Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
Verse Takeaways
1
Sin's Inevitable Emptiness
Commentators highlight that the son's situation—having "spent all" and being "in want"—illustrates the nature of a life apart from God. Sin is a "spending state" where temporary pleasures eventually run out, leaving the soul empty and destitute. As Charles Spurgeon notes, "the pleasures of sin are only for a season," leading to a state of spiritual poverty and need.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Luke
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
11
18th Century
Presbyterian
A mighty famine. Famines were common in Eastern nations. They were caused by the failure of the crops—by a lack of timely rains, a genial …
When he had spent (δαπανησαντος αυτου). Genitive absolute. The verb is here used in a bad sense as in Jas 4:3. See on δαπανη[Refer…
19th Century
Anglican
There arose a mighty famine in that land.—This again was no unusual incident. The famine which came to pass in the da…
Consider supporting our work
Baptist
And he began to be in want.
This was a new sensation to him; he had never known it when he was at home. He did not know it in his f…
NIV captures the vivid wording of the account, including “squandered his wealth” and “wild living.” The famine made employment and food even harder…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And when he had spent all Sin strips a man of all that is good and valuable; of the image of God, of the knowledge o…
Get curated content & updates
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 f…