1The Pharisees murmur at Christ for receiving sinners. 3The parable of the lost sheep, 8and piece of silver; 11and of the prodigal son.
1THENa drew near unto him 1all the publicans and 2sinners for to hear him.
a Mat. 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29.
1 That is, from all places thereabouts.
2 That is, they who lived in public gross sins. See Psalm 1:1; Mat. 9:10.
2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3¶And he spake this 3parable unto them, saying,
3 Or, similitude.
4Whatb man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
b Mat. 18:12.
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep whichc was lost.
c 1 Peter 2:10.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy 4shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nined5just persons, which need no repentance.
4 Namely, among the angels of God, as is expounded hereafter in verse 10.
d Luke 5:32.
5 That is, who, as such, have not gone astray, as it is in Mat. 18:13, and therefore need not to repent themselves of such gross going astray or sin. Although, otherwise, even the most holy have need to repent of their daily infirmities, James 3:2; 1 John 1:8. Others do understand here by the just persons who wrongfully persuade themselves that they are just, and that they have no need of repentance, Mat. 9:13; Luke 18:9.
8¶Either what woman having ten 6pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
6 Gr. drachmen. This value is all one with the Roman denarius, or Spanish ryall, and the Dutch shilling. See Mat. 18 on verse 28.
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11¶And he said, 7A certain man had two sons:
7 By this, as also the two former parables, Christ sets before our eyes the readiness and willingness of God graciously to receive sinners when they repent; and would thereby prove, against the murmuring of the Pharisees, that He then also did well when He associated with sinners for to bring them to repentance, and that they much rather ought to rejoice at it.
12And the 8younger of them said to his father, Father, give me 9the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his 10living.
8 Or, youngest.
9 That is, which would fall to me, namely, after your death. See verses 30, 31.
10 Or, goods, or livelihood, that is, the means whereof to live.
13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there 11wasted his substance with riotouse living.
11 Gr. scattered, or consumed.
e reckless, self-indulgent*
14And when he had spent all, there arose a 12mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
12 Gr. strong, or violent.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his 13fields to feed swine.
13 Or, land.
16And he would fainf have filled his belly with the 14husks that the swine 15did eat: and no man gave unto him.
f gladly
14 Gr. keratia, which properly signifies the peelings, husks or shells of certain fruits, as the peas and beans have, which they gave in those lands the hogs to eat, as here we give them husks or swills. Or, as others think, a certain fruit in those countries which poor people and hogs did eat, as in some places acorns are eaten.
15 That is, used to eat.
17And when he came 16to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
16 Or, going into himself.
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against 17heaven, and before thee,
17 That is, God, Which is in heaven, as Dan. 4:26; Mat. 21:25.
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But wheng he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
g Acts 2:39; Eph. 2:12, 17.
21And 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.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth 18the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
18 Gr. the first stole. Stoles were long garments, like gowns. See Mark 12 on verse 38.
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25Now his 19elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and 20dancing.
19 Or, eldest.
20 Gr. choron, which signifies a company of people who dance or sing together, or make other merriment.
26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and 21intreated him.
21 Or, exhorted him, namely, that he would come in, or, called him.
29And 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:
30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath 22devoured thy 23living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
22 Gr. eaten up, or, wasted.
23 Or, goods, or livelihood, as verse 12.
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is 24thine.
24 That is, will at last belong to thee, for, the younger had lost his substance.
32It 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.