Luke
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Luke 15
Luke 15
1Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
Commentary · verse 1
2And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Commentary · verse 2
The Pharisees and Torah teachers thought they were speaking against Jesus by saying to each other in private (murmured) that Jesus ate with sinners.
3And he spake unto them this parable, saying, 4What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Commentary · verses 3-7
Jesus told these religious leaders they did not understand what truly caused joy in heaven. There is joy in heaven when a lost soul is found.
Commentary · verses 8-10
Verses 8-10: the Parable of the Lost Coin.
8Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Commentary · verse 10
Jesus continued to use natural examples for God's spiritual perspective.
Commentary · verses 11-32
Verses 11-32: the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Commentary · verse 12
The younger son took his inheritance.
13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Commentary · verse 13
He wasted his inheritance "with riotous living"...focusing on the physical.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Commentary · verse 16
Remember, the Jews considered swine to be an unclean animal. This was as low as a person could get: wanting the food intended for an unclean animal, and not being able to have it.
17But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Commentary · verse 17
The younger son realized he would be better off as one of his father's servants than to die with hunger. He believed he deserved this role because he was his father's son, a spiritual reason.
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: 19I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Commentary · verse 19
He realized he had to deal with a spiritual issue in order to obtain this role as servant. Verse 18 was his confession. Verse 19 was his repentance, what he would do to make up for his sin.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Commentary · verse 20
The younger son went to his father but when he was still far away, his father saw him. His father must have been watching for him. Also, the father must have been able to see the youngest son's humble attitude from a distance because the father had compassion before the son spoke. Notice, the youngest son was not coming back proud as if he was better off. The youngest son was so humble it showed in how he came back.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Commentary · verse 21
The father first showed compassion. The younger son could have acted like everything was fine. However, the younger son chose to continue to humble himself, confess his sin, and repent. The younger son truly had a change of heart.
Doctrines on this passage
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: 24for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Commentary · verse 24
The father had a feast because his younger son was lost (physical focus with a hard heart) and now was found (spiritual focus with a humble heart). The father restored the youngest son to the status of being a son and not a servant. Notice, at the beginning of this story, the younger son proved he was not a believer and the father confirmed this was his belief because he said the son was lost but was now found, now a believer.
Doctrine: Forgive unbelievers immediately; do not argue with them. At the beginning of the story, the father did not argue with the younger son; he immediately let him go, he let the son be more destructive so the son would realize the error of his ways more quickly. He didn't go out to find him.
25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
Commentary · verse 27
The elder son wanted to know what was going on while he was working in the field. He heard the feast and was unaware of why the festivities were taking place.
28But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
Commentary · verse 28
The elder son became angry to the point that he would not receive his repentant brother. The father had to go out to the eldest son. Notice, the father did initiate reaching out to the "believer."
29But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.
29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Commentary · verse 30
The eldest son's response to his father coming out to him was to accuse his father! Notice, the youngest son was not accusing his brother, the subject of his statements of judgment was the father and himself. The elder son is in danger of becoming an "unbeliever."
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Commentary · verse 31
The father's response to being accused was to state an encouraging fact: it is all yours. He also was teaching the eldest son a point that he missed: you could have this feast anytime you want if you had pursued me, if you had asked.
Doctrine: The father confronted the older son because the older son was a believer. In the next set of chapters, we will see Jesus said in Luke 17:3 we must confront the believer with their sin and if they repent we must forgive. The younger son repented and the older son was now sinning because he did not forgive. Notice, this also means God through the Holy Spirit will confront believers about their sin.
32But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Commentary · verse 32
Then the father taught the eldest son the point he had overlooked: your brother has improved from his former condition. The father was aware that the younger son had sinned. However, he was a forgiving father when his sons made progress. So how much more would this father give to the eldest son if he continued to make progress? This story was a lot like Cain and Abel. We ought to focus on our individual fellowship with God rather than focus on others and their fellowship with God. However, notice this parable finished with the elder son becoming an unbeliever because he didn't rejoice over the repentance of his unbelieving brother. Just like the Pharisees had become unbelievers because they weren't rejoicing over the sinners that were repenting to God because of Jesus.
Luke 13-15 covered several parables from Jesus as His fame increased while He continued to heal people on the Sabbath. Luke 13-15 began with Pharisees wondering why Jesus healed sinners on the Sabbath and ended with Jesus telling a parable that proved the Pharisees were unbelievers because they didn't rejoice over sinners repenting.
Jesus' fame had grown to the point all the publicans and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. Jesus had a tremendous following from the sinners instead of the religious leaders.