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15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
15:4 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?
15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
15:6 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.
15:7 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.
15:8 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?
15:9 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.
15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
15:12 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.
15:13 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.
15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
15:17 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!
15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
15:20 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.
15:21 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.
15:22 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:
15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
15:27 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.
15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
15:29 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:
15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
15:32 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.

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Everything King James Bible:Luke

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Luke
Book: Luke
Chapter: 15

Overview:
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)

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!

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, misspend 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 of 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!

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.

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.

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