Luke
15:11-32
Lesson 141
15:11-32
Lesson 141
Luke 15:11-32
Parable of the lost son 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 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. 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. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 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. 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. 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: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 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. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 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: 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. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 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. |
Margin notes:
"Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." (15:12) - Means "Give me my inheritance." To ask for his inheritance while his father was still alive was a great insult. "He divided unto them his living." (15:12) - This means that both sons received their inheritance. "Joined himself." (15:15) - "Hired himself out." "Feed swine." (15:15) - According to Mosaic Law, pigs were unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8; Deuteronomy 14:8). Feeding, or even touching a pig was degrading and sinful for Jewish men. Jesus' story about the prodigal son would have shocked His audience. "He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat." (15:16) - "He would gladly have eaten the husks that the pigs ate." "When he came to himself." (15:17) - "When he came to his senses." "Ran." (15:20) - In Jesus' time, it was considered unseemly for a man to run and greet a visitor. The person with the higher status waited for the other person to come to them. "Fatted calf." (15:23) - Only prepared for special occasions. "My son was dead, and is alive again." (15:24) - The father readily forgave his son, just as God forgives us (Ephesians 2:1; 2:5). "Drew nigh to the house." (15:25) - "Drew near to the house." "Because he hath received him safe and sound." (15:27) - "Because he has returned safe and sound." "Intreated him." (15:28) - "Begged him." "Lo." (15:29) - "Look." "Kid." (15:29) - "Goat." "Thy son." (15:30) - The elder son, so filled with contempt, won't call the younger son by name or even refer to him as his brother. "Devoured thy living." (15:30) - "Wasted your money." "It was meet that we should make merry." (15:32) - "It was right that we celebrate." |