Luke 15:15-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 15:11-32

We have here the parable of the prodigal son, the scope of which is the same with those before, to show how pleasing to God the conversion of sinners is, of great sinners, and how ready he is to receive and entertain such, upon their repentance; but the circumstances of the parable do much more largely and fully set forth the riches of gospel grace than those did, and it has been, and will be while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, both to direct and to encourage them in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 15:11-32

15:11-32 Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the part of the estate which falls to me.' So his father divided his living between them. Not many days after, the son realized it all and went away to a far country, and there in wanton recklessness scattered his substance. When he had spent everything a mighty famine arose throughout that country and he began to be in want. He went and attached himself to a citizen of that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 15:15

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country ,.... Not to any one of the saints, for they are not citizens of the far country, but of the church of God below, and of heaven above; besides, carnal men do not like the company of such citizens: nor is the devil intended, for though he dwells in this country, he is more than a citizen, than an inhabitant; he is king and governor, the prince of the world, and the god of it; nor is it feasible, that a man under conviction, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 15:16

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks ,.... חרובא , the fruit of the "Charub" tree, as the Syriac version interprets it; and which the Jews F25 T. Hieros. Maascrot, fol. 50. 2. say is מאכל בהמה , "the food of beasts": though, according to what is elsewhere said of it, it should be the food of men also. It is said F26 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 33. 2. of R. Simeon ben Jochai, and his son, that they hid themselves in a cave for fear of the king, and a miracle was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 15:15

To feed swine - The basest and vilest of all employments; and, to a Jew, peculiarly degrading. Shame, contempt, and distress are wedded to sin, and can never be divorced. No character could be meaner in the sight of a Jew than that of a swineherd: and Herodotus informs us, that in Egypt they were not permitted to mingle with civil society, nor to appear in the worship of the gods, nor would the very dregs of the people have any matrimonial connections with them. Herod. lib. ii. cap. 47. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 15:16

With the husks - Κερατιων . Bochart, I think, has proved that κερατια does not mean husks: to signify which the Greek botanical writers use the word λοβοι ; several examples of which he gives from Theophrastus. He shows, also, that the original word means the fruit of the ceratonia or charub tree, which grows plentifully in Syria. This kind of pulse, Columella observes, was made use of to feed swine. See Bochart, Hieroz. lib. ii. cap. lvi. col. 707-10. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 15:1-32

The Lord speaks his three parable-stories of the "lost," in which he explains his reason for loving and receiving the sinful. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 15:11-32

The parable of the prodigal son. This parable is at once a history, a poem, and a prophecy, A history of man in innocence, in sin, in redemption, in glory. A poem—the song of salvation, whose refrain, "My son was dead, and is alive again, was lost, and is found," is ringing through the courts of the Zion of God. A prophecy, speaking most directly and solemnly, in warning and meditation, emphasis of reproof or of encouragement, to each of us. It is beyond the reach of the scalpel of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 15:11-32

"From home, and back." The two previous parables which our Lord related in defence of his conduct are really but introductory to what has been with justice called "the pearl of parables," that of the prodigal son. To it we will now devote ourselves, under the title recently given to it as "From home, and back." It brings out in a most interesting way the attitude of God the Father towards lost souls. It is necessary before setting out, however, to notice that, according to the ancient Law,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 15:13-15

Life in the far country. When the prodigal son had attained his wish and was free to do as he liked without the restraints of home, how did he fare? He found, as in our distance from God we shall find, that life there meant three evil things— I. A TWOFOLD WASTE . He "wasted his substance in riotous living." He misspent his powers, devoting to frivolous and unremunerative enjoyment those bodily and mental faculties that might have been put to profitable use, and he scattered the... read more

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