Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 15
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 15
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 15
"Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake unto them this parable, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, [more] than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance. Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." — Luke 15:1-10 (ASV)
The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as having departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desiring to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home.
In the parable of the lost piece of silver, what is lost is one piece of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently until she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God uses to bring lost souls home to himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!
"And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of [thy] substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him." — Luke 15:11-16 (ASV)
The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel grace; and it has been, and will be, as long as the world exists, of immeasurable benefit to poor sinners, to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. It is bad, and the beginning of worse, when people regard God's gifts as debts due to them.
The great folly of sinners, and what ruins them, is being content in their lifetime to receive their good things. Our first parents ruined themselves and all their descendants by a foolish ambition to be independent, and this is the underlying cause of sinners' persistence in their sin. We may all recognize some features of our own characters in that of the prodigal son.
A sinful state is one of departure and distance from God. A sinful state is a spending state: willful sinners misemploy their thoughts and the powers of their souls, misspend their time and all their opportunities. A sinful state is a state of want. Sinners lack necessities for their souls; they have neither food nor clothing for them, nor any provision for the life to come.
A sinful state is a vile, slavish state. The business of the devil's servants is to make provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts, and that is no better than feeding swine. A sinful state is a state of constant discontent. The wealth of the world and the pleasures of the senses will not even satisfy our bodies; but what are they to precious souls!
A sinful state is a state that cannot expect relief from any created thing. In vain do we cry to the world and to the flesh; they have what will poison a soul, but have nothing to give that will feed and nourish it. A sinful state is a state of death. A sinner is dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of spiritual life.
A sinful state is a lost state. Souls that are separated from God, if his mercy does not intervene, will soon be lost forever. The prodigal's wretched state only faintly portrays the awful ruin of humanity by sin. Yet how few are aware of their own state and character!
"But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father`s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." — Luke 15:17-24 (ASV)
Having viewed the prodigal in his abject state of misery, we are next to consider his recovery from it. This begins when he comes to himself. That is a turning point in the sinner's conversion. The Lord opens his eyes and convinces him of sin; then he views himself and every object in a different light than he did before.
Thus the convinced sinner perceives that the lowliest servant of God is happier than he is. To look to God as a Father, and as our Father, will be very beneficial in our repentance and return to him. The prodigal arose and did not stop until he reached his home. Thus the repenting sinner resolutely quits the bondage of Satan and his lusts, and returns to God by prayer, despite fears and discouragements.
The Lord meets him with unexpected signs of his forgiving love. Furthermore, the reception of the humbled sinner is like that of the prodigal. He is clothed in the robe of the Redeemer's righteousness, made a partaker of the Spirit of adoption, prepared by peace of conscience and gospel grace to walk in the ways of holiness, and feasted with Divine consolations. Principles of grace and holiness are worked in him, to do, as well as to will.
"Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him. But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and [yet] thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine. But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive [again]; and [was] lost, and is found." — Luke 15:25-32 (ASV)
In the latter part of this parable, we have the character of the Pharisees, though not of them alone. It sets forth the kindness of the Lord, and the proud manner in which His gracious kindness is often received. The Jews, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles; and numbers in every age object to the gospel and its preachers, on the same ground.
What must that temper be, which stirs up a man to despise and abhor those for whom the Savior shed His precious blood, who are objects of the Father's choice, and temples of the Holy Spirit! This springs from pride, self-preference, and ignorance of a man's own heart. The mercy and grace of our God in Christ shine almost as bright in His tender and gentle bearing with peevish saints, as His receiving prodigal sinners upon their repentance.
It is the unspeakable happiness of all the children of God, who keep close to their Father's house, that they are, and shall be ever with Him. Happy will it be for those who thankfully accept Christ's invitation.
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