Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. Ver. 1. _All the publicans and sinners_] Christ familiarized himself with these despised persons, and thereby much won upon them. Affability easily allureth, austerity discourageth; as it did that honest citizen, which having in... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Ver. 2. _But the scribes and Pharisees_] Being sick of the devil's disease, and doing his lusts,John 8:44 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, Ver. 3. See Matthew 18:12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
What 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? Ver. 4. See Matthew 18:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he hath found _it_, he layeth _it_ on his shoulders, rejoicing. Ver. 5. See Matthew 18:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 6. See Matthew 18:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I 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. Ver. 7. _Joy shall be in heaven_] Would we then put harps into the angels' hands, ditties into their mouths? repent.... [ Continue Reading ]
Either 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_ ? Ver. 8. _If she lose once piece_] One Tester. _Drachma enim valebat septem denarios cum dimidio._ (Breerwood _de Num._) Judges 1:1. See the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 9. _Rejoice with me_] What greater joy than to have had a hand in the conversion of a sinner from the error of his way?... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Ver. 10. See Luke 15:7. The tears of sinners are the wine of angels, saith Bernard: who himself, for a certain time after his conversion, remained as it were deprived of his senses, by the ex... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, A certain man had two sons: Ver. 11. _And he said_] A third parable to the same purpose: and all to persuade us of God's readiness to receive returning sinners. This is not so easily believed, indeed, as most men imagine.... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 12. _He divided unto them his living_] Gr. τον βιον, his life. Our life is called the "life of our hands," Isaiah 57:10, because it is upheld by the l... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 13. _Gathered all together_] _Convasatis veluti omnibus._ With riotous living] Ασωτως _a_ Not caring to save any part, _sibi nihil reser... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. Ver. 14. _And when he had spent all_] And left himself nothing at all, _praeter coelum et coenum, _ but air to breathe in and earth to tread on, as that Roman prodigal boasted; who had made his own hand... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. Ver. 15. _To feed swine_] Which to a Jew, that held swine an abomination, must needs be grievous.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. Ver. 16. _And he would fain have filled his belly_] The stomach of man is a monster (saith one), which, being contained in so little a bulk as his body, is able to consume and devour all things.... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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! Ver. 17. _And when he came to himself_] For till then he had been beside himself, and not his own worthy. _Nebulo_ rascal (saith one) cometh of Nabal; fool of φαυλο... [ Continue Reading ]
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Ver. 18. _Against heaven and before thee_] That is, I have not only thee, but the whole heaven for a swift witness against me of mine offences and outbursts. "The heaven doth declare mine... [ Continue Reading ]
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. Ver. 19. _I am not worthy_] So Austin, _Domino, non sum dignus quem tu diligas._ So another, _Non sum dignus, Domino, sod sum indigens._ Sense of misery must precede sense of mercy. Let God but hear such words as thes... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 20. _When he was yet a great way off_] _Tantum velis et Deus tibi praeoccurret, _ You may be so will and God will run to you, saith... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 21. _Father, I have sinned_] Confess, and the mends is made. _Homo agnoscit, Deus ignoscit._ Acknowledge but the debt, and he will cross the book. _ And am no more wo... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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: Ver. 22. _The best robe_] That white raiment of Christ's righteousness,Revelation 3:18; that rich and royal array, Psalms 45:14, the righteousness (δικαιωματα) o... [ Continue Reading ]
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill _it_; and let us eat, and be merry: Ver. 23. _And bring hither the fatted calf_] Christ is that fatted calf, saith Mr Tyndale martyr, slain to make penitent sinners good cheer withal, and his righteousness is the goodly raiment to cover the naked deformiti... [ Continue Reading ]
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Ver. 24. _For this my son was dead, &c._] So fareth it with every faithful Christian. He was dead, but now lives, and cannot be insensible or ignorant of such a change.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. Ver. 25. _His elder son_] The self-justiciary, that is good in his own eyes, and needs no repentance.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. Ver. 26. _What these things meant_] Hypocrites understand not the just man's joys, nor the sweet intercourse that is between God and his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. Ver. 27. _Safe_] Gr. υγιαινοντα, in health. _Quod sanitas in corpore, id sanctitas in corde._ The sanctified man is the only sound man.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. Ver. 28. _And he was angry_] _Christi consilium est ostendere, iniquum esse qui fratri in gratiam recepto obtrectat, etiamsi sanctitate Angelis non cedat._ Calvin.... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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: Ver. 29. _And yet thou never gavest me a kid_] Much less a calf. Hypocrites hold God to be in... [ Continue Reading ]
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. Ver. 30. _But as soon as this thy son_] He saith not, this my brother; he would not once own him, because in poverty. _ Which hath devoured thy living_] _q.d._ which you wer... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. Ver. 31. _All that I have is thine_] In thy conceit at least. Thou holdest thyself happy howsoever, and seemeth to have one foot already in the porch of paradise. Self-deceivers will needlessly set up their counter for... [ Continue Reading ]
It 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. Ver. 32. _Was lost, and is found_] Of himself he left his father; yet is he called the lost son.... [ Continue Reading ]