} ευρονG2147{V-2AAI-1S} τοG3588{T-ASN} προβατονG4263{N-ASN} μουG3450{P-1GS} τοG3588{T-ASN} απολωλοςG622{V-2RAP-ASN} 7λεγωG3004{V-PAI-1S} υμινG5213{P-2DP} οτιG3754{CONJ} ουτωςG3779{ADV} χαραG5479{N-NSF} τσβεσταιG2071{V-FXI-3S} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} ουρανωG3772{N-DSM} αεσταιG2071{V-FXI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} ενιG1520{A-DSM} αμαρτωλωG268{A-DSM} μετανοουντιG3340{V-PAP-DSM} ηG2228{PRT} επιG1909{PREP} αβενενηκονταG1768{A-NUI} αβεννεαG1767{A-NUI} τσεννενηκονταεννεαG1768{A-NUI} δικαιοιςG1342{A-DPM} οιτινεςG3748{R-NPM} ουG3756{PRT-N} χρειανG5532{N-ASF} εχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} μετανοιαςG3341{N-GSF} 8ηG2228{PRT} τιςG5101{I-NSF} γυνηG1135{N-NSF} δραχμαςG1406{N-APF} εχουσαG2192{V-PAP-NSF} δεκαG1176{A-NUI} εανG1437{COND} απολεσηG622{V-AAS-3S} δραχμηνG1406{N-ASF} μιανG1520{A-ASF} ουχιG3780{PRT-I} απτειG681{V-PAI-3S} λυχνονG3088{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} σαροιG4563{V-PAI-3S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} οικιανG3614{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} ζητειG2212{V-PAI-3S} επιμελωςG1960{ADV} εωςG2193{CONJ} αουG3739{R-GSM} τσβοτουG3755{R-GSN-ATT} ευρηG2147{V-2AAS-3S} 9καιG2532{CONJ} ευρουσαG2147{V-2AAP-NSF} ασυγκαλειG4779{V-PAI-3S} τσβσυγκαλειταιG4779{V-PMI-3S} ταςG3588{T-APF} φιλαςG5384{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} τσβταςG3588{T-APF} γειτοναςG1069{N-APF} λεγουσαG3004{V-PAP-NSF} συγχαρητεG4796{V-2AOM-2P} μοιG3427{P-1DS} οτιG3754{CONJ} ευρονG2147{V-2AAI-1S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} δραχμηνG1406{N-ASF} ηνG3739{R-ASF} απωλεσαG622{V-AAI-1S} 10ουτωςG3779{ADV} λεγωG3004{V-PAI-1S} υμινG5213{P-2DP} τσβχαραG5479{N-NSF} γινεταιG1096{V-PNI-3S} αχαραG5479{N-NSF} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αγγελωνG32{N-GPM} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} επιG1909{PREP} ενιG1520{A-DSM} αμαρτωλωG268{A-DSM} μετανοουντιG3340{V-PAP-DSM} 11ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} ανθρωποςG444{N-NSM} τιςG5100{X-NSM} ειχενG2192{V-IAI-3S} δυοG1417{A-NUI} υιουςG5207{N-APM} 12καιG2532{CONJ} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} νεωτεροςG3501{A-NSM-C} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} τωG3588{T-DSM} πατριG3962{N-DSM} πατερG3962{N-VSM} δοςG1325{V-2AAM-2S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} τοG3588{T-ASN} επιβαλλονG1911{V-PAP-ASN} μεροςG3313{N-ASN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} ουσιαςG3776{N-GSF} αοG3588{T-NSM} αδεG1161{CONJ} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} διειλενG1244{V-2AAI-3S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} τονG3588{T-ASM} βιονG979{N-ASM} 13καιG2532{CONJ} μετG3326{PREP} ουG3756{PRT-N} πολλαςG4183{A-APF} ημεραςG2250{N-APF} συναγαγωνG4863{V-2AAP-NSM} απανταG3956{A-APN} τσβαπανταG537{A-APN} οG3588{T-NSM} νεωτεροςG3501{A-NSM-C} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} απεδημησενG589{V-AAI-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} χωρανG5561{N-ASF} μακρανG3117{A-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εκειG1563{ADV} διεσκορπισενG1287{V-AAI-3S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ουσιανG3776{N-ASF} αυτουG846{P-GSM} ζωνG2198{V-PAP-NSM} ασωτωςG811{ADV} 14δαπανησαντοςG1159{V-AAP-GSM} δεG1161{CONJ} αυτουG846{P-GSM} πανταG3956{A-APN} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} λιμοςG3042{N-NSM} αισχυραG2478{A-NSF} τσβισχυροςG2478{A-NSM} καταG2596{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} χωρανG5561{N-ASF} εκεινηνG1565{D-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} αυτοςG846{P-NSM} ηρξατοG756{V-ADI-3S} υστερεισθαιG5302{V-PPN} 15καιG2532{CONJ} πορευθειςG4198{V-AOP-NSM} εκολληθηG2853{V-API-3S} ενιG1520{A-DSM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} πολιτωνG4177{N-GPM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} χωραςG5561{N-GSF} εκεινηςG1565{D-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} επεμψενG3992{V-AAI-3S} αυτονG846{P-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} αγρουςG68{N-APM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} βοσκεινG1006{V-PAN} χοιρουςG5519{N-APM} 16καιG2532{CONJ} επεθυμειG1937{V-IAI-3S} αχορτασθηναιG5526{V-APN} αεκG1537{PREP} τσβγεμισαιG1072{V-AAN} τσβτηνG3588{T-ASF} τσβκοιλιανG2836{N-ASF} τσβαυτουG846{P-GSM} τσβαποG575{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} κερατιωνG2769{N-GPN} ωνG3739{R-GPN} ησθιονG2068{V-IAI-3P} οιG3588{T-NPM} χοιροιG5519{N-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ουδειςG3762{A-NSM} εδιδουG1325{V-IAI-3S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} 17ειςG1519{PREP} εαυτονG1438{F-3ASM} δεG1161{CONJ} ελθωνG2064{V-2AAP-NSM} αεφηG5346{V-IXI-3S} τσβειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} ποσοιG4214{Q-NPM} μισθιοιG3407{A-NPM} τουG3588{T-GSM} πατροςG3962{N-GSM} μουG3450{P-1GS} απερισσευονταιG4052{V-PMI-3P} τσβπερισσευουσινG4052{V-PAI-3P} αρτωνG740{N-GPM} εγωG1473{P-1NS} δεG1161{CONJ} λιμωG3042{N-DSM} αωδεG5602{ADV} απολλυμαιG622{V-PMI-1S} 18ανασταςG450{V-2AAP-NSM} πορευσομαιG4198{V-FDI-1S} προςG4314{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} πατεραG3962{N-ASM} μουG3450{P-1GS} καιG2532{CONJ} ερωG2046{V-FAI-1S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} πατερG3962{N-VSM} ημαρτονG264{V-2AAI-1S} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} σουG4675{P-2GS} 19τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} ουκετιG3765{ADV} ειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} αξιοςG514{A-NSM} κληθηναιG2564{V-APN} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} ποιησονG4160{V-AAM-2S} μεG3165{P-1AS} ωςG5613{ADV} εναG1520{A-ASM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} μισθιωνG3407{A-GPM} σουG4675{P-2GS} 20καιG2532{CONJ} ανασταςG450{V-2AAP-NSM} ηλθενG2064{V-2AAI-3S} προςG4314{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} πατεραG3962{N-ASM} βαυτουG846{P-GSM} ατσεαυτουG1438{F-3GSM} ετιG2089{ADV} δεG1161{CONJ} αυτουG846{P-GSM} μακρανG3112{ADV} απεχοντοςG568{V-PAP-GSM} ειδενG1492{V-2AAI-3S} αυτονG846{P-ASM} οG3588{T-NSM} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} εσπλαγχνισθηG4697{V-AOI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} δραμωνG5143{V-2AAP-NSM} επεπεσενG1968{V-2AAI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} τραχηλονG5137{N-ASM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} κατεφιλησενG2705{V-AAI-3S} αυτονG846{P-ASM} 21ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} τσβαυτωG846{P-DSM} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} ααυτωG846{P-DSM} πατερG3962{N-VSM} ημαρτονG264{V-2AAI-1S} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} σουG4675{P-2GS} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} ουκετιG3765{ADV} ειμιG1510{V-PXI-1S} αξιοςG514{A-NSM} κληθηναιG2564{V-APN} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} 22ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} προςG4314{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} δουλουςG1401{N-APM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} αταχυG5035{ADV} εξενεγκατεG1627{V-AAM-2P} τσβτηνG3588{T-ASF} στοληνG4749{N-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} πρωτηνG4413{A-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενδυσατεG1746{V-AAM-2P} αυτονG846{P-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} δοτεG1325{V-2AAM-2P} δακτυλιονG1146{N-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} χειραG5495{N-ASF} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} υποδηματαG5266{N-APN} ειςG1519{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} ποδαςG4228{N-APM} 23καιG2532{CONJ} αφερετεG5342{V-PAM-2P} τσβενεγκαντεςG5342{V-AAP-NPM} τονG3588{T-ASM} μοσχονG3448{A-ASM} τονG3588{T-ASM} σιτευτονG4618{A-ASM} θυσατεG2380{V-AAM-2P} καιG2532{CONJ} φαγοντεςG5315{V-2AAP-NPM} ευφρανθωμενG2165{V-APS-1P} 24οτιG3754{CONJ} ουτοςG3778{D-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} μουG3450{P-1GS} νεκροςG3498{A-NSM} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ανεζησενG326{V-AAI-3S} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} τσβαπολωλωςG622{V-2RAP-NSM} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} ααπολωλωςG622{V-2RAP-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ευρεθηG2147{V-API-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ηρξαντοG756{V-ADI-3P} ευφραινεσθαιG2165{V-PPN} 25ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} οG3588{T-NSM} πρεσβυτεροςG4245{A-NSM} ενG1722{PREP} αγρωG68{N-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ωςG5613{ADV} ερχομενοςG2064{V-PNP-NSM} ηγγισενG1448{V-AAI-3S} τηG3588{T-DSF} οικιαG3614{N-DSF} ηκουσενG191{V-AAI-3S} συμφωνιαςG4858{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} χορωνG5525{N-GPM} 26καιG2532{CONJ} προσκαλεσαμενοςG4341{V-ADP-NSM} εναG1520{A-ASM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} παιδωνG3816{N-GPM} ταυτουG846{P-GSM} επυνθανετοG4441{V-INI-3S} τιG5101{I-NSN} αανG302{PRT} ειηG1498{V-PXO-3S} ταυταG5023{D-NPN} 27οG3588{T-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} οτιG3754{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} αδελφοςG80{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} ηκειG2240{V-PAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} εθυσενG2380{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} τονG3588{T-ASM} μοσχονG3448{A-ASM} τονG3588{T-ASM} σιτευτονG4618{A-ASM} οτιG3754{CONJ} υγιαινονταG5198{V-PAP-ASM} αυτονG846{P-ASM} απελαβενG618{V-2AAI-3S} 28ωργισθηG3710{V-API-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} ουκG3756{PRT-N} ηθελενG2309{V-IAI-3S} εισελθεινG1525{V-2AAN} οG3588{T-NSM} αδεG1161{CONJ} τσβουνG3767{CONJ} πατηρG3962{N-NSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} εξελθωνG1831{V-2AAP-NSM} παρεκαλειG3870{V-IAI-3S} αυτονG846{P-ASM} 29οG3588{T-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} αποκριθειςG611{V-AOP-NSM} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} τωG3588{T-DSM} πατριG3962{N-DSM} ααυτουG846{P-GSM} ιδουG2400{V-2AAM-2S} τοσαυταG5118{D-APN} ετηG2094{N-APN} δουλευωG1398{V-PAI-1S} σοιG4671{P-2DS} καιG2532{CONJ} ουδεποτεG3763{ADV} εντοληνG1785{N-ASF} σουG4675{P-2GS} παρηλθονG3928{V-2AAI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} εμοιG1698{P-1DS} ουδεποτεG3763{ADV} εδωκαςG1325{V-AAI-2S} εριφονG2056{N-ASM} ιναG2443{CONJ} μεταG3326{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} φιλωνG5384{A-GPM} μουG3450{P-1GS} ευφρανθωG2165{V-APS-1S} 30οτεG3753{ADV} δεG1161{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} υιοςG5207{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} ουτοςG3778{D-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} καταφαγωνG2719{V-2AAP-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} τονG3588{T-ASM} βιονG979{N-ASM} μεταG3326{PREP} πορνωνG4204{N-GPF} ηλθενG2064{V-2AAI-3S} εθυσαςG2380{V-AAI-2S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} τονG3588{T-ASM} τσβμοσχονG3448{A-ASM} τσβτονG3588{T-ASM} σιτευτονG4618{A-ASM} αμοσχονG3448{A-ASM} 31οG3588{T-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} τεκνονG5043{N-VSN} συG4771{P-2NS} παντοτεG3842{ADV} μετG3326{PREP} εμουG1700{P-1GS} ειG1488{V-PXI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} πανταG3956{A-NPN} ταG3588{T-NPN} εμαG1699{S-1NPN} σαG4674{S-2NPN} εστινG2076{V-PXI-3S} 32ευφρανθηναιG2165{V-APN} δεG1161{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} χαρηναιG5463{V-2AON} εδειG1163{V-IQI-3S} οτιG3754{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} αδελφοςG80{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} ουτοςG3778{D-NSM} νεκροςG3498{A-NSM} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} αεζησενG2198{V-AAI-3S} τσβανεζησενG326{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} απολωλωςG622{V-2RAP-NSM} τσβηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ευρεθηG2147{V-API-3S}
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PUBLICANS AND SINNERS WELCOMED BY CHRIST--THREE PARABLES TO EXPLAIN THIS. (Luke 15:1-32)
drew near . . . all the publicans and sinners, &c.--drawn around Him by the extraordinary adaptation of His teaching to their case, who, till He appeared--at least His forerunner--might well say, "No man careth for my soul."
2 murmured, saying, &c.--took it ill, were scandalized at Him, and insinuated (on the principle that a man is known by the company he keeps) that He must have some secret sympathy with their character. But oh, what a truth of unspeakable preciousness do their lips, as on other occasions, unconsciously utter., Now follow three parables representing the sinner: (1) in his stupidity; (2) as all-unconscious of his lost condition; (3) knowingly and willingly estranged from God [BENGEL]. The first two set forth the seeking love of God; the last, His receiving love [TRENCH].
3 I. THE LOST SHEEP. (
Luke 15:3-
Luke 15:7)
Occurring again (
Matt 18:12-
Matt 18:14); but there to show how precious one of His sheep is to the Good Shepherd; here, to show that the shepherd, though the sheep stray never so widely, will seek it out, and when he hath found, will rejoice over it.
4 leave the ninety and nine--bend all His attention and care, as it were, to the one object of recovering the lost sheep; not saying. "It is but one; let it go; enough remain."
go after . . . until, &c.--pointing to all the diversified means which God sets in operation for recovering sinners.
6 Rejoice with me, &c.--The principle here is, that one feels exuberant joy to be almost too much for himself to bear alone, and is positively relieved by having others to share it with him. (See on
Luke 15:10).
7 ninety-nine just . . . needing no repentance--not angels, whose place in these parables is very different from this; but those represented by the prodigal's well-behaved brother, who have "served their Father" many years and not at any time transgressed His commandment (in the outrageous sense of the prodigal). (See on
Luke 15:29;
Luke 15:31). In other words, such as have grown up from childhood in the fear of God and as the sheep of His pasture. Our Lord does not say "the Pharisees and scribes" were such; but as there was undoubtedly such a class, while "the publicans and sinners" were confessedly the strayed sheep and the prodigal children, He leaves them to fill up the place of the other class, if they could.
8 II. THE LOST COIN. (
Luke 15:8-
Luke 15:10)
sweep the house--"not done without dust on man's part" [BENGEL].
10 Likewise--on the same principle.
joy, &c.--Note carefully the language here--not "joy on the part," but "joy in the presence of the angels of God." True to the idea of the parables. The Great Shepherd. The Great Owner Himself, is He whose the joy properly is over His own recovered property; but so vast and exuberant is it (
Zech 8:17), that as if He could not keep it to Himself, He "calleth His friends and neighbors together"--His whole celestial family--saying, "Rejoice WITH ME, for I have found My sheep-My-piece," &c. In this sublime sense it is "joy," before "or in the presence of the angels"; they only "catch the flying joy," sharing it with Him! The application of this to the reception of those publicans and sinners that stood around our Lord is grand in the extreme: "Ye turn from these lost ones with disdain, and because I do not the same, ye murmur at it: but a very different feeling is cherished in heaven. There, the recovery of even one such outcast is watched with interest and hailed with joy; nor are they left to come home of themselves or perish; for lo! even now the great Shepherd is going after His lost sheep, and the Owner is making diligent search for the lost property; and He is finding it, too, and bringing it back with joy, and all heaven is full of it." (Let the reader mark what sublime claims Himself our Lord covertly puts in here--as if in Him they beheld, all unknown to themselves, nothing less than heaven in the habiliments of earth, the Great Shepherd above, clothed in a garment of flesh, come "to seek and to save that which was lost")!
12 III. THE PRODIGAL SON. (Luke 15:11-32)
the younger--as the more thoughtless.
said, &c.--weary of restraint, panting for independence, unable longer to abide the check of a father's eye. This is man impatient of divine control, desiring to be independent of God, seeking to be his own master; that "sin of sins, in which all subsequent sins are included as in their germ, for they are but the unfolding of this one" [TRENCH].
he divided, &c.--Thus "God, when His service no longer appears a perfect freedom, and man promises himself something far better elsewhere, allows him to make the trial; and he shall discover, if need be by saddest proof, that to depart from Him is not to throw off the yoke, but to exchange a light yoke for a heavy one, and one gracious Master for a thousand imperious tyrants and lords" [TRENCH].
13 not many days--intoxicated with his new--found resources, and eager for the luxury of using them at Will.
a far country--beyond all danger of interference from home.
wasted, &c.--So long as it lasted, the inward monitor (
Isa 55:2) would be silenced (
Isa 9:10;
Isa 57:10;
Amos 4:6-
Amos 4:10).
riotous living-- (
Luke 15:30), "with harlots." Ah! but this reaches farther than the sensualist; for "in the deep symbolical language of Scripture fornication is the standing image of idolatry; they are in fact ever spoken of as one and the same sin, considered now in its fleshly, now in its spiritual aspect" (
Jer 3:1-
Jer 3:15; Eze. 16:1-17:24) [TRENCH].
14 when he had spent all . . . a mighty famine--a mysterious providence holding back the famine till he was in circumstances to feel it in all its rigor. Thus, like Jonah, whom the storm did not overtake till on the mighty deep at the mercy of the waves, does the sinner feel as if "the stars in their courses were fighting against" him (
Judg 5:20).
in want--the first stage of his bitter experience, and preparation for a change.
15 joined himself, &c.--his pride not yet humbled, unable to brook the shame of a return.
to feed swine--glad to keep life anyhow, behold the son sank into a swineherd--among the Jews, on account of the prohibition of swine's flesh, emphatically vile! "He who begins by using the world as a servant, to minister to his pleasure, ends by reversing the relationship" [TRENCH].
16 would fain have filled--rather, "was fain to fill," ate greedily of the only food he could get.
the husks--"the hulls of a leguminous plant which in the East is the food of cattle and swine, and often the nourishment of the poorest in times of distress" [STIER].
no man gave . . . him--not this food, for that he had, but anything better (
Jer 30:14). This was his lowest depth--perishing unpitied, alone in the world, and ready to disappear from it unmissed! But this is just the blessed turning-point; midnight before dawn of day (
2Chr 12:8;
2Chr 33:11-13;
Jer 2:19).
17 came to himself--Before, he had been "beside himself" (
Eccl 9:3), in what sense will presently appear.
How many hired, &c.--What a testimony to the nature of the home he had left! But did he not know all this ere he departed and every day of his voluntary exile? He did, and he did not. His heart being wholly estranged from home and steeped in selfish gratification, his father's house never came within the range of his vision, or but as another name for bondage and gloom. Now empty, desolate, withered, perishing, home, with all its peace, plenty, freedom, dignity, starts into view, fills all his visions as a warm and living reality, and breaks his heart.
18 I will arise and go to my FATHER--The change has come at last, and what a change!--couched in terms of such exquisite simplicity and power as if expressly framed for all heart-broken penitents.
Father, &c.--Mark the term. Though "no more worthy to be called his son," the prodigal sinner is taught to claim the defiled, but still existing relationship, asking not to be made a servant, but remaining a son to be made "as a servant," willing to take the lowest place and do the meanest work. Ah! and is it come to this? Once it was, "Any place rather than home." Now, "Oh, that home! Could I but dare to hope that the door of it would not be closed against me, how gladly would I take any place and do any worK, happy only to be there at all." Well, that is conversion--nothing absolutely new, yet all new; old familiar things seen in a new light and for the first time as realities of overwhelming magnitude and power. How this is brought about the parable says not. (We have that abundantly elsewhere,
Phil 2:13, &c.). Its one object is to paint the welcome home of the greatest sinners, when (no matter for the present how) they "arise and go to their Father."
20 a great way off--Oh yes, when but the face is turned homeward, though as yet far, far away, our Father recognizes His own child in us, and bounds to meet us--not saying, Let him come to Me and sue for pardon first, but Himself taking the first step.
fell on his neck and kissed him--What! In all his filth? Yes. In all his rags? Yes. In all his haggard, shattered wretchedness? Yes. "Our Father who art in heaven," is this Thy portraiture? It is even so (
Jer 31:20). And because it is so, I wonder not that such incomparable teaching hath made the world new.
21 Father, I have sinned, &c.--"This confession is uttered after the kiss of reconciliation" (
Ezek 16:63) [TRENCH].
22 But the Father said, &c.--The son has not said all he purposed, not so much, because the father's demonstrations had rekindled the filial, and swallowed up all servile feeling [TRENCH] (on the word "Father," see on
Luke 15:18), but because the father's heart is made to appear too full to listen, at that moment, to more in this strain.
the best robe--Compare
Zech 3:4-
Zech 3:5, "Take away the filthy garments from him; behold I have clothed thee with change of raiment; and they clothed him with garments" (
Isa 61:10;
Rev 3:18).
a ring--(Compare
Gen 41:42;
Jas 2:2).
shoes--Slaves went barefoot. Thus, we have here a threefold symbol of freedom and honor, restored, as the fruit of perfect reconciliation.
23 the fatted calf--kept for festive occasions.
24 my son--now twice his son.
dead . . . lost--to me; to himself--to my service, my satisfaction; to his own dignity, peace, profit.
alive again . . . found--to all these.
merry--(See on
Luke 15:10).
25 in the field--engaged in his father's business: compare
Luke 15:29, "These many years do I serve thee."
28 came his father out, and entreated him--"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him" (
Ps 103:13). As it is the elder brother who now errs, so it is the same paternal compassion which had fallen on the neck of the younger that comes forth and pleads with the elder.
29 these many years . . . neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment--The words are not to be pressed too far. He is merely contrasting his constancy of love and service with the conduct of his brother; just as Job, resenting the charge of hypocrisy by his friends, speaks as if nothing could be laid to his charge (
Job 23:10-
Job 23:12), and David too (
Ps 18:20-
Ps 18:24). The father attests the truth of all he says.
never . . . a kid--I say not a calf, but not even a kid.
that I might make merry with my friends--Here lay his misapprehension. It was no entertainment for the gratification of the prodigal: it was a father's expression of the joy he felt at his recovery.
thy son . . . thy living--How unworthy a reflection on the common father of both, for the one not only to disown the other, but fling him over upon his father, as if he should say, Take him, and have joy of him!
31 Son, &c.--The father resents not the insult--how could he, after the largeness of heart which had kissed the returning prodigal? He calmly expostulates with him, "Son, listen to reason. What need for special, exuberant joy over thee? Didst thou say, 'Lo, these many years do I serve thee?' In that saidst thou truly; but just for that reason do I not set the whole household a-rejoicing over thee. For thee is reserved what is higher still--a tranquil lifelong satisfaction in thee, as a true-hearted faithful son in thy father's house, nor of the inheritance reserved for thee is aught alienated by this festive and fitting joy over the once foolish but now wise and newly recovered one."
32 It was meet--Was it possible he should simply take his long vacant place in the family without one special sign of wonder and delight at the change? Would that have been nature? But this being the meaning of the festivity, it would for that very reason be temporary. In time, the dutifulness of even the younger son would become the law and not the exception; he too at length might venture to say, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee"; and of him the father would say, "Son, thou art ever with me." In that case, therefore, it would not be "meet that they should make merry and be glad." The lessons are obvious, but how beautiful! (1) The deeper sunk and the longer estranged any sinner is, the more exuberant is the joy which his recovery occasions. (2) Such joy is not the portion of those whose whole lives have been spent in the service of their Father in heaven. (3) Instead of grudging the want of this, they should deem it the highest testimony to their lifelong fidelity, that something better is reserved for them--the deep, abiding complacency of their Father in heaven.
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