Luke 15

1 And publicans and sinful men were approaching to him [were nighing to him], to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes grumbled [grutched], saying, For this [man] receiveth sinful men, and eateth with them.

3 And he spake to them this parable, and said [saying],

4 What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he hath lost one of them, whether he leaveth not ninety and nine in desert [and if he shall lose one of them, whether he leave not ninety and nine in desert], and goeth to it that perished, till he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he joyeth, and layeth it on his shoulders; [And when he hath found it, he joying putteth on his shoulders;]

6 and he cometh home, and calleth together his friends and neighbours, and saith to them, Be ye glad with me, for I have found my sheep, that had perished. [+and he coming home calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, Glad ye with me, for I have found my sheep, which had perished/for I have found the sheep, that I had lost.]

7 And I say to you, so joy shall be in heaven on one sinful man doing penance, more than on ninety and nine just, that have no need to penance [than of ninety and nine just, that have no need of penance].

8 Or what woman having ten bezants, and if she hath lost one bezant, whether she tendeth not a lantern, and turneth upside-down the house [+Either what woman having ten drachmas, or bezants, and if she shall lose one drachma, whether she lighteth not a lantern, and turneth upside-down the house], and seeketh diligently, till [that] she find it?

9 And when she hath found, she calleth together friends and neighbours, and saith, Be ye glad with me, for I have found the bezant that I had lost [saying, Glad ye with me, for I have found the drachma, which I had lost].

10 So I say to you, joy shall be before the angels of God on [upon] one sinful man doing penance.

11 And he said, A man had two sons [Some man had two sons];

12 and the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of chattel, that falleth to me. And he parted to them the chattel. [+and the younger said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance, or chattel, that falleth me. And he parted to them the substance.]

13 And not after many days, when all things were gathered together, the younger son went forth in pilgrimage into a far country; and there he wasted his goods in living lecherously [and there he wasted his substance, or goods, in living lecherously].

14 And after that he had ended all things, a strong hunger was made in that country, and he began to have need.

15 And he went, and drew him(self) to one of the citizens of that country [And he went, and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country]. And he sent him into his town, to feed swine.

16 And he coveted to fill his womb of the pods that the hogs ate, and no man gave to him.

17 And he turned again to himself, and said, How many hired men in my father's house have plenty of loaves; and I perish here through hunger [forsooth I perish here in hunger].

18 I shall rise up, and go to my father, and I shall say to him, Father, I have sinned into heaven [Father, I have sinned against heaven], and before thee;

19 and now I am not worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thine hired men.

20 And he rose up, and came to his father. And when he was yet afar, his father saw him, and was stirred by mercy. And he ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned into heaven [Father, I have sinned against heaven], and before thee; and now I am not worthy to be called thy son.

22 And the father said to his servants, Swiftly bring ye forth the first stole, and clothe ye him [and clothe him], and give ye a ring in his hand, and shoes on his feet;

23 and bring ye a fat calf, and slay ye, and eat we, and make we feast.

24 For this my son was dead, and hath lived again; he perished, and is found. And all men began to eat [And all began for to eat gladly].

25 But his elder son was in the field; and when he came, and approached to the house [and nighed to the house], he heard a symphony and a crowd.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked, what these things were.

27 And he said to him, Thy brother is come, and thy father slew a fat calf [+and thy father hath slain a fat calf/and thy father slew a fatted calf], for he received him safe.

28 And he was wroth, and would not come in. Therefore his father went out, and began to pray him.

29 And he answered to his father, and said, Lo! so many years I serve thee, and I never brake thy commandment; and thou never gave to me a kid, that I with my friends should have eaten. [+And he answering to his father, said, Lo! so many years I serve to thee, and I never passed over, or brake, thy commandment; and thou never hast given to me a kid, that I should eat largely with my friends.]

30 But after that this thy son, that hath devoured his substance with whores, came, thou hast slain to him a fat calf. [+But after that this thy son, which devoured his substance with whores, came, thou hast slain to him a fatted calf.]

31 And he said to him, Son, thou art evermore with me [Son, thou art ever with me], and all my things be thine.

32 But it behooved to make feast, and to have joy; for this thy brother was dead, and lived again [and liveth again]; he perished, and is found.

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.