11 Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And
not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far
country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But
when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began
to be in want. 15 Then 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 gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and
no one gave him anything. 17 “But
when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have
bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I
will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you, 19 and
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired
servants.” ’ 20 “And
he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight,
and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But
the father said to his servants, ‘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 fatted calf here 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 older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26 So
he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And
he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe
and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But
he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded
with him. 29 So
he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been
serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you
never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But
as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with
harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And
he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It
was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and
is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Commentary
Vs. 11-12 11 Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
The Lord Jesus Christ having told us the parable of the shepherd seeking his lost sheep, then the woman seeking her cherished lost coin, now brings it all home with the parable/story of the prodigal son, which because of its nature is universal in its application. And so, Jesus begins by saying that there was man who had two sons, and the younger said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ vs. 11 That is he requested all of his inheritance while his father was still living. And so, the father divided to both his sons his livelihood (vs. 12). Now though the younger sons request is rather unusual; to request all of one’s inheritance while one’s father is still living; I think it not unusual for a father to want to help his sons get set up in life and establish themselves. And so, he granted the younger son what he requested. However, as we will see the younger son had no interest in using his early granted inheritance wisely (in this consider Prov. 20:21).
Vs. 13 “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”
Having then received his inheritance from his father, the younger son soon decides to depart from his father. Therefore, he gathers all of his possessions together and departs to far country. Far away from his father and all that he has known. And so, it is that while he is there, he wastes all his possessions with prodigal living (think wild partying). Which sadly is so representative of people everywhere, who from every culture and walk of life likewise for whatever reasons go out try to live life on the “wild side.”
Vs. 14 “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.”
It wasn’t that long then before the young man had spent his whole inheritance on prodigal living, and so soon after there arose a famine in that land, which obviously equates with there being scarce resources and opportunities for anyone in that land, much less a foreigner. And so, he began to be in want.
Vs. 15 “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.”
Therefore, being in great desperation and despair he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country. Meaning he literally forsook all his identity and united himself to that citizens culture and values so that he might only become his servant. And so it was, that he then sent him out into his fields to feed swine, which for a Jewish person would’ve been utterly despairing, because for those under the law coming into contact with swine was only to be defiled in the sight of God. And now he found himself surrounded by them as their keeper, while they wallowed in their own mud and mire.
Vs. 16 “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.”
And so, it was while he tended the swine that he would’ve gladly eaten the pods (i.e. carob pods that come from middle eastern flowering evergreen trees or shrubs) that the swine ate, and which it appears he himself was not permitted to eat. Not only that no there gave him anything! Thus, though he had joined himself to a citizen of that country, the people there never accepted him as belonging to it. And so, there he was bound to a very cruel master, while living amongst some very cruel and unmerciful people.
Vs. 17-19 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
It is at this point that the young man having hit bottom comes to too his senses, and so he remembers how in his father’s household his father’s servants have plenty of bread to eat, and yet he perishes with hunger while in this foreign land (vs. 17). Therefore, knowing that he will have to return home destitute, he now lays all his hope on what he hopes will be an acceptable confession of wrong doing to his father (vs. 17-19. Now there is in the young mans prepared confession for his father absolutely no sense of entitlement, just desperation that he might somehow find a place again in his father house, this time no longer as his son, but now only as his servant.
Vs. 20-24 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘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 fatted calf here 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.
Having then prepared his confession he leaves that place and makes his way home to his father. Now when his father saw his son coming down the road, while he was still a great way off, he ran to him and fell on his neck and kissed him, in that moment we see longing love of God so wonderfully exemplified by the father running to his son, because no doubt he had spent many a day and night worrying about and looking for his sons coming down that old road, and so when he saw him he could not contain himself, all those pent out emotions came flooding out as he ran to him and fell on his neck and kissed him. Now though all this affection was being poured out on the son, he no doubt still bearing the shame and guilt of his sins began his confession to his father, saying ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Vs. 21
However, the father was not looking for a confession of guilt or wrong doing, (something his son already knew and deeply felt) he was simply looking for, and longing for his son. And so, when the father gathered himself together, he called out to his servants saying to them, “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 fatted calf here 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.” Now the father by his son in the best robe in his wardrobe shows just how God our father takes away our rags that we bear as sinful and unreconciled people to Himself, and then clothes us in the royal white robs of heaven when we return to Him in grace and truth. Same too with the father putting a ring back on his sons’ finger which was assigned only to family members, not servants, and certainly not to slaves! And so, in that moment the son himself would’ve begin to realize (if he hadn’t already) that his father had received him back, not as one of his servants, but as his son! And so, in that moment the Father was lifting all the weight and guilt and shame of his son’s sins from him. Something that will happen to you when you come home to God the Father through faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Now with the Father having received his son safely back to himself, he calls for some of his other servants to bring the fatted calf and to kill it so that they all might make merry and celebrate his sons return! “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” Now in Jesus Words we see the true nature of our spiritual condition as lost human beings who are separated from God; likewise being dead in our own sins and transgressions, before we are restored to God and made spiritually alive by Holy Spirit rebirth through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person Crucified and Risen from the dead (John 3:3; 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10, 13). And so just as the father rejoiced at his sons return to him so in heaven there is great rejoicing at every sinner who likewise repents and returns to God!
Vs. 25-32 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Now as all of this was unfolding the older brother was out in the field, and as he drew near the house, he heard the music and dancing (vs. 25). Music and dancing! And so, the older brother asked one of the servants what these things meant? Now why he didn’t just go up to the house himself is up for speculation. Anyway, when the servant told him that his once wayward brother had returned safe and sound, and that their father had killed the fatted calf to celebrate his sons return to him, he became angry and would not go in, therefore his father came out and pleaded with him (vs. 26-28). Now the older brother’s attitude is symbolic of the attitude of all those who likewise see themselves as having also kept all the commandments of God, who see themselves as also having faithfully followed or served Him, and so sadly their first instinct often is not to rejoice at the restoration of their lost brother, (whose actions or person they may only hold in contempt in their hearts). Their first instinct then is to only see an injustice that such grace, and celebratory grace at that, should be bestowed on someone so “undeserving.” Therefore when their father appeals to the older brother to come in and celebrate with them, he is steadfast that he will not go in and celebrate with them, saying to their father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ In the older brothers’ words all I hear is whole lot of selfishness. For he shows neither concern for his father, nor his brother, and what they both went through while separated from each other. For unless you have fallen and had no one to help pick you up, or you had nowhere to turn in your time of need, you can’t imagine the depths of despair that one feels when that happens. Same with having lost a loved one to the ruler of this world and not knowing where they are, and if they are okay. Thus, their restoration to each other calls for the greatest celebration and joy of heaven. Because it is for this reason the Jesus Christ suffered and died on the Cross so that He could bring us to life and restore us as whole people again back to God our Father in heaven. The father then having heard his eldest sons’ complaints and reasons why he won’t go in to celebrate with them now speaks reassuring words to him, before confirming his actions as being right to him, saying, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” vs. 31-21
The church then and we as the people of it must always be people who do not impute people’s sins against them (2 Cor 5:19-21), but rather we must be people who rejoice with heaven every time someone repents and believes, and thus comes home to God the Father through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Quotations
Commentary
Vs. 11-12 11 Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
The Lord Jesus Christ having told us the parable of the shepherd seeking his lost sheep, then the woman seeking her cherished lost coin, now brings it all home with the parable/story of the prodigal son, which because of its nature is universal in its application. And so, Jesus begins by saying that there was man who had two sons, and the younger said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ vs. 11 That is he requested all of his inheritance while his father was still living. And so, the father divided to both his sons his livelihood (vs. 12). Now though the younger sons request is rather unusual; to request all of one’s inheritance while one’s father is still living; I think it not unusual for a father to want to help his sons get set up in life and establish themselves. And so, he granted the younger son what he requested. However, as we will see the younger son had no interest in using his early granted inheritance wisely (in this consider Prov. 20:21).
Vs. 13 “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”
Having then received his inheritance from his father, the younger son soon decides to depart from his father. Therefore, he gathers all of his possessions together and departs to far country. Far away from his father and all that he has known. And so, it is that while he is there, he wastes all his possessions with prodigal living (think wild partying). Which sadly is so representative of people everywhere, who from every culture and walk of life likewise for whatever reasons go out try to live life on the “wild side.”
Vs. 14 “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.”
It wasn’t that long then before the young man had spent his whole inheritance on prodigal living, and so soon after there arose a famine in that land, which obviously equates with there being scarce resources and opportunities for anyone in that land, much less a foreigner. And so, he began to be in want.
Vs. 15 “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.”
Therefore, being in great desperation and despair he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country. Meaning he literally forsook all his identity and united himself to that citizens culture and values so that he might only become his servant. And so it was, that he then sent him out into his fields to feed swine, which for a Jewish person would’ve been utterly despairing, because for those under the law coming into contact with swine was only to be defiled in the sight of God. And now he found himself surrounded by them as their keeper, while they wallowed in their own mud and mire.
Vs. 16 “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.”
And so, it was while he tended the swine that he would’ve gladly eaten the pods (i.e. carob pods that come from middle eastern flowering evergreen trees or shrubs) that the swine ate, and which it appears he himself was not permitted to eat. Not only that no there gave him anything! Thus, though he had joined himself to a citizen of that country, the people there never accepted him as belonging to it. And so, there he was bound to a very cruel master, while living amongst some very cruel and unmerciful people.
Vs. 17-19 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
It is at this point that the young man having hit bottom comes to too his senses, and so he remembers how in his father’s household his father’s servants have plenty of bread to eat, and yet he perishes with hunger while in this foreign land (vs. 17). Therefore, knowing that he will have to return home destitute, he now lays all his hope on what he hopes will be an acceptable confession of wrong doing to his father (vs. 17-19. Now there is in the young mans prepared confession for his father absolutely no sense of entitlement, just desperation that he might somehow find a place again in his father house, this time no longer as his son, but now only as his servant.
Vs. 20-24 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘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 fatted calf here 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.
Having then prepared his confession he leaves that place and makes his way home to his father. Now when his father saw his son coming down the road, while he was still a great way off, he ran to him and fell on his neck and kissed him, in that moment we see longing love of God so wonderfully exemplified by the father running to his son, because no doubt he had spent many a day and night worrying about and looking for his sons coming down that old road, and so when he saw him he could not contain himself, all those pent out emotions came flooding out as he ran to him and fell on his neck and kissed him. Now though all this affection was being poured out on the son, he no doubt still bearing the shame and guilt of his sins began his confession to his father, saying ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Vs. 21
However, the father was not looking for a confession of guilt or wrong doing, (something his son already knew and deeply felt) he was simply looking for, and longing for his son. And so, when the father gathered himself together, he called out to his servants saying to them, “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 fatted calf here 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.” Now the father by his son in the best robe in his wardrobe shows just how God our father takes away our rags that we bear as sinful and unreconciled people to Himself, and then clothes us in the royal white robs of heaven when we return to Him in grace and truth. Same too with the father putting a ring back on his sons’ finger which was assigned only to family members, not servants, and certainly not to slaves! And so, in that moment the son himself would’ve begin to realize (if he hadn’t already) that his father had received him back, not as one of his servants, but as his son! And so, in that moment the Father was lifting all the weight and guilt and shame of his son’s sins from him. Something that will happen to you when you come home to God the Father through faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Now with the Father having received his son safely back to himself, he calls for some of his other servants to bring the fatted calf and to kill it so that they all might make merry and celebrate his sons return! “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” Now in Jesus Words we see the true nature of our spiritual condition as lost human beings who are separated from God; likewise being dead in our own sins and transgressions, before we are restored to God and made spiritually alive by Holy Spirit rebirth through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person Crucified and Risen from the dead (John 3:3; 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10, 13). And so just as the father rejoiced at his sons return to him so in heaven there is great rejoicing at every sinner who likewise repents and returns to God!
Vs. 25-32 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Now as all of this was unfolding the older brother was out in the field, and as he drew near the house, he heard the music and dancing (vs. 25). Music and dancing! And so, the older brother asked one of the servants what these things meant? Now why he didn’t just go up to the house himself is up for speculation. Anyway, when the servant told him that his once wayward brother had returned safe and sound, and that their father had killed the fatted calf to celebrate his sons return to him, he became angry and would not go in, therefore his father came out and pleaded with him (vs. 26-28). Now the older brother’s attitude is symbolic of the attitude of all those who likewise see themselves as having also kept all the commandments of God, who see themselves as also having faithfully followed or served Him, and so sadly their first instinct often is not to rejoice at the restoration of their lost brother, (whose actions or person they may only hold in contempt in their hearts). Their first instinct then is to only see an injustice that such grace, and celebratory grace at that, should be bestowed on someone so “undeserving.” Therefore when their father appeals to the older brother to come in and celebrate with them, he is steadfast that he will not go in and celebrate with them, saying to their father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ In the older brothers’ words all I hear is whole lot of selfishness. For he shows neither concern for his father, nor his brother, and what they both went through while separated from each other. For unless you have fallen and had no one to help pick you up, or you had nowhere to turn in your time of need, you can’t imagine the depths of despair that one feels when that happens. Same with having lost a loved one to the ruler of this world and not knowing where they are, and if they are okay. Thus, their restoration to each other calls for the greatest celebration and joy of heaven. Because it is for this reason the Jesus Christ suffered and died on the Cross so that He could bring us to life and restore us as whole people again back to God our Father in heaven. The father then having heard his eldest sons’ complaints and reasons why he won’t go in to celebrate with them now speaks reassuring words to him, before confirming his actions as being right to him, saying, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” vs. 31-21
The church then and we as the people of it must always be people who do not impute people’s sins against them (2 Cor 5:19-21), but rather we must be people who rejoice with heaven every time someone repents and believes, and thus comes home to God the Father through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson
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