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Luke Chapter
Fifteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Joy of The Holy Trinity for the
Repentance of A Sinner
II. The joy that the Holy Spirit found the lost coin
(v.8-10).
III. The joy that God the Father gained the prodigal
son (v.11-32).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Luke. 15:1 “Then all the tax
collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.”
YLT: “And all the
tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming nigh to him, to hear him,”
The
Background: “all the tax
collectors and the sinners” They were of the social strata that was despised by
the pious Jews at that time (See Acts. 10:28).
Luke. 15:2 “And the Pharisees and
scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners
and eats with them.’”
YLT: “and the Pharisees
and the scribes were murmuring, saying This one doth receive sinners, and doth
eat with them.’”
The
Background: “the Pharisees and
scribes” “The Pharisees” were of the strictest sect of Judaism. They boasted
that they lived a holy life, were pious towards God and had the abundant
knowledge of the Bible. “The scribes” were those who specially transcribed and
taught the Old Testament. They were familiar with the Old Testament and the
explanations of the elders to the Law. Most of the scribes were the Pharisees
and not all of them were the Pharisees.
Literal Meaning: “complained, saying”
They murmured and complained among themselves and did not talk in public.
“And eats with them” Eating with someone
means not only the simple communion but also the reception and approval (See
Acts. 11:3; 1Cor. 5:11; Gal. 2:12).
Spiritual Meaning: “the Pharisees”
symbolize the traditional religious believers. “The scribes” symbolize men with
knowledge and status in the circle of religion.
Religious ones only condemn others and
are unaware that they themselves are in sin. They hold that God is righteous
towards men and therefore everyone of God should preserve their purity and do
not associate with sinners. However, the Lord Jesus always rejects men’s
religious concepts.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Pharisees measure the Lord with the
traditional religious concepts and they could not follow the actions of the
Lord. If we adhere obstinately to the old concepts of the Bible, we won’t
follow the Lord’s new guidance.
2) Though men are unrighteous, they like God
dealing with men with righteousness. Men blame God that He has shown mercy to
men because they do not know God’s grace. Therefore the attitude of grace is
criticized and blamed by men.
3) Though the Lord contacts with sinners, the Bible
says that, He is separate from sinners (Heb. 7:26). Only the one who is
separate from sinners is able to draw near to sinners.
Luke. 15:3 “So He spoke this parable
to them, saying:”
YLT: “And he spake unto
them this simile, saying,”
Meaning of Words: “parable”:
illustration, comparison.
Literal Meaning: “so” shows that
v.1-2 is the background and origin for the following three parables.
“Parable” is a way to express the
profound truth with things that all are familiar with.
Spiritual Meaning: The three parables
that the Lord has said in this chapter typify that the Holy Trinity loves
sinners and finds and accepts sinners:
1) The Son came to the world, found
sinners on the earth and brought sinners who had repented to the household of
God (v.3-7).
2) The Spirit searches in the hearts of sinners until sinners are moved
to repent to God (v.8-10).
3) God the Father accepts sinners who
have repented and turned to Him and He makes merry and is glad (v.11-32).
Luke. 15:4 “‘What
man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he
finds it?”
YLT: “`What man of you
having a hundred sheep, and having lost one out of them, doth not leave behind
the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go on after the lost one, till he may
find it?”
The
Background: “the one which is
lost” Sheep are naturally stupid and clumsy and they are easy to get lost.
Therefore they need to be shepherded and guided by shepherds.
Spiritual Meaning: “a hundred sheep”
symbolize the world and they specially indicate the Jews. “One of them which is
lost” symbolizes the sinner and her it specially indicates the tax collectors
and sinners of the Jews. “The ninety-nine” symbolize those who are
self-righteous and unwilling to repent and here they specially indicate the
Pharisees and scribes of the Jews. “The shepherd that finds the sheep” is the
type of Christ.
“Does not leave the nine-nine in the
wilderness” “wilderness” symbolizes the world. “Leave in the wilderness” shows
that Christ came to the world and dwelt among men (See John.1: 14).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Probably we hold that we are the smallest one
among the very many Christians. However, the Lord values us and He will never
forget us. If we get lost, He will go out sorrowfully and find us back.
2) The parable of the lost sheep shows that if men
depart from Christ, they will lose His abundant shepherding, provision, rest,
guidance, protection and etc (See Ps. 23).
Luke. 15:5 “And when he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
YLT: “and having found,
he doth lay [it] on his shoulders rejoicing,”
Spiritual Meaning: “he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing” “lays it on his shoulders” It shows the power of the Lord
to save us and the love of His salvation.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When the shepherd finds the sheep, he does not
punish the sheep and “lays it on his shoulders” and brings it to home. Every
time we are found again by the Lord after we have departed from the Lord, we
lie down in the bosom of the Lord and enjoy the Lord’s grace and then return to
the church.
2) “On his shoulders” It implies that those who
have been saved have the special position and the intimate relationship with
the Lord. The ordinary men cannot know it.
Luke. 15:6 “And when he comes home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was
lost!'”
YLT: “and having come to
the house, he doth call together the friends and the neighbours, saying to
them, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep the lost one.”
Literal Meaning: the shepherd did not
rejoice that he was exempt from the loss but rejoice that the sheep avoided
swallowed by wild beasts.
Spiritual Meaning: “when he comes home”
“house” typifies the household of God, i.e. the assembly.
“He calls together his friends and
neighbors” “his friends and neighbors” are the type of the Holy Trinity and
angels.
Luke. 15:7 “I say to you that
likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
YLT: “`I say to you, that
so joy shall be in the heaven over one sinner reforming, rather than over
ninety-nine righteous men, who have no need of reformation.”
Meaning of Words: “repentance”: the
change of thoughts and minds.
Literal Meaning: “repent” means that
one’s thoughts turn to God from the rebellion against God. “Need no repentance”
It is the ironic word and it is said to the Pharisees (See v.2) that they are
self-righteous (See Matt. 5:27-39; 7:36-50; 18:9) and do not think that they
need to repent.
“Likewise there will be more joy in heaven”
God’s care and joy to the repentance of sinners is in strong contrast with the
attitude of the Pharisees and scribes (See v.2).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The self-righteous ones think that they are good
and do not need to repent and therefore they won’t repent and “need no
repentance”.
2) Confessing that one is the lost sinner and
repenting could bring the Lord the fullness of joy. However, He cannot have
this kind of joy from those who do not need the repentance.
Luke. 15:8 “‘Or
what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a
lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?”
YLT: “`Or what woman
having ten drachms, if she may lose one drachm, doth not light a lamp, and
sweep the house, and seek carefully till that she may find?”
The
Background: “one coin” was the
drachma in the Greek currency system and it was equal to one Roman denarii. It
was about the daily wage of a worker at that time (See Matt. 20:2).
“Search carefully” In the ancient times,
the windows of houses were very small and there weren’t widows even in some
houses and the land was the soil. Therefore it was difficult to find a coin.
It is said that in ancient time, the
Jewish women liked to wear a string of adornment named semedi on the forehead.
The semedi was made of silver. This string of semedi represented the token of
engagement or marriage. Though it was not of great value, it was priceless in
the sight of that woman who wore it. Therefore once one coin was lost, she must
sweep the house and search carefully until she found it.
Spiritual Meaning: “woman” typifies the
Holy Spirit. “Ten silver coins” symbolize the world and here they specially
indicate the Jews. “One coin which is lost” symbolizes sinners and here it
specially indicates the tax collectors and sinners of the Jews. “Nine coins”
symbolize those who are self-righteous and unwilling to repent and here they
specially indicate the Pharisees and scribes of the Jews.
“Light a lamp, sweep the house, and
search carefully” “Light a lamp”
symbolizes that the Holy Spirit lightens men by God’s words (See Ps. 119:105,
130). “Sweep the house” symbolizes that the Holy Spirit inspires men’s hearts.
“Search carefully” symbolizes the anointing and working of the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit lightens, inspires and works in the hearts of sinners and makes
sinners be aware of their positions and states and then they would repent.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The parable of the coin which is lost shows that
we are God’s possession. He values us and is unwilling to leave us in darkness.
2) The coin which is lost loses its value of
existence in the sight of its master. If we do not live at the Spirit’s (the
woman’s) disposal, we will lose all the spiritual value.
Luke. 15:9 “And when she has found
it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I
lost!'”
YLT: “and having found,
she doth call together the female friends and the neighbours, saying, Rejoice
with me, for I found the drachm that I lost.”
Spiritual Meaning: “she calls her
friends and neighbors together” “her friends and neighbors” are the type of the
Holy Trinity and angels.
Luke. 15:10 “Likewise, I say to you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’”
YLT: “`So I say to you,
joy doth come before the messengers of God over one sinner reforming.’”
Luke. 15:11 “Then He said: ‘A certain man had two sons.”
YLT: “And he said, ‘A
certain man had two sons,”
Spiritual Meaning: “a certain man” indicates the father, the type of
God the Father. “Two sons” symbolize the world that is created by God.
Luke. 15:12 “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.”
YLT: “and the younger of
them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the substance falling
to [me], and he divided to them the living.”
Meaning of Words: “goods”: property;
“livelihood”: the means of livelihood, this life, living.
The
Background: according to the
custom of the Jews, the elder son is given the double portion of all (See Deut.
21:17) and therefore “the portion of goods that falls to the younger son”
should be one third of the goods. The father may divide the livelihood
beforehand and he still keeps his livelihood until his death. Usually the
father would not divide the goods practically during his lifetime.
Literal Meaning: “give me the portion of
goods that falls to me” “the portion of
goods that falls to me” indicates the possession that the son should inherit.
“So he divided to them his livelihood.”
“Livelihood” in the original means life and it is also translated as this life
(8:14), i.e. the present state of existence. It could also be translated as
“the living” (Mark. 12:44) which includes the way of making a living. It
indicates what the father relies on, i.e. the living and property of the
father.
Spiritual Meaning: “the younger son”
symbolizes the sinner and here he specially indicates the tax collectors and
sinners of the Jews (See v.1). “Father” symbolizes God the Father. “Livelihood”
symbolizes the inborn ability and wisdom, body and belongings that God has
given men.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If we value what of “God” (“goods”) more than
God Himself, God will surely give us them because they are the portion that
fall to us. However, we should take care that the gaining of God’s “livelihood”
would always make us depart from God Himself (See v.13).
2) Whenever we grasp things “of God” in our hands
and do not allow God to control them, we are the prodigal sons. Even if we are
still in the household of God, our hearts have already departed from God’s
household.
Luke. 15:13 “And not many days after,
the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there
wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”
YLT: “`And not many days
after, having gathered all together, the younger son went abroad to a far
country, and there he scattered his substance, living riotously;”
Meaning of Words: “with prodigal
living”: live a life of luxury; “waste”: scatter; “possession” is the same with
“portion” in v.12 in the original.
Spiritual Meaning: “journeyed to a far
country” “far” symbolizes the world that lies under the control of Satan.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The way for the world to fall is to be
independent of God first (See v.12) and then to depart from God------“journeyed
to a far country”.
2) Even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting (Rom. 1:28)------“there wasted his possessions with prodigal
living”.
Luke. 15:14 “But when he had spent
all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.”
YLT: “and he having spent
all, there came a mighty famine on that country, and himself began to be in
want;”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Things that God gives us” are limited. However,
God Himself is unlimited. Those who only seek the limited things that are given
by God and lose the unlimited God will consequently “have spent all” and “begin
to be in want”.
2) Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten
after another god (See Ps. 16:4).
Luke. 15:15 “Then he went and joined
himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed
swine.”
YLT: “and having gone on,
he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him to
the fields to feed swine,”
The
Background: “swine” is unclean
and dirty in the sight of God (Lev. 11:7; 2Pet. 2:22). Generally speaking, the
Jews did not feed swine at that time because swine could neither be sacrificed
nor be eaten as food (the Jews do not eat pork) and therefore the one who kept
the swine may be the Gentile.
Spiritual Meaning: “then he went and
joined himself to a citizen of that country” It symbolizes that he relies on
the way and help of the world and men.
“And he sent him into his fields to feed
swine.” “Fields” symbolize the world. “Feed swine” symbolizes the unclean
business.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There is a group of people in the society. They
seem to be normal from their appearance, handling all kinds of professions
diligently day and night. However most of their works are unclean and
dirty.
2) The feature of swine is that it “keeps feeding”
and in the end it becomes men’s food. The feature of the world is that they
keep seeking earthly enjoyment and in the end they turn to be the devil’s
enjoyment.
3) If believers depart from God and turn to seek
the help from men, what they gain is merely like “feeding swine” that is
unclean and dirty in the sight of God and despised by God’s people.
Luke. 15:16 “And he would gladly have
filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him
anything.”
YLT: “and he was desirous
to fill his belly from the husks that the swine were eating, and no one was
giving to him.”
The
Background: “pod” is the seed of
a kind of evergreen tree in
Spiritual Meaning: the verse typifies
that the one who falls in sin lives a miserable and shabby life.
Luke. 15:17 “‘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!”
YLT: “`And having come to
himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father have a superabundance of
bread, and I here with hunger am perishing!”
Spiritual Meaning: “he came to himself”
“come to” is due to the Holy Spirit’s lightening and searching in his heart
(See v.8).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God always reminds men about something or speaks
to men by the circumstances. Many times, the tough circumstances are the hidden
blessings.
2) Sinner always comes to himself in his inward
part first and then has the outward changes of behaviors.
3) Men’s awakening includes two aspects: one is to
see the richness of God and the other is to see his own poorness.
4) The one who really comes to himself thinks over
God instead of himself.
5) If one has not seen his own state that “he is
extremely distressed”, it will be difficult for him to set his mind to believe
in God.
Luke. 15:18 “I will arise and go to my
father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you,”
YLT: “having risen, I
will go on unto my father, and will say to him, Father, I did sin to the
heaven, and before thee,”
The
Background: “I have sinned
against heaven” The Jews usually dare not call God directly and therefore they
use heaven to present God.
Spiritual Meaning: “I will arise” It
symbolizes the determination of repentance of a sinner who comes to himself.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If men only come to themselves and have not changed
their minds (repentance), it is still of effect.
2) Repentance is to come to God the Father and
repent towards God. Repentance is neither repenting towards goodness nor giving
up evil to return to good but turning one’s mind to God.
3) All sins not only sin against men but also sin
against God Himself. And because one’s sin has sinned against God and then it
sins against men.
4) If one really
knows his state of corruption, he nearly walks on the way to be granted grace
and be saved.
Luke. 15:19 “and I am no longer worthy
to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’”
YLT: “and no more am I
worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hirelings.”
Literal Meaning: the words of the
prodigal son show that: 1) He was unaware of the love of his father. 2) He did
not dare to hope to gain the blessing as a son. 3) He wanted to atone for
mistakes by meritorious services.
Spiritual Meaning: “and I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.” It symbolizes that men think that they are
unworthy to gain God’s grace freely.
“Make me like one of your hired
servants.” It symbolizes that men want to please God by the improvement of
their behaviors.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Once a depraved sinner repents, he wants to work
for God and serve Him in order to please Him. They are unaware that the thought
is actually against God’s love and grace and it even humiliates God’s heart and
will.
2) Men measure God’s salvation with the wrong
concept of “hired servants”: if I give God what He deserves, He will give me
what I deserve. If I work for God, He will give me the wage. God gives us
according to that I give to Him.
Luke. 15:20 “‘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.”
YLT: “`And having risen,
he went unto his own father, and he being yet far distant, his father saw him,
and was moved with compassion, and having ran he fell upon his neck and kissed
him;”
Literal Meaning: “But when he was
still a great way off, his father saw him” It did not take place by accident.
The father must overlook at the gate every day and wait for the prodigal son to
return home.
“And had compassion” Please note that
his father had compassion before the younger son began to speak.
“And ran” “Ran” shows the urgency of the
father. By running the father used the shortest time to shorten the distance.
“And fell on his neck and kissed him.”
It was the warm and kind acceptance.
Please note that the description of the
father in this verse is very vivid: 1) “saw” his eyes moved. 2) “had
compassion” his heart moved. 3) “ran” his feet moved. 4) “kissed him” his mouth
moved. The father moved from head to foot.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “And he arose and came to his father.” If the
prodigal son only comes to himself in his heart and has not repented, he won’t
be accepted by his father. We should have the outward behaviors to match up
with the inner inspiration.
2) “When he was still a great way off, his father saw him.” It is not that the prodigal son knocks
the door but that the father has already waited for the prodigal son at that
gate. It is not that a sinner repents to God but that God waits for and accepts
the sinner who has repented.
3) It is not that a sinner is forgiven because he
prays to God and moves Him but that the moment a sinner repents, God forgives
him.
4) A sinner thought that God was very awesome and
should be feared when he repented. However, after he has repented he finds that
how kindly and amiable God is!
5) The prodigal son (a sinner) returns to God the
Father due to the Holy Spirit’s searching (See v.8). God the Father accepts the
prodigal son who comes back due to Christ’s searching in His redemption (See v.4).
Luke. 15:21 “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.'”
YLT: “and the son said to
him, Father, I did sin to the heaven, and before thee, and no more am I worthy to
be called thy son.”
Literal Meaning: please note that in
this verse the prodigal son did not finish the words that he had prepared and
he lacked that “make me like one of your hired servants” (See v.19), showing
that he was interrupted by his father.
Enlightenment in the Word: God only accepts a sinner’s confession and does not
accept a sinner’s prayer to atone for a crime by good deeds. God likes that men
admit their wrongness and does not like men to think that they could do
something for Him.
Luke. 15:22 “‘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.”
YLT: “`And the father
said unto his servants, Bring forth the first robe, and clothe him, and give a
ring for his hand, and sandals for the feet;”
Meaning of Words: “the best”: the
first.
Literal Meaning: “But the father said
to his servants” “But” fully shows the father’s love and grace. It was contrary
to the thought of the prodigal son and it interrupted his nonsense.
“Bring out the best robe.” The father only mentioned “the best
robe”, showing that the servants already knew the robe that the father had
mentioned. “The” indicates that the special robe was prepared for the peculiar
aim and time. “The best robe” is the symbol of nobleness and it represents the
sonship. “Bring out” matches up with the father’s “ran” (See v.20).
“Put a ring on his hand” “Ring” is the
symbol of authority and it represents the authority of son.
“And sandals on his feet.” The slaves
were barefoot. “Sandals” is the symbol of freedom and the sandals represent the
freedom of son.
Robe, ring and sandals, each of them
symbolizes the position and acceptance (See Gen. 41:42; Zech. 3:4).
Spiritual Meaning: “servants” typify
angels who are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will
inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14).
“The best robe” symbolizes that Christ
is the righteousness that satisfies God and He covers sinners who have repented
(Jer. 23:6; 1Cor. 1:30; See Is. 61:10; Zech. 3:4).
“Ring” symbolizes the seal of the Holy
Spirit with which believers who have been accepted by God have been sealed (See
Eph. 1:13; Gen. 24:47; 41:42).
“Sandals” symbolize the power of God’s
salvation that makes believers be separate from the dirty land.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One’s being saved is according to the mind of
God instead of our mind.
2) We should be condemned “but” God has justified
us. We should be punished “but” God deals with us with His kindness.
3) Whenever a sinner turns back, immediately he is
son in God’s sight.
4) “The best robe” replaces the filthy clothes of
the prodigal son (See Is. 64:6).
5) The best robe on him, the ring on his hand
and the
sandals on his feet make the poor
prodigal son match up with his rich father and be qualified to enter father’s
household and sit with the father. God’s salvation is to adorn us with Christ
and the Holy Spirit so that we could enjoy the fullness of His household.
6) Salvation shows the abundance of the household
of God instead of our poorness. A man of God’s household could enjoy the
abundance of God’s household joyfully and there is no need for us to dare that
we may use it up.
Luke. 15:23 “And bring the fatted calf
here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;”
YLT: “and having brought
the fatted calf, kill [it], and having eaten, we may be merry,”
Meaning of Words: “kill”: sacrifice.
The
Background: the Jews kept “the
fatted calf” in the cattle-shed, especially for the use of significantly joyous
and special occasions, e.g. the reception of noble guests and special
feasts.
Literal
Meaning: “the best robe”
(v.22) makes the prodigal son be able to meet the requirements of the father so
that the father is satisfied. “The fatted calf” makes the prodigal son be
filled and no longer feels hungry. Therefore the father and son could rejoice
together.
Spiritual Meaning: “the fatted calf”
symbolizes the full Christ (See Eph. 3:8) who died for us on the cross and
became the enjoyment of believers.
God’s salvation has two aspects: the
best robe symbolizes the outer and objective aspect and the fatted calf
symbolizes the inner and subjective aspect. It is our outer salvation that
Christ is our righteousness. It is our inner salvation that Christ is our life
and enjoyment.
Luke. 15:24 “for this my son was dead
and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.”
YLT: “because this my son
was dead, and did live again, and he was lost, and was found; and they began to
be merry.”
Spiritual Meaning: “was dead and is
alive again, he was lost and is found” All sinners who were lost were dead in
the sight of God and they had been quickened together with Christ when they
were saved (See Eph. 2:1, 5; John. 5:24-25;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The one who “was dead and is alive again and was
lost and is found” is more precious than the original and natural one in the
sight of the Holy Trinity and makes Him happier (See v.7, 10).
2) Keeping the natural good points and inborn
goodness is of little spiritual value. Only Christ’s life of resurrection that
has been manifested after the work of death of the cross is in accord with
God’s eternal will.
3) “And they began to be merry.” Once the joy of
salvation begins, it won’t end.
Luke. 15:25 “‘Now
his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he
heard music and dancing.”
YLT: “`And his elder son
was in a field, and as, coming, he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and
dancing,”
Spiritual Meaning: “his older son”
symbolizes those who are self-righteous and do not repent and here it specially
indicates the Pharisees and the scribes (See v.2) who rely on their works (what
“in the field” stands for) and follow after the Law of righteousness (See Rom.
9:31-32).
Luke. 15:26 “So he called one of the
servants and asked what these things meant.”
YLT: “and having called
near one of the young men, he was inquiring what these things might be,”
Luke. 15:27 “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.'”
YLT: “and he said to him
Thy brother is arrived, and thy father did kill the fatted calf, because in
health he did receive him back.”
Meaning of Words: “safe and sound”: in
health, wholesome.
Luke. 15:28 “‘But
he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded
with him.”
YLT: “`And he was angry,
and would not go in, therefore his father, having come forth, was entreating
him;”
Spiritual Meaning: “But he was angry
and would not go in.” The resentment of the elder son is just like the attitude
of the Pharisees and the scribes who rejected the Lord Jesus.
There are two kinds of sins of men: the
sin of behaviors and the sin of disposition. What the younger son had committed
was the sin of behaviors and the elder son committed the sin of disposition.
The sin of disposition includes selfishness, jealousy, pride, anger,
unkindness, self-righteousness, viciousness and cruelty.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Darby said that “self-righteousness does not
have a foothold where God takes delight in. If God deals with sinners with
kindness, what is the use of our righteousness?”
2) We should examine ourselves carefully and we
should not have the spirit of the elder son who was angry outside and “would
not go in” when others enter the
Luke. 15:29 “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.”
YLT: “and he answering
said to the father, Lo, so many years I do serve thee, and never thy command
did I transgress, and to me thou didst never give a kid, that with my friends I
might make merry;”
Meaning of Words: “transgress”:
neglect, pass away, past.
Literal Meaning: please note that the
elder son looked forward to making merry with his friends and would not come
home and be merry with the father.
Spiritual Meaning: “Lo, these many
years I have been serving you” symbolizes that the Pharisees and the scribes
were slaves under the Law and they kept the letters and ordinances of the Law.
Luke. 15:30 “But as soon as this son
of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the
fatted calf for him.'”
YLT: “but when thy son
this one who did devour thy living with harlots came, thou didst kill to him the
fatted calf.”
Literal Meaning: please note that in
v.29-30 the elder son did not call “father” but “your, your, you”. It shows
that though he toiled and labored, he did not respect his father from his heart
and on the contrary, he hated his father.
“This son of yours” The heart of the
brother was so vicious that he even did not admit that the prodigal son was his
brother. The parable shows that the Pharisees did not understand the love of
God and in their hearts they held the exclusive sense of self-centered that was
vastly different from the love of God.
Luke. 15:31 “‘And
he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with
me, and all that I have is yours.”
YLT: “`And he said to
him, Child, thou art always with me, and all my things are thine;”
Enlightenment in the Word: those who lack the spiritual revelation do not know
God’s presence (“you are always with me”) and Christ’s fullness (“all that I
have”), i.e. the rewards that God will give men (“is yours”). Therefore in
their religious life, they have never tasted Christ as their satisfaction and
rejoice (See v.29) and they are jealous of the younger brothers who seem be
less pious than them and gain the full enjoyment and they disdain to enter the
full enjoyment with them together (See v.28).
Luke. 15:32 “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.’”
YLT: “but to be merry,
and to be glad, it was needful, because this thy brother was dead, and did live
again, he was lost, and was found.’”
Please see the note of v.24.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The General View of the Parables of God’s
Salvation
I. They typify the work of the Holy Trinity:
A. The
Son of God the Lord Jesus found it and laid it on His shoulders (v.3-7).
B. The
Holy Spirit lightened and found it (v.8-10).
C. The
Father accepted the son (v.11-32).
II. They symbolize three kinds of relationship
between men and God:
A.
Sheep symbolize that men were taken care of by God (v.3-7).
B.
Coins symbolize that men were possessions that were valued by God (v.8-10).
C. The
son symbolizes that men were of God and were for the joy of God (v.11-32).
III. They symbolize three kinds of reasons and
results of sin:
A. The
sheep was lost in the wilderness because of ignorance (v.3-7).
B. The
coin was lost in the darkness because it fell from the high (v.8-10).
C. The
prodigal son was lost in sin because he departed from the household of the
father (v.11-32).
IV. They symbolize three kinds of reasons and
results of repentance:
A. One
was laid on His shoulder because the Lord found him (v.3-7)------He takes the
responsibility to men.
B. One
was put on His head because the Holy Spirit lightened him (v.8-11)------He
values men.
C. One
was embraced by Him because of God’s acceptance (v.11-32)------He protects men.
V. They symbolize that God the Father likes sinners
who repent more than those who are self-righteous and do not repent:
A. The
lost sheep was found and it typifies that a sinner repents. The ninety nine
sheep typify those who are self-righteous and do not repent (v.3-7).
B. The
lost coin was found and it typifies that a sinner repents. The nine coins
typify those who are self-righteous and do not repent (v.8-10).
C. The
younger son returned home and it typifies that a sinner repents. The younger
son typifies those who are self-righteous and do not repent (v.11-32).
The Shepherd Found the Lost Sheep
I. Having a hundred sheep (v.4a)------it typifies
that the world are of the Lord.
II. He loses one of them (v.4b)------it typifies
that a sinner is far away from the Lord and is lost in the world.
III. And go after the one which is lost
(v.4c)------it typifies that the Lord came to find men.
IV. He has found it, rejoicing (v.5a)-----it
typifies that the Lord likes sinners repenting.
V. He lays it on his shoulders, he comes home
(v.5b)------it typifies that the power of the Lord brings sinners return to the
household of God.
VI. He calls together his friends and neighbors to
rejoice with him (v.6)-----it typifies that the Holy Trinity and angels are
merry because a sinner has repented.
VII. There will be more joy over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance 
(v.7)------it
typifies that the one who repents makes Him happier than those who are
self-righteous and do not repent.
A Woman Found the Lost Coin
II. Having ten silver coins (v.8b)------it typifies
that the world are of Him.
III. She loses one coin (v.8b)------it typifies
that a sinner falls in the darkness.
IV. Light a lamp (v.8b)------it typifies the
lightening of the Holy Spirit.
V. Sweep the house (v.8b)------it typifies that the
Holy Spirit inspires one’s heart.
VI. Search carefully (v.8b)------it typifies that
the anointment of the Holy Spirit
is meticulous.
VII. Until she finds it (v.8c)------it typifies
that until the Holy Spirit makes a sinner repent.
VIII. She calls her friends and neighbors together
to rejoice with her (v.9-10)------it typifies that the Holy Trinity and angels
are merry because a sinner has repented.
The Father Accepted the Prodigal Son
1. A father (v.11a)------he typifies God the
Father.
2. Had two sons (v.11b)------it typifies that the
world are of God.
3. The younger of them (v.12a)------he typifies a
sinner.
4. He asked his
father to give him the portion of goods (v.12b)------it typifies that he has
received all the talents and properties from God.
5. Gathered all together (v.13a)------it typifies
that men rebel against God and are unwilling to be at God’s disposal.
6. Journeyed to a far country (v.13b)------it
typifies that men are far away from God.
7. There wasted his possessions with prodigal
living (v.13c)------it typifies that a sinner falls in sin and hurts himself.
8. He had spent all (v.14a)------it typifies that
men use up all that God has given them.
9. There arose a severe famine in that land
(v.14b)------it typifies that nothing in the world could satisfy his heart.
10. And he began to be in want (v.14c)------it
typifies the poorness and vanity of one’s hearts.
11. Joined himself to a citizen of that country
(v.15a)------it typifies that he relies on men’s way.
12. He sent him into his fields to feed swine
(v.15b)------it typifies that he lives a unclean and sinful life in the world.
13. He would gladly have filled his stomach with
the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything (v.16)------it
typifies that he lives an inhuman life.
14. He came to himself (v.17a)------it typifies
that the awakening of the heart of a sinner.
15. How many of my father's hired servants have
bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger (v.17b)------it typifies
that he years for God’s blessing.
16. I will arise and go to my father (v.18a)-----it
typifies that he has an idea to turn to God.
17. I will say to the father, "Father, I have
sinned against heaven and before you (v.18b)------it typifies that he feels
that he has sinned against God.
18. I am no longer worthy to be called your son
(v.19a)------it typifies that he feels that he is unworthy to gain God’s
blessing freely.
19. Make me like one of your hired servants.
(v.19b)------it typifies that he wants to make amends for his sins by his
deeds.
20. He arose and came to his father (v.20a)------it
typifies that he puts the inspiration of heart into practice.
21. When he was still a great way off, his father
saw him and had compassion (v.20b)------it typifies that God waits sinners to
repent and He deals with sinners with kindness and mercy the moment sinners
show their indication of repentance.
22. The father ran and fell on his neck and kissed
him (v.20c)------it typifies that God’s remission is immediate and complete.
23. The son said…(v.21)------it typifies a sinner’s
prayer of repentance.
24. But the father (v.22a)------it typifies that
the response of the father surpasses all understanding of sinners.
25. Servants (v.22b)------they typify angels.
26. Bring out the best robe and put it on him
(v.22b)------it typifies that a sinners puts on Christ as his robe of
righteousness so that he could be justified before God (See Is. 61:10; 1Cor.
1:30).
27. Put a ring on his hand (v.22b)------it typifies
that a sinner was sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (See Eph. 1:13).
28. Put sandals on his feet (v.22c)------it
typifies that a sinner gains the benefit of gospel, i.e. the power of salvation
that could make him be separate from the world (See Eph. 6:15).
29. Bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let
us eat and be merry (v.23)------it typifies that Chris was killed on the cross
for sinners and became the enjoyment of both men and God.
30. This my son was dead and is alive again
(v.24a)------it typifies that sinners were dead in their trespasses and sins
and have been quickened together with Christ (See Eph. 2:1, 5).
31. He was lost and is found (v.24b)------it
typifies that sinners were far away from God and did not seek God and now they
turn back to God.
32. They began to be merry (v.24c)------it typifies
that God and men have the fullness of joy together.
Three Phases of the Prodigal Son
A. He
loved money more than his father (God).
B. He
loved the pleasures of sin more than money.
C. He
sought help from men instead of his father (God).
II. He came to himself (v.17-21)------the phase
that he repented and turned to God:
A. He
saw His poor state.
B. He
yearned for the blessing of the household of his father (God).
C. He
confessed his sin and repented to the father (God).
III. He was merry (v.22-24)------the phase that he
enjoyed the joy of salvation:
A. He
enjoyed the father’s (God) acceptance and abundant preparation.
B. He
received Christ as his robe of righteousness.
C. He
was sealed with the Holy Spirit.
D. He
enjoyed the benefit of gospel, i.e. the power of salvation.
E. He
enjoyed the life of Christ and enjoyed Him as the provision of life.
F. He
enjoyed the heavenly joy in the household of the father (God).
Five Verbs Show the Progress of the Heart of
A Sinner
II. “Began to be in want” (v.14)------the result of
being far away from God must be the poorness and vanity of one’s spirit.
III. “I will arise” (v.18)------he was awakened
because of the lightening of the Holy Spirit.
IV. “And he arose” (v.20)------he used his will to
put his heart of repentance into practice.
V. “They began to be merry” (v.24)------a sinner
has repented and then God and men are merry.
The One who Is Self-righteous and Does not
Repent
II. Was in the filed (v.25b)------it typifies that
he makes amends to please God by his deeds in the world.
III. He was angry when he heard that his father
welcomed the return of his younger brother (v.25c-28a)------it typifies that he
does not agree on the way of God’s redemption.
IV. He would not go in (v.28b)------it typifies
that he is unwilling to enter God’s assembly.
V. He complained that the father did not repay his
faithful service of many years (v.29a)------it typifies his self-righteousness
that he thinks that he has already kept the Law of God and should be worthy of
God’s reward.
VI. That I might make merry with my friends
(v.29b)------it typifies that he desires something besides God.
The Comparisons of Two Sons
A. One
was in the field (v.25) and the other fed swine in the field (v.15)------both
of them were in the world.
B. One
drew near to the house (v.25) and the other journeyed to a far country
(v.13)------both of them departed from the household of God.
C. One
had friends (v.29) and the other had harlots (v.30)------both of them desired
others besides God.
D. His
father came out and pleased with one (v.28) and his father waited for and
looked forward to the other (v.20)------both of them were not in accord with
the will of God.
E. One
was lost in his self-righteousness (v.29) and the other was lost in sin
(v.13-16)------both of them were prodigal sons.
II. The elder son was inferior to the younger son:
A. The
younger son who was far away came back (v.20), however, the elder son who drew
near to the house would not go in (v.28).
B. The
younger son and his father began to be merry (v.24), however, the elder son was
angry with his father (v.28).
C. The
younger son felt that he sinned against his father (v.21), however, the elder
son felt that his father owed him (v.29).
D. The
younger son felt that he was unworthy to be called his son (v.21), however, the
elder son felt that his father was unworthy to be called his father (v.29).
E. The
younger son confessed his sin and was humble before his father (v.21), however,
the elder son boasted and was proud before his father (v.29).
F. The
younger son delighted himself in his father (v.24), however, the elder son
delighted himself in his friends (v.29).
The Knowledge of The Heart of God the Father
II. Though men’s requests are unjust, He still
gives them (v.12)------He gives men the will of freedom and respects men’s
authority.
III. He waits for sinners and hopes that they could
repent (v.20a).
IV. He accepts and forgives sinners who have
repented (v.20b).
V. He gives men the adoption as sons (v.22)------He
predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5).
VI. He enjoys the joy of salvation with sinners who
have repented together (v.23).
VII. He pleases with the sinner who is
self-righteous and does not repent (v.28).
VIII. He is willing to give men all that He has
(v.31)------He promises to give men the heavenly blessing.
IX. He does not think of the old wrongness of men
and only looks at men’s present states (v.24, 32).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren