Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 15:26
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
Safe and sound – In health.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And he called one of the servants,…. One of the ministers of the word, one of the disciples of Christ, as the Scribes and Pharisees sometimes did: choosing rather to speak to one of the disciples, than to Christ himself, when they were offended; see Mr 2:16
And asked what these things meant: for self-righteous persons, as these Scribes and Pharisees were, are ignorant of the truths of the Gospel; they do not understand them, nor conceive what is meant by them they cannot take in the doctrine of God’s everlasting love, that it should be so early; be towards some, and not others; that it should be independent of men’s works, both in the rise and continuance of it; that it should be exercised towards sinners, and yet be no licentious doctrine: and as much at a loss are they about the doctrine of election: as that it should be eternal, personal, discriminating, irrespective of works, and yet give no liberty to sin: they know nothing of the covenant of grace, nor have any other notion but of a covenant of works; and if of any other, yet a conditional one, made with them upon their conversion; or rather, one of their own making, and which depends on their good behaviour: they are ignorant of salvation by Christ; of justification by his righteousness; of peace and pardon by his blood; of the doctrine of regeneration, and of living by faith on Christ; and of eternal life as God’s free gift; and so likewise of spiritual joy, and mirth: they are strangers to themselves, their lost state and condition, and a deliverance out of it; to the kingdom of God, or an internal work of grace, the fruits of which are peace and joy in the Holy Ghost; and to the person, offices, and grace of Christ; to justification and atonement by him; to the promises of the Gospel, and to that itself which is the joyful sound; all which produce spiritual joy, delight, and pleasure in sensible souls: the rejoicing of such persons is only in themselves, and in their own works and duties; but as for true solid spiritual joy, they intermeddle not with it, nor know they what it means.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Servants (). Not (bondslaves) as in verse 22. The Greeks often used for servant like the Latin puer. It could be either a hired servant (, verse 17) or slave ().
He inquired (). Imperfect middle, inquired repeatedly and eagerly.
What these things might be ( ). 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 Ac 17:18. In Ac 10:17 we have the construction with of the direct retained in the indirect question. So also in Lu 1:62: See Robertson, Grammar, p. 1044.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Inquired [] . Imperfect. Began to inquire.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he called one of the servants,” (kai proskalesamenos hena ton paidon) “And he called directly to him one of the [ads,” young men, perhaps a young servant about the house, one who hurried about to help prepare the Thanksgiving feast with musical festivities, Psa 107:2; Luk 10:20; Php_4:4; 1Th 5:16.
2) “And asked what these things meant.” (epunthaneto ti an eie tauta) “And he inquired just what these things might mean,” might be, what the significance of all the festivities were all about, a thing the “natural man” seems not to be able to comprehend, except to be convicted by it, 1Co 2:9; Joh 13:35. These festive sounds and music were not common in his father’s sad house, from which his prodigal brother had gone away.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
“And he called to him one of the servants, and enquired what these things might be.”
So he called to him one of the servants and asked what the reason was for all this music and dancing. It was a complete enigma.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
Ver. 26. What these things meant ] Hypocrites understand not the just man’s joys, nor the sweet intercourse that is between God and his people.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 15:26 . , not contemptuous, “what all this was about” (Farrar, C. G. T.), but with the puzzled air of a man in the dark and surprised = what does this mean?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
called = called to him.,
servants = young men. Greek. pais. See App-108. Not the same word as in verses: Luk 15:17, Luk 15:19, Luk 15:22.
asked = began to inquire. Imperf. tense.
meant = might be.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: Mar 14:22 – this Luk 18:36 – he Act 2:12 – What
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
When the elder son went to work, the return of the “prodigal” had not occurred, hence he did not understand the cause of the merriment.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 15:26. One of the servants. Not the same word as in Luk 15:22; probably an inferior domestic in the permanent employ of the householder, but now standing without.
What these things might be. Offended that this should take place without his knowledge; jealous of the joy in which he would not share.