Luk 15:23-24, 29, 32 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 23. Be merry . Literally, "eating, let us rejoice." The word merry does not quite express the meaning of the Greek. Merriment denotes a light, playful, jovial mirth. The Greek denotes simply joy --let us be happy, or joyful.

Luke 15:23-24

Verse 23. Be merry. Literally, "eating, let us rejoice." The word merry does not quite express the meaning of the Greek. Merriment denotes a light, playful, jovial mirth. The Greek denotes simply joy--let us be happy, or joyful. Verse 24. Was dead. This is capable of two significations:

1st. I supposed that he was dead, but I know now that he is alive.

2nd. He was dead to virtue--he was sunk in pleasure and vice. The word is not unfrequently thus used. See 1Timm 5:6, Mt 8:22, Rom 6:13. Hence to be restored to virtue is said to be restored to life, Rom 6:13, Rev 3:1, Eph 2:1. It is probable that this latter is the meaning here. See Lk 15:31.

Was lost. Had wandered away from home, and we knew not where he was.

(p) "For" Lk 15:32 (q) "was dead" Eph 2:1, 5:14, Rev 3:1 (r) "is alive again" Rom 6:11,13 (s) "was lost" Eze 34:4,16, Lk 19:10

Luke 15:29

Verse 29. A kid. A young goat. This was of less value than the calf; and he complains that while his father had never given him a thing of so little value as a kid, he had now given his other son the fatted calf.

Make merry with. Entertain them--give them a feast. This complaint was unreasonable, for his father had divided his property, and he might have had his portion, and his father had uniformly treated him with kindness. But it serves to illustrate the conduct of the scribes and Pharisees, and the folly of their complaint.

(v) "do I serve thee" Is 65:5, Lk 18:11 (w) "neither transgressed I" Phi 3:6

Luke 15:32

Verse 32.

(y) "meet" Jonah 4:10,11 (z) "make merry" Ps 51:8, Isa 35:10 (a) "for this" Lk 15:24