Lucas 15

1 Todos los recaudadores de impuestos y los pecadores se acercaban a Jesús para oírle;

2 y los fariseos y los escribas murmuraban, diciendo: Este recibe a los pecadores y come con ellos.

3 Entonces El les refirió esta parábola, diciendo:

4 ¿Qué hombre de vosotros, si tiene cien ovejas y una de ellas se pierde, no deja las noventa y nueve en el campo y va tras la que está perdida hasta que la halla?

5 Al encontrarla, la pone sobre sus hombros, gozoso;

6 y cuando llega a su casa, reúne a los amigos y a los vecinos, diciéndoles: "Alegraos conmigo, porque he hallado mi oveja que se había perdido."

7 Os digo que de la misma manera, habrá más gozo en el cielo por un pecador que se arrepiente que por noventa y nueve justos que no necesitan arrepentimiento.

8 ¿O qué mujer, si tiene diez monedas de plata y pierde una moneda, no enciende una lámpara y barre la casa y busca con cuidado hasta hallarla?

9 Cuando la encuentra, reúne a las amigas y vecinas, diciendo: "Alegraos conmigo porque he hallado la moneda que había perdido."

10 De la misma manera, os digo, hay gozo en la presencia de los ángeles de Dios por un pecador que se arrepiente.

11 Y Jesús dijo: Cierto hombre tenía dos hijos;

12 y el menor de ellos le dijo al padre: "Padre, dame la parte de la hacienda que me corresponde." Y él les repartió sus bienes.

13 No muchos días después, el hijo menor, juntándolo todo, partió a un país lejano, y allí malgastó su hacienda viviendo perdidamente.

14 Cuando lo había gastado todo, vino una gran hambre en aquel país, y comenzó a pasar necesidad.

15 Entonces fue y se acercó a uno de los ciudadanos de aquel país, y él lo mandó a sus campos a apacentar cerdos.

16 Y deseaba llenarse el estómago de las algarrobas que comían los cerdos, pero nadie le daba nada.

17 Entonces, volviendo en sí, dijo: "¡Cuántos de los trabajadores de mi padre tienen pan de sobra, pero yo aquí perezco de hambre!

18 "Me levantaré e iré a mi padre, y le diré: 'Padre, he pecado contra el cielo y ante ti;

19 ya no soy digno de ser llamado hijo tuyo; hazme como uno de tus trabajadores.'"

20 Y levantándose, fue a su padre. Y cuando todavía estaba lejos, su padre lo vio y sintió compasión por él, y corrió, se echó sobre su cuello y lo besó.

21 Y el hijo le dijo: "Padre, he pecado contra el cielo y ante ti; ya no soy digno de ser llamado hijo tuyo."

22 Pero el padre dijo a sus siervos: "Pronto; traed la mejor ropa y vestidlo, y poned un anillo en su mano y sandalias en los pies;

23 y traed el becerro engordado, matadlo, y comamos y regocijémonos;

24 porque este hijo mío estaba muerto y ha vuelto a la vida; estaba perdido y ha sido hallado." Y comenzaron a regocijarse.

25 Y su hijo mayor estaba en el campo, y cuando vino y se acercó a la casa, oyó música y danzas.

26 Y llamando a uno de los criados, le preguntó qué era todo aquello.

27 Y él le dijo: "Tu hermano ha venido, y tu padre ha matado el becerro engordado porque lo ha recibido sano y salvo."

28 Entonces él se enojó y no quería entrar. Salió su padre y le rogaba que entrara.

29 Pero respondiendo él, le dijo al padre: "Mira, por tantos años te he servido y nunca he desobedecido ninguna orden tuya, y sin embargo, nunca me has dado un cabrito para regocijarme con mis amigos;

30 pero cuando vino este hijo tuyo, que ha consumido tus bienes con rameras, mataste para él el becerro engordado."

31 Y él le dijo: "Hijo mío, tú siempre has estado conmigo, y todo lo mío es tuyo.

32 "Pero era necesario hacer fiesta y regocijarnos, porque éste, tu hermano, estaba muerto y ha vuelto a la vida; estaba perdido y ha sido hallado."

Lucas 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gr., dracmas; una dracma equivala al salario de un da