Luke 15:1
Publicans and sinners. Matthew 9:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Publicans and sinners. Matthew 9:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
MURMURED; found fault with him for associating with vicious persons, or permitting them to approach him. He therefore spoke three parables, showing that God receives and rejoices over sinners who return to him, however wicked they have been; and that it was highly proper that the Saviour of sinners... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SPAKE THIS PARABLE; the three parables of this chapter contain each a vindication of the Saviour's conduct in receiving publicans and sinners. The point of them all is, that not what is safe, but what is lost, is the just occasion of labor in finding and joy upon recovery. We are not to infer fro... [ Continue Reading ]
The lost sheep. Matthew 18:11-14.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOY SHALL BE IN HEAVEN; as there is joy in heaven over the repentance of sinners, it was proper that Christ should associate with them, for the purpose of promoting their repentance. NINETY AND NINE JUST PERSONS; there is more joy in heaven over one who repents and turns to God, than over many who... [ Continue Reading ]
This parable is another illustration of the same truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
As God, angels, and all holy beings rejoice at the repentance of sinners, all who repent, and all who are successful in leading others to repent, are increasing the happiness of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNGER; he represents openly wicked persons, such as the "publicans and sinners"; as the elder son does the Pharisees, "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." HIS LIVING; literally, the living, that is, the estate in his hands. He paid over to the younger son... [ Continue Reading ]
TO FEED SWINE; this was considered a very degrading employment, and to a Jew was especially odious. Leviticus 11:7; DEUTERONOMY 14:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
HUSKS; large pods growing on the carob-tree. They have a sweetish pulp, and small seeds like beans. Swine are fed on them, and poor people sometimes eat them.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME TO HIMSELF; came to have just views of things. Men must feel that they are lost, before they will be found; and unless they believe that away from God they will perish, they will never return to him. Nor, if they do believe this, will they ever return to him till they steadfastly resolve to do... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST HEAVEN; against God as well as against his father.... [ Continue Reading ]
RAN AND FELL ON HIS NECK; this represents the readiness with which God receives returning sinners. To be saved, men must not only resolve, but they must return to God; taking all the blame and shame of their departure to themselves, and ascribing righteousness to him, they must surrender all their i... [ Continue Reading ]
When in humility and penitence men return to God, trusting in Jesus Christ for what they need he rejoices to receive them with exceeding great joy; and notwithstanding all their transgressions, he pardons them freely, and bestows upon them the blessings of his salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE MERRY; be joyful and happy; literally, eating, let us rejoice.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SON WAS DEAD-LOST; he was dead to excellence and to happiness and dead as to being the means of either to his father's house. He was lost to goodness, to duty, and to heaven. ALIVE-FOUND; he has returned with right feelings to his father and friends, and is a source of rich enjoyment to himself... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS ELDER SON; he represents the scribes and Pharisees, who found fault with Jesus for receiving and kindly treating sinners who came to him. MUSIC AND DANCING; expressions of joy.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS THY SON; an expression of scorn and pride. He refuses to say. This my brother. DEVOURED THY LIVING; squandered the property assigned to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART EVER WITH ME; so that thou hast the full enjoyment of the portion of the estate reserved for thee. ALL THAT I HAVE IS THINE; the younger son having received his portion of the estate, what remained would be now enjoyed by the other son, and fall to him when the father had done with it.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS MEET; suitable, proper. Had the elder son felt right, he would have thought so; and instead of murmuring, would have partaken of the joy. So with the scribes and Pharisees: had they felt right, instead of murmuring at Christ for receiving penitent sinners, they would have rejoiced with him an... [ Continue Reading ]