Luke 15:27 Kommentar

Evil manners, we say, beget good laws; so, in this chapter, the murmuring of the scribes and Pharisees at the grace of Christ, and the favour he showed to publicans and sinners, gave occasion for a more full discovery of that grace than perhaps otherwise we should have had in these three parables which we have in this chapter, the scope of all of which is the same, to show, not only what God had said and sworn in the Old Testament, that he had no pleasure in the death and ruin of sinners, but that he had great pleasure in their return and repentance, and rejoices in the gracious entertainment he gives them thereupon. Here is, I. The offence which the Pharisees took at Christ for conversing with heathen men and publicans, and preaching his gospel to them (Luk 15:1, Luk 15:2). II. His justifying himself in it, by the design and proper tendency of it, which with many had been the effect of it, and that was, the bringing of them to repent and reform their lives, than which there could not be a more pleasing and acceptable service done to God, which he shows in the parables, 1. Of the lost sheep that was brought home with joy (Luk 15:4-7). 2. Of the lost silver that was found with joy (Luk 15:8-10). 3. Of the lost son that had been a prodigal, but returned to his father's house, and was received with great joy, though his elder brother, like these scribes and Pharisees, was offended at it (v. 11-32).

Then drew near to him,.... To "Jesus", as the Persic and Ethiopic versions express it: this was on the sabbath day, and either when he was in the Pharisee's house, where he was invited to dinner, Luk 14:1 or rather when he came out of it, when the multitude, who could not come near him whilst there, took the opportunity of gathering about him; even all the publicans and sinners; whom the Pharisee would not admit into his house, it being contrary to their traditions to eat, and drink, and converse with persons of such an infamous character; See Gill on Mat 9:10, Mat 9:11 The word "all" is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; but the Arabic version has it, and the Greek copies; and signifies that there were a very large number of them, even all that were in that place, and in the adjacent cities and towns, that got together for to hear him, or "from him", as the Arabic version; or "doctrine" from him, as the Persic version adds: these having heard much of him; and it may be, might be under some remorse of conscience on account of their vicious lives, came to hear him preach.

And he said unto him,.... The Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions, leave out the copulative "and", and the latter reads, "they said unto him"; the servants, one or other of them: thy brother is come; for in the relation of a brother, the younger son stood to him; being of the same nature and species, of the same nation, and both sons by national adoption: who was "come" to his father, and to his father's house; not as a righteous and worthy person in himself, but as a sinner, a sensible and penitent one; as hungry, naked, and ready to perish; and as unworthy, in his own opinion, of the least mercy and favour, and especially to be called a son: and thy father; who was so by creation, by national adoption, and by profession: hath killed the fatted calf, by which Christ is meant: See Gill on Luk 15:23 and designs either the concern the Father had in the death of Christ; or rather, his orders to his ministering servants, to preach a crucified Christ, to the comfort of poor sinners; and in general, expresses the large and rich entertainment God makes for souls, when they are brought home to him by repentance: and the Persic version adds, "and hath made a feast"; the reason of which is given in the next clause: because he hath received him safe and sound; or "in good health". This is left out in the Persic version, but rightly retained in all others: the word translated "received", signifies the recovery, or enjoyment of any thing before had, but since lost, and the taking it at the hands of another: the elect of God, signified by the younger son, were his in a peculiar sense, being chosen by him; but through the fall of Adam, and their own transgressions, were in some sense lost unto him; but in consequence of redemption by Christ, and through efficacious grace in calling, are found, received, and enjoyed again: and so the Ethiopic version reads it, "because he found him alive"; and so took him again, as he did, at the hands of his son: all the elect of God were put into the hands of Christ, as the surety of them; and being redeemed by his blood in the effectual calling, they are brought by him to the Father, and come to God by him: as they are also received by the Father from the hands of his Spirit, who convinces them of sin, causes them to believe in Christ, witnesses their adoption to them; in a view of which, they come to God, and are received by him; and even from their own hands too, for under the power of divine grace, they are made willing to give up themselves to the Lord, and do so; who kindly and graciously receives them into his arms; into his heart's love, and affection, into the open enjoyment of it; into his care and protection, into his family, and into communion with himself, and will afterwards receive them to glory: the case and condition in which he was received is, safe and sound; there is but one word in the original; some translate it "safe", as the Arabic version; and others "sound", as the Syriac; and ours both: he was received "safe", though he had been in a far country, and in a mighty famine, and almost starved: God's elect fell in Adam, as others; their nature is corrupted by sin, and they are guilty of actual transgressions, which deserve death; yet they were preserved in Christ, and being redeemed by him, are safe; so that the law cannot lay hold on them, nor sin, nor any thing else condemn them, nor Satan destroy them: and he was received "sound"; in his right mind, being come to himself, and brought to true repentance for his sin; and willing to part with his own righteousness, and to be clothed with the best robe; and having his spiritual senses exercised, to discern between good and evil, and upon the person and grace of Christ; or he was received "sound", being in good health, and as opposed to being sick or diseased: sins are diseases, and as all men, so God's elect, are attended with them; but being made sensible of them, they come to Christ for healing; and they are perfectly cured by him; by his stripes and wounds, all their iniquities are forgiven; so that they have no reason to say any more, they are sick: and hence the Father receives them safe and sound; and which is matter of joy, and was the occasion of all this music, dancing, and feasting.

(ubi sup.) The elder son is the people of Israel, not indeed gone into a distant country, yet not in the house, but in the field, that is, in the paternal wealth of the Law and the Prophets, choosing to work earthly things. But coming from the field he began to draw nigh to the house, that is, the labour of his servile works being condemned by the same Scriptures, he was looking upon the liberty of the Church. Whence it follows; And as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing; that is, men filled with the Holy Spirit, with harmonious voices preaching the Gospel. It follows, And he called one of the servants, &c. that is, he takes one of the prophets to read, and as he searches in it, asks in a manner, why are those feasts celebrated in the Church at which he finds himself present? His Father's servant, the prophet, answers him. For it follows; And he said unto him, Thy brother is come, &c. As if he should say, Thy brother was in the farthest parts of the earth, but hence the greater rejoicing of those who sing a new song, because His praise is from the end of the earth; (Is. 42:10.) and for his sake who was afar off, was slain the Man who knows how to bear our infirmities, for they who have not been told of Him have seen Him. (See Isa. 53:4; 52:15.)

Which we also ourselves sometimes feel; for some live a most excellent and perfect life, another off time even in his old age is converted to God, or perhaps when just about to close his last day, through God's mercy washes away his guilt. But this mercy some men reject from restless timidity of mind, not counting upon the will of our Saviour, who rejoices in the salvation of those who are perishing.

If anyone says that the virtuous and sober son signifies Israel according to the flesh, we cannot agree to this opinion. In no way is it fitting to say that Israel chose a blameless life. Throughout the whole inspired Scripture, we see them accused of being rebels and disobedient.…I think it is right to mention this also. Some refer to the person of our Savior as that fatted calf that the father killed when his son was called to conversion.… If any one imagines that the virtuous and sober son means the physical Israel, how can Israel honestly say that he never gave him a kid? Whether we call it calf or kid, Christ is to be understood as the sacrifice offered for sin. He was not sacrificed only for the Gentiles but also that he might redeem Israel, who by reason of his frequent transgression of the law had brought great blame on himself. The wise Paul bears witness to this, saying, “For this reason Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people by his blood, suffered outside the gate.”

Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he received him safe and sound. Your brother was in the ends of the earth, but from there greater joy comes from those singing a new song to the Lord, for his praise from the ends of the earth (Ps. 47). And for him who was absent, that one was sacrificed to whom it was said: "And may your burnt offering be fat" (Ps. 19).

Here they raise the well-known question: how is it that the son who in all other respects lived and served his father in a pleasing manner turns out to be envious? But the question will be resolved as soon as one considers why this parable was told. This parable, together with the preceding ones, was told, without doubt, because the Pharisees, who considered themselves pure and righteous, murmured against the Lord for receiving harlots and tax collectors. And if it was told because the Pharisees murmured — they who appeared to be more righteous than the tax collectors — then observe that the figure of the son who appears to murmur applies to all who are scandalized by the sudden good fortune and salvation of sinners. And this is not envy, but rather the outpouring of God's love for mankind, which is incomprehensible to us, and therefore gives rise to murmuring. Does not David also present people who are scandalized by the peace of sinners (Ps. 73:3)? Likewise Jeremiah, when he says: "Why does the way of the wicked prosper?" "You have planted them, and they have taken root" (Jer. 12:1–2). All this is characteristic of the weak and poor human mind, which is troubled and perplexed at the sight of unworthiness — namely, the prosperity of wicked people. Therefore the Lord, through the present parable, speaks as it were thus to the Pharisees: granted that you, like this son, are righteous and pleasing before the Father; but I ask you, righteous and pure as you are, not to murmur that we prepare a feast for the salvation of a sinner, for he too is a son. Thus what is revealed here is not envy, but by this parable the Lord instructs the Pharisees not to be vexed at the reception of sinners, even if they themselves are righteous and keep every commandment of God. And it is not at all surprising if we are grieved at the reception of those who seem unworthy. The love of God for mankind is so great and so abundantly bestows its blessings upon us that even murmuring can arise from it. So too we speak in ordinary conversation. Often, having done someone a kindness and then receiving no gratitude from him, we say: everyone reproaches me for having bestowed so many benefits upon you. Although perhaps no one has reproached us at all, wishing to show the greatness of the kindness, we invent this. Let us examine this parable part by part and, as it were, in a brief summary. "The elder son was in the field," that is, in this world, tilling his land, that is, the flesh, so that it might abound in bread, and sowing with tears so as to reap with joy (Ps. 125:5). Having learned of what had happened, he did not want to enter into the common joy. But the compassionate Father comes out, calls him, and informs him that the cause of the celebration is the revival of one who was dead — something the son did not know, being a man who takes offense and accuses the Father for not having given him "even a young goat," while for the profligate He slaughtered the fattened calf. What is signified by the "young goat"? You can learn from the fact that every goat is assigned to the left side, the side of sinners (Matt. 25:33, 41). So the virtuous son says to the Father: I spent my life in every kind of toil, endured persecutions, troubles, and insults from sinners, and You never slaughtered or killed a young goat for me — that is, a sinner who offended me — so that I might find a little pleasure. For example, Ahab was a goat in relation to Elijah. He persecuted the prophet, but the Lord did not immediately deliver this goat to slaughter so as to bring some small joy to Elijah and give rest to him along with his friends the prophets. Therefore Elijah says to God: "They have torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets" (1 Kings 19:14). In relation to David, the goat was Saul and all who slandered him, whom the Lord allowed to tempt him but did not kill for David's pleasure. Therefore David says: "How long, O Lord, shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?" (Ps. 94:3). So also this son presented in the Gospel says: the one who labors constantly, him You did not deem worthy of any consolation, nor did You even deliver to slaughter any of those who offended me, yet now, without any effort, You save the profligate! Thus the entire purpose of this parable, told on account of the Pharisees' grumbling against the Lord for His reception of sinners, is to teach us not to reject sinners and not to grumble when God receives them, even if we ourselves are righteous. The younger son represents the harlots and tax collectors; the elder son represents the Pharisees and scribes, who are supposedly regarded as righteous. God says, as it were: granted that you are indeed righteous and have transgressed no commandment, but surely those who turn from evil ought to be received? It is murmurers such as these that the Lord instructs through the present parable. It is not unknown to me that some understood the elder son as referring to Angels, and the younger to human nature, which rebelled and did not submit to the given commandment. Others understood the elder as the Israelites, and the younger as the Gentiles. But what we have just said is true, namely: that the elder son represents the person of the righteous, and the younger that of sinners and the repentant, and the entire construction of the parable was composed on account of the Pharisees, whom the Lord impresses upon that they, even if they themselves were righteous, should not be grieved by the acceptance of sinners. Therefore, let no one take offense at the judgments of God, but let him be patient even in the case when sinners, it would seem, are made prosperous and are saved. For how do you know? Perhaps the one whom you consider a sinner has offered repentance, and for that reason has been accepted. And it may also be that he has secret virtues, and on account of them is favorable in the eyes of God.

Or to take the whole differently; the character of the son who seems to complain is put for all those who are offended at the sudden advances and salvation of the perfect, as David introduces one who took offence at the peace of sinners. Or he was in the field, that is, in the world, pampering his own flesh, that he might be filled with bread, and sowing in tears that he might reap in joy, but when he found what was being done, he was unwilling to enter into the common joy. Or by this parable our Lord reproves the will of the Pharisees, whom according to the argument he terms just, as if to say, Let it be that you are truly just, having transgressed none of the commandments, must we then for this reason refuse to admit those who turn away from their iniquities? The son then says to the father, For nothing I left a life of sorrow, ever harassed by sinners who were my enemies, and never hast thou for my sake ordered a kid to be slain, (that is, a sinner who persecuted me,) that I might enjoy myself for a little. Such a kid was Ahab to Elijah, who said, Lord, they have killed thy prophets. (1 Kings 19:14.)

Publicans and sinners draw near to hear our Lord, at which the Pharisees are offended, Luk 15:1, Luk 15:2. Christ vindicates his conduct in receiving them by the parable of the lost sheep, Luk 15:3-7. The parable of the lost piece of money, Luk 15:8-10; and the affecting parable of the prodigal son, vv. 11-32.

PUBLICANS AND SINNERS WELCOMED BY CHRIST--THREE PARABLES TO EXPLAIN THIS. (Luke 15:1-32) drew near . . . all the publicans and sinners, &c.--drawn around Him by the extraordinary adaptation of His teaching to their case, who, till He appeared--at least His forerunner--might well say, "No man careth for my soul."