Luke:15:11-32
rwp@Luke:15:11 @{Had} (\eichen\). Imperfect active. Note \echn\ (verse 4|), \echousa\ (verse 8|), and now \eichen\. The self-sacrificing care is that of the owner in each case. Here (verses 11-32|) we have the most famous of all the parables of Jesus, the Prodigal Son, which is in Luke alone. We have had the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and now the Lost Son. Bruce notes that in the moral sphere there must be self-recovery to give ethical value to the rescue of the son who wandered away. That comes out beautifully in this allegory.
rwp@Luke:15:12 @{The portion} (\to meros\). The Jewish law alloted one-half as much to the younger son as to the elder, that is to say one-third of the estate (Deuteronomy:21:17|) at the death of the father. The father did not have to abdicate in favour of the sons, but "this very human parable here depicts the impatience of home restraints and the optimistic ambition of youth" (Ragg). {And he divided} (\ho de dieilen\). The second aorist active indicative of \diaire\, an old and common verb to part in two, cut asunder, divide, but in the N.T. only here and strkjv@1Corinthians:12:11|. The elder son got his share also of the "substance" or property or estate (\ts ousias\), "the living" (\ton bion\) as in strkjv@Mark:12:44|, not "life" as in strkjv@Luke:8:14|.
rwp@Luke:15:13 @{Not many days after} (\met' ou pollas hmeras\). Literally, after not many days. Luke is fond of this idiom (7:6; strkjv@Acts:1:5|). {Took his journey} (\apedmsen\). First aorist active indicative of \apodme\ (from \apodmos\, away from home). Common verb. In the N.T. here and strkjv@Matthew:21:33; strkjv@25:14; strkjv@Mark:12:1; strkjv@Luke:20:9|. He burned all his bridges behind him, gathering together all that he had. {Wasted} (\dieskorpisen\). First aorist active indicative of \diaskorpiz\, a somewhat rare verb, the very opposite of "gathered together" (\sunagogn\). More exactly he scattered his property. It is the word used of winnowing grain (Matthew:25:24|). {With riotous living} (\zn asts\). Living dissolutely or profligately. The late adverb \asts\ (only here in the N.T.) from the common adjective \astos\ (\a\ privative and \sz\), one that cannot be saved, one who does not save, a spendthrift, an abandoned man, a profligate, a prodigal. He went the limit of sinful excesses. It makes sense taken actively or passively (_prodigus_ or _perditus_), active probably here.
rwp@Luke:15:14 @{When he had spent} (\dapansantos autou\). Genitive absolute. The verb is here used in a bad sense as in strkjv@James:4:3|. See on \dapan\ ¯Luke:14:28|. {He} (\autos\). Emphasis. {To be in want} (\hustereisthai\). The verb is from \husteros\, behind or later (comparative). We use "fall behind" (Vincent) of one in straitened circumstances. Plummer notes the coincidences of Providence. The very land was in a famine when the boy had spent all.
rwp@Luke:15:15 @{Joined himself} (\ekollth\). First aorist passive of \kolla\, an old verb to glue together, to cleave to. In the N.T. only the passive occurs. He was glued to, was joined to. It is not necessary to take this passive in the middle reflexive sense. {The citizens} (\tn politn\). Curiously enough this common word citizen (\polits\ from \polis\, city) is found in the N.T. only in Luke's writings (15:15; strkjv@19:14; strkjv@Acts:21:39|) except in He strkjv@8:11| where it is quoted from strkjv@Jeremiah:38:34|. {To feed swine} (\boskein choirous\). A most degrading occupation for anyone and for a Jew an unspeakable degradation.
rwp@Luke:15:16 @{He would fain have been filled} (\epethumei chortasthnai\). Literally, he was desiring (longing) to be filled. Imperfect indicative and first aorist passive infinitive. \Chortasthnai\ is from \chortaz\ and that from \chortos\ (grass), and so to feed with grass or with anything. Westcott and Hort put \gemisai tn koilian autou\ in the margin (the Textus Receptus). {With the husks} (\ek tn keratin\). The word occurs here alone in the N.T. and is a diminutive of \keras\ (horn) and so means little horn. It is used in various senses, but here refers to the pods of the carob tree or locust tree still common in Palestine and around the Mediterannean, so called from the shape of the pods like little horns, _Bockshornbaum_ in German or goat's-horn tree. The gelatinous substance inside has a sweetish taste and is used for feeding swine and even for food by the lower classes. It is sometimes called Saint John's Bread from the notion that the Baptist ate it in the wilderness. {No man gave unto him} (\oudeis edidou auti\). Imperfect active. Continued refusal of anyone to allow him even the food of the hogs.
rwp@Luke:15:17 @{But when he came to himself} (\eis heauton de elthn\). As if he had been far from himself as he was from home. As a matter of fact he had been away, out of his head, and now began to see things as they really were. Plato is quoted by Ackerman (_Christian Element in Plato_) as thinking of redemption as coming to oneself. {Hired servants} (\misthioi\). A late word from \misthos\ (hire). In the N.T. only in this chapter. The use of "many" here suggests a wealthy and luxurious home. {Have bread enough and to spare} (\perisseuontai artn\). Old verb from \perissos\ and that from \peri\ (around). Present passive here, "are surrounded by loaves" like a flood. {I perish} (\eg de limi hde apollumai\). Every word here counts: While I on the other hand am here perishing with hunger. It is the linear present middle of \apollumi\. Note \eg\ expressed and \de\ of contrast.
rwp@Luke:15:18 @{I will arise and go} (\anastas proreusomai\). This determination is the act of the will after he comes to himself and sees his real condition. {I did sin} (\hmarton\). That is the hard word to say and he will say it first. The word means to miss the mark. I shot my bolt and I missed my aim (compare the high-handed demand in verse 12|).
rwp@Luke:15:19 @{No longer worthy} (\ouketi axios\). Confession of the facts. He sees his own pitiful plight and is humble. {As one} (\hs hena\). The hired servants in his father's house are high above him now.
rwp@Luke:15:20 @{To his father} (\pros ton patera heautou\). Literally, to his own father. He acted at once on his decision. {Yet afar off} (\eti autou makran apechontos\). Genitive absolute. \Makran\ agrees with \hodon\ understood: While he was yet holding off a distant way. This shows that the father had been looking for him to come back and was even looking at this very moment as he came in sight. {Ran} (\dramn\). Second aorist active participle of the defective verb \trech\. The eager look and longing of the father. {Kissed} (\katephilsen\). Note perfective use of \kata\ kissed him much, kissed him again and again. The verb occurs so in the older Greek.
rwp@Luke:15:21 @The son made his speech of confession as planned, but it is not certain that he was able to finish as a number of early manuscripts do not have "Make me as one of the hired servants," though Aleph B D do have them. It is probable that the father interrupted him at this point before he could finish.
rwp@Luke:15:22 @{The best robe} (\stoln tn prtn\). \Stol\ is an old word for a fine stately garment that comes down to the feet (from \stello\, to prepare, equip), the kind worn by kings (Mark:16:5; strkjv@Luke:22:46|). Literally, "a robe the first." But not the first that you find, but the first in rank and value, the finest in the house. This in contrast with his shabby clothes. {A ring} (\daktulion\). Common in classical writers and the LXX, but here only in the N.T. From \daktulos\, finger. See \chrusodaktulios\ in strkjv@James:2:2|. {Shoes} (\hupodmata\). Sandals, "bound under." Both sandals and ring are marks of the freeman as slaves were barefooted.
rwp@Luke:15:23 @{The fatted calf} (\ton moschon ton siteuton\). The calf the fatted one. \Siteuton\ is the verbal adjective of \sileu\, to feed with wheat (\sitos\). The calf was kept fat for festive occasions, possibly in the hope of the son's return. {Kill} (\thusate\). Not as a sacrifice, but for the feast. {Make merry} (\euphranthmen\). First aorist passive subjunctive (volitive). From \euphrain\, an old verb from \eu\ (well) and \phrn\ (mind).
rwp@Luke:15:24 @{And is alive} (\kai anezsen\). First aorist active indicative of \anaza\, to live again. Literally, he was dead and he came back to life. {He was lost} (\n apolls\, periphrastic past perfect active of \apollumi\ and intransitive, in a lost state) and he was found (\heureth\). He was found, we have to say, but this aorist passive is really timeless, he is found after long waiting (effective aorist) The artists have vied with each other in picturing various items connected with this wonderful parable.
rwp@Luke:15:25 @{As he came and drew nigh} (\hs erchomenos ggisen\). More exactly, "As, coming, he drew nigh," for \erchomenos\ is present middle participle and \ggisen\ is aorist active indicative. {Music} (\sumphnias\). Our word "symphony." An old Greek word from \sumphnos\ (\sun\, together, and \phn\, voice or sound), {harmony, concord}, by a band of musicians. Here alone in the N.T. {And dancing} (\kai chorn\). An old word again, but here alone in the N.T. Origin uncertain, possibly from \orchos\ by metathesis (\orcheomai\, to dance). A circular dance on the green.
rwp@Luke:15:26 @{Servants} (\paidn\). Not \douloi\ (bondslaves) as in verse 22|. The Greeks often used \pais\ for servant like the Latin _puer_. It could be either a hired servant (\misthios\, verse 17|) or slave (\doulos\). {He inquired} (\epunthaneto\). Imperfect middle, inquired repeatedly and eagerly. {What these things might be} (\ti an ei tauta\). Not "poor" Greek as Easton holds, but simply the form of the direct question retained in the indirect. See the direct form as the apodosis of a condition of the fourth class in strkjv@Acts:17:18|. In strkjv@Acts:10:17| we have the construction with \an ei\ of the direct retained in the indirect question. Songs:also in strkjv@Luke:1:62|: See Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1044.
rwp@Luke:15:27 @{Is come} (\hkei\). Present indicative active, but a stem with perfect sense, old verb \hk\ retaining this use after perfect tenses came into use (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 893). {Hath killed} (\ethusen\). Aorist active indicative and literally means, {did kill}. Difficult to handle in English for our tenses do not correspond with the Greek. {Hath received} (\apelaben\). Second aorist active indicative with similar difficulty of translation. Note \apo\ in compositions, like _re-_ in "receive," hath gotten him back (\ap-\). {Safe and sound} (\hugiainonta\). Present active participle of \hugiain\ from \hugis\, to be in good health. In spite of all that he has gone through and in spite of the father's fears.
rwp@Luke:15:28 @{But he was angry} (\rgisth\). First aorist (ingressive) passive indicative. But he became angry, he flew into a rage (\org\). This was the explosion as the result of long resentment towards the wayward brother and suspicion of the father's partiality for the erring son. {Would not go in} (\ouk thelen eiselthein\). Imperfect tense (was not willing, refused) and aorist active (ingressive) infinitive. {Entreated} (\parekalei\). Imperfect tense, he kept on beseeching him.
rwp@Luke:15:29 @{Do I serve thee} (\douleu soi\). Progressive present tense of this old verb from \doulos\ (slave) which the elder son uses to picture his virtual slavery in staying at home and perhaps with longings to follow the younger son (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 879). {Transgressed} (\parlthon\). Second aorist active indicative of \parerchomai\, to pass by. Not even once (aorist) in contrast with so many years of service (linear present). {A kid} (\eriphon\). Some MSS. have \eriphion\, diminutive, a little kid. Songs:margin of Westcott and Hort. B has it also in strkjv@Matthew:25:32|, the only other N.T. passage where the word occurs. {That I might make merry} (\hina euphranth\). Final clause, first aorist passive subjunctive of the same verb used in verses 23,25|.
rwp@Luke:15:30 @{This thy son} (\ho huios sou houtos\). Contempt and sarcasm. He does not say: "This my brother." {Came} (\lthen\). He does not even say, came back or came home. {Devoured} (\kataphagn\). We say, "eaten up," but the Greek has, "eaten down" (perfective use of \kata-\). Suggested by the feasting going on. {With harlots} (\meta pornn\). This may be true (verse 13|), but the elder son did not know it to be true. He may reflect what he would have done in like case.
rwp@Luke:15:31 @{Son} (\Teknon\). Child. {Thou} (\su\). Expressed and in emphatic position in the sentence. He had not appreciated his privileges at home with his father.
rwp@Luke:15:32 @{It was meet} (\edei\). Imperfect tense. It expressed a necessity in the father's heart and in the joy of the return that justifies the feasting. \Euphranthnai\ is used again (first aorist passive infinitive) and \charnai\ (second aorist passive infinitive) is more than mere hilarity, deep-seated joy. The father repeats to the elder son the language of his heart used in verse 24| to his servants. A real father could do no less. One can well imagine how completely the Pharisees and scribes (verse 2|) were put to silence by these three marvellous parables. The third does it with a graphic picture of their own attitude in the case of the surly elder brother. Luke was called a painter by the ancients. Certainly he has produced a graphic pen picture here of God's love for the lost that justifies forever the coming of Christ to the world to seek and to save the lost. It glorifies also soul-saving on the part of his followers who are willing to go with Jesus after the lost in city and country, in every land and of every race.
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