Luke 15

1 erant autem adpropinquantes ei publicani et peccatores ut audirent illum

2 et murmurabant Pharisaei et scribae dicentes quia hic peccatores recipit et manducat cum illis

3 et ait ad illos parabolam istam dicens

4 quis ex vobis homo qui habet centum oves et si perdiderit unam ex illis nonne dimittit nonaginta novem in deserto et vadit ad illam quae perierat donec inveniat illam

5 et cum invenerit eam inponit in umeros suos gaudens

6 et veniens domum convocat amicos et vicinos dicens illis congratulamini mihi quia inveni ovem meam quae perierat

7 dico vobis quod ita gaudium erit in caelo super uno peccatore paenitentiam habente quam super nonaginta novem iustis qui non indigent paenitentia

8 aut quae mulier habens dragmas decem si perdiderit dragmam unam nonne accendit lucernam et everrit domum et quaerit diligenter donec inveniat

9 et cum invenerit convocat amicas et vicinas dicens congratulamini mihi quia inveni dragmam quam perdideram

10 ita dico vobis gaudium erit coram angelis Dei super uno peccatore paenitentiam agente

11 ait autem homo quidam habuit duos filios

12 et dixit adulescentior ex illis patri pater da mihi portionem substantiae quae me contingit et divisit illis substantiam

13 et non post multos dies congregatis omnibus adulescentior filius peregre profectus est in regionem longinquam et ibi dissipavit substantiam suam vivendo luxuriose

14 et postquam omnia consummasset facta est fames valida in regione illa et ipse coepit egere

15 et abiit et adhesit uni civium regionis illius et misit illum in villam suam ut pasceret porcos

16 et cupiebat implere ventrem suum de siliquis quas porci manducabant et nemo illi dabat

17 in se autem reversus dixit quanti mercennarii patris mei abundant panibus ego autem hic fame pereo

18 surgam et ibo ad patrem meum et dicam illi pater peccavi in caelum et coram te

19 et iam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus fac me sicut unum de mercennariis tuis

20 et surgens venit ad patrem suum cum autem adhuc longe esset vidit illum pater ipsius et misericordia motus est et adcurrens cecidit supra collum eius et osculatus est illum

21 dixitque ei filius pater peccavi in caelum et coram te iam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus

22 dixit autem pater ad servos suos cito proferte stolam primam et induite illum et date anulum in manum eius et calciamenta in pedes

23 et adducite vitulum saginatum et occidite et manducemus et epulemur

24 quia hic filius meus mortuus erat et revixit perierat et inventus est et coeperunt epulari

25 erat autem filius eius senior in agro et cum veniret et adpropinquaret domui audivit symphoniam et chorum

26 et vocavit unum de servis et interrogavit quae haec essent

27 isque dixit illi frater tuus venit et occidit pater tuus vitulum saginatum quia salvum illum recepit

28 indignatus est autem et nolebat introire pater ergo illius egressus coepit rogare illum

29 at ille respondens dixit patri suo ecce tot annis servio tibi et numquam mandatum tuum praeterii et numquam dedisti mihi hedum ut cum amicis meis epularer

30 sed postquam filius tuus hic qui devoravit substantiam suam cum meretricibus venit occidisti illi vitulum saginatum

31 at ipse dixit illi fili tu semper mecum es et omnia mea tua sunt

32 epulari autem et gaudere oportebat quia frater tuus hic mortuus erat et revixit perierat et inventus est

Luke 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

Parables of the lost sheep, and the piece of silver. (1-10) The prodigal son, his wickedness and distress. (11-16) His repentance and pardon. (17-24) The elder brother offended. (25-32)

Verses 1-10 The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost, is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!

Verses 11-16 The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel grace; and it has been, and will be, while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. It is bad, and the beginning of worse, when men look upon God's gifts as debts due to them. The great folly of sinners, and that which ruins them, is, being content in their life-time to receive their good things. Our first parents ruined themselves and all their race, by a foolish ambition to be independent, and this is at the bottom of sinners' persisting in their sin. We may all discern some features of our own characters in that of the prodigal son. A sinful state is of departure and distance from God. A sinful state is a spending state: wilful sinners misemploy their thoughts and the powers of their souls, mispend their time and all their opportunities. A sinful state is a wanting state. Sinners want necessaries for their souls; they have neither food nor raiment for them, nor any provision for hereafter. A sinful state is a vile, slavish state. The business of the devil's servants is to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, and that is no better than feeding swine. A sinful state is a state constant discontent. The wealth of the world and the pleasures of the senses will not even satisfy our bodies; but what are they to precious souls! A sinful state is a state which cannot look for relief from any creature. In vain do we cry to the world and to the flesh; they have that which will poison a soul, but have nothing to give which will feed and nourish it. A sinful state is a state of death. A sinner is dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of spiritual life. A sinful state is a lost state. Souls that are separated from God, if his mercy prevent not, will soon be lost for ever. The prodigal's wretched state, only faintly shadows forth the awful ruin of man by sin. Yet how few are sensible of their own state and character!

Verses 17-24 Having viewed the prodigal in his abject state of misery, we are next to consider his recovery from it. This begins by his coming to himself. That is a turning point in the sinner's conversion. The Lord opens his eyes, and convinces him of sin; then he views himself and every object, in a different light from what he did before. Thus the convinced sinner perceives that the meanest servant of God is happier than he is. To look unto God as a Father, and our Father, will be of great use in our repentance and return to him. The prodigal arose, nor stopped till he reached his home. Thus the repenting sinner resolutely quits the bondage of Satan and his lusts, and returns to God by prayer, notwithstanding fears and discouragements. The Lord meets him with unexpected tokens of his forgiving love. Again; the reception of the humbled sinner is like that of the prodigal. He is clothed in the robe of the Redeemer's righteousness, made partaker of the Spirit of adoption, prepared by peace of conscience and gospel grace to walk in the ways of holiness, and feasted with Divine consolations. Principles of grace and holiness are wrought in him, to do, as well as to will.

Verses 25-32 In the latter part of this parable we have the character of the Pharisees, though not of them alone. It sets forth the kindness of the Lord, and the proud manner in which his gracious kindness is often received. The Jews, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles; and numbers in every age object to the gospel and its preachers, on the same ground. What must that temper be, which stirs up a man to despise and abhor those for whom the Saviour shed his precious blood, who are objects of the Father's choice, and temples of the Holy Ghost! This springs from pride, self-preference, and ignorance of a man's own heart. The mercy and grace of our God in Christ, shine almost as bright in his tender and gentle bearing with peevish saints, as his receiving prodigal sinners upon their repentance. It is the unspeakable happiness of all the children of God, who keep close to their Father's house, that they are, and shall be ever with him. Happy will it be for those who thankfully accept Christ's invitation.