Luke 15:1-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 15:1-10

Here is, I. The diligent attendance of the publicans and sinners upon Christ's ministry. Great multitudes of Jews went with him (Luke 14:25), with such an assurance of admission into the kingdom of God that he found it requisite to say that to them which would shake their vain hopes. Here multitudes of publicans and sinners drew near to him, with a humble modest fear of being rejected by him, and to them he found it requisite to give encouragement, especially because there were some haughty... read more

Matthew Henry

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 15:1-7

15:1-7 The tax-collectors and sinners were all coming near to Jesus to hear him, and the Pharisees and scribes were murmuring, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." He spoke this parable to them. "What man of you," he said, "who has a hundred sheep, and who hast lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he finds it, rejoicing he lays it on his shoulders; and when he comes home he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 15:8-10

15:8-10 Or, what woman who has ten silver pieces, if she loses one piece, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, "Rejoice with me because I have found the silver piece which I lost." Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. The coin in question in this parable was a silver drachma ( Greek #1406 ) worth... 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 15:1

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, Luke 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 15:2

And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured ,.... When they saw the easy access these wicked men had to Christ; and that he stopped and stayed with them, and very freely imparted instructions to them: saying, this man receiveth sinners . The Persic version reads, "publicans and sinners", as in the preceding verse: the word "man" is not in the original text, it is only "this"; which is to be understood not by way of eminence, as this great person, this prophet, this master in Israel; but by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 15:3

And he spake this parable unto them ,.... To the Pharisees, for their conviction and confutation; and to the publicans and sinners for their encouragement; and in vindication of himself; and not only this, but the other two, concerning the lost piece of money, and the prodigal son, which were said at this time, and on the same occasion; saying , as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 15:4

What man of you having an hundred sheep ,.... A flock of sheep, consisting of such a number; See Gill on Matthew 18:12 , if he lose one of them , by straying from the flock, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness , upon the common where they were feeding, and go after that which is lost until he find it ? by which parable Christ vindicates his conduct in conversing with sinners, and neglecting the Scribes and Pharisees; for if it was right for an owner of an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 15:5

And when he hath found it ,.... In a sad plight and condition: so Christ finds his sheep in a most desolate one, in a pit, in the mire and clay of nature; in the paw of the roaring lion, Satan; helpless, hopeless, wretched, miserable, and naked; and not only starving, famishing, and dying, but even dead in trespasses and sins: and finding them with respect to redemption, designs his procuring eternal salvation for them; and with regard to calling, his laying hold upon them by his Spirit and... read more

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