3 So He told them this parable , saying , 4 " What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine e in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders , rejoicing . 6 "And when he comes home , he calls together his friends and his neighbors , saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost !' 7 "I tell you that in the same way , there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine e righteous persons who need no repentance .
8 "Or what woman , if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin , does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors , saying , 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost !' 10 "In the same way , I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents ."
11 And He said , "A man had two sons . 12 "The younger of them said to his father , 'Father , give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. 13 "And not many days later , the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country , and there he squandered his estate with loose living . 14 "Now when he had spent everything , a severe famine occurred in that country , and he began to be impoverished . 15 "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country , and he sent him into his fields to feed swine . 16 "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating , and no one was giving anything to him. 17 "But when he came to his senses , he said , 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread , but I am dying here with hunger ! 18 'I will get up and go to my father , and will say to him, "Father , I have sinned against heaven , and in your sight ; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son ; make me as one of your hired men ."' 20 "So he got up and came to his father . But while he was still a long way off , his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced e e him and kissed him. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father , I have sinned against heaven and in your sight ; I am no longer worthy to be called your son .' 22 "But the father said to his slaves , 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet ; 23 and bring the fattened calf , kill it, and let us eat and celebrate ; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again ; he was lost and has been found .' And they began to celebrate . 25 "Now his older son was in the field , and when he came and approached the house , he heard music and dancing . 26 "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what e these things could be. 27 "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come , and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound .' 28 "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 "But he answered and said to his father , 'Look ! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours ; and yet you have never given me a young goat , so that I might celebrate with my friends ; 30 but when this son of yours came , who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes , you killed the fattened calf for him.' 31 "And he said to him, 'Son , you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours . 32 'But we had to celebrate and rejoice , for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live , and was lost and has been found .' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 15:3-32
Commentary on Luke 15:1-10
(Read Luke 15:1-10)
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!
Commentary on Luke 15:11-16
(Read Luke 15:11-16)
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!
Commentary on Luke 15:17-24
(Read Luke 15:17-24)
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.
Commentary on Luke 15:25-32
(Read Luke 15:25-32)
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.