Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 15:30
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
30. this thy son…which hath devoured thy living with harlots ] Every syllable breathes rancour. He disowns all brotherhood; and says ‘came’ not ‘ returned, ’ and tries to wake his father’s anger by saying ‘ thy living,’ and malignantly represents the conduct of his erring brother in the blackest light.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This thy son – This son of thine. This is an expression of great contempt. He did not call him his brother, but his fathers son, to show at once his contempt for his younger brother, and for his father for having received him as he did. Never was there a more striking instance of petty malice, or more unjustifiable disregard of a fathers conduct and will.
Thy living – Thy property. This is still designed to irritate the father, and set him against his younger son. It was true that the younger son had been guilty, and foolish, and ungrateful; but he was penitent, and that was of more consequence to the father than all his property; and in the joy that he was penitent and was safe, he forgot his ingratitude and folly. So should the older son have done.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 30. This thy son] THIS son of THINE – words expressive of supreme contempt: THIS son – he would not condescend to call him by his name, or to acknowledge him for his brother; and at the same time, bitterly reproaches his amiable father for his affectionate tenderness, and readiness to receive his once undutiful, but now penitent, child!
For HIM] I have marked those words in small capitals which should be strongly accented in the pronunciation: this last word shows how supremely he despised his poor unfortunate brother.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But as soon as this thy son was come,…. He will not own him in the relation of a brother, though the father had owned him in that of a son; and the offence he took was, that the fatted calf should be killed, or that a crucified Christ should be preached; that he should be preached at all, and much less that he should be preached to sinners; and still less that he should be preached so soon to them, as soon as ever they became sensible of their sin, as it was the will of his father it should be: for such are not to be sent away to cleanse themselves from sin by any thing they do, and then apply to Christ; or to heal themselves, and then come to him for a cure; or to get peace by doing so, and then come to him for rest; or to do any thing to fit themselves for him, for their case requires present help: now at this the self-righteous man is displeased. The elder brother would have had another method taken with this younger son: he would have had him soundly whipped with the rod of the law, for his former sins; and sent into the fields along with him to work out his salvation; and not to have a rag put upon him, or a shoe on his foot, or a morsel of bread given him, till he had earned them; but instead of this, to be received and entertained in the manner he was, and so soon, highly provoked him: for he thought such a conduct was unbecoming God, and his moral perfections; and what his brother was undeserving of; and opened a door to, licentiousness; and highly reflected on his services, as of no value and regard.
Which hath devoured thy living: given to his son; that part of his goods he had divided to him, Lu 15:12
with harlots; in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness, in gluttony and debauchery:
thou hast killed for him the fatted calf; [See comments on Lu 15:23]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This thy son ( ). Contempt and sarcasm. He does not say: “This my brother.”
Came (). He does not even say, came back or came home.
Devoured (). We say, “eaten up,” but the Greek has, “eaten down” (perfective use of –). Suggested by the feasting going on.
With harlots ( ). 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.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
This thy son. Not my brother, but with the bitterest sarcasm.
Was come [] . He says came, as of a stranger. Not returned.
Devoured [] . We say “eat up;” the Greek said “eat down” [] . The word is suggested, no doubt, by the mention of the calf, the kid, and the feasting. ===Luk16
CHAPTER XVI
THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD.
Peculiar to Luke. 1 – 8.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But as soon as this thy son,” (hote de ho huios son houtos) “Then when this your son,” this son of yours, whom he did not even acknowledge as his brother.
2) “Was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots,” (ho kataphagon sou ton bion meta pornon elthen) “The one who has devoured your living estate with harlots came,” came home, returned from a riotous life, like a tramp. He was blaming his father for giving the younger son part of the estate, that he had taken and squandered, and would not himself give his own brother a second chance, showing lack of compassion, charity, or divine love, Mat 6:14-15.
3) “Thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.” (ethusas auto ton siteuton moschon) “You killed for him (his honor) the fatted calf.” Only a soul filled with the bitterness of gall and vinegar could speak so reproachfully to a father of old age. He was accusing the father of making the prodigal a person of superior honor to himself, the elder son. Let it be understood that a restored forgiven, backslidden or born again, former murderer, adulterer, liar or thief, is more acceptable before God than a pious, self-righteous, bitter, religious, unforgiving hypocrite, like this elder son typified, among the Pharisee Jews, Mar 7:5-6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(30) As soon as this thy son was come.The feeling of discontent passes into scorn and bitterness. The sin of the wanderer is painted at once in the coarsest and darkest colours. The very turn of the phrase, this thy son speaks of a concentrated malignity.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Ver. 30. But as soon as this thy son ] He saith not, this my brother; he would not once own him, because in poverty.
Which hath devoured thy living ] q.d. which you were so hasty to give unto him before your death (which you need not have done), and now he hath made a fair hand of it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
30. ] . , the last degree of scorn and contempt, just such as was shewn by the Pharisees towards the publicans and sinners (see ch. Luk 18:11 ). ‘I will not count such an impure person my brother .’
. , a covert reproach of his father for having given it to him.
, a charitable addition on the part of the elder brother, such as those represented by him always take care to make under similar circumstances. Even supposing it a necessary inference from the kind of life which he had been leading, it was one which nothing but the bitterest jealousy would have uttered at such a time.
. . . . . parallel with , , Luk 15:2 . ‘Thou hast not only made him equal to me, but hast received him into superior favour.’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 15:30 . : contemptuous, this precious son of yours. : hard, merciless judgment; the worst said and in the coarsest way. How did he know? He did not know; had no information, jumped at conclusions. That the manner of his kind, who shirk work and go away to enjoy themselves.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
thy son. Not “my brother”. Contrast with “thy brother” (Luk 15:32).
was come = came as though a stranger. Not “returned”.
devoured = eaten up. Contrast with Luk 15:23.
thy. Malignant thought.
harlots. Contrast with “my friends” (Luk 15:29).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
30.] . , the last degree of scorn and contempt,-just such as was shewn by the Pharisees towards the publicans and sinners (see ch. Luk 18:11). I will not count such an impure person my brother.
. , a covert reproach of his father for having given it to him.
, a charitable addition on the part of the elder brother, such as those represented by him always take care to make under similar circumstances. Even supposing it a necessary inference from the kind of life which he had been leading, it was one which nothing but the bitterest jealousy would have uttered at such a time.
. . . . . parallel with , , Luk 15:2. Thou hast not only made him equal to me, but hast received him into superior favour.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 15:30. , that son of thine) [Pointing to him contemptuously, as the Pharisee at the Publican]. See ch. Luk 18:11, where see the note.- , who hath devoured thy living) The elder brother speaks invidiously.-) He says, has come, speaking of him as he would of an alien: not, has returned.-, for him) The Dativus commodi (Dative of advantage). [The elder brother means to say, for that profligate.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
this: Luk 15:32, Luk 18:11, Exo 32:7, Exo 32:11
devoured: Luk 15:13, Luk 15:22, Luk 15:23
Reciprocal: Gen 18:7 – General Gen 37:32 – thy son’s Deu 25:3 – vile unto thee Pro 5:10 – strangers Pro 6:26 – by Pro 19:26 – wasteth Pro 28:7 – but Pro 29:3 – he Jer 31:19 – I did Eze 16:33 – give Mat 20:12 – borne Mar 7:28 – yet Mar 12:44 – all her Luk 11:13 – heavenly Luk 15:27 – Thy brother Luk 16:1 – wasted Luk 18:9 – and despised Act 9:17 – Brother Jam 4:3 – ye may
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Luk 15:30. When this thy son came. He will not say brother. In expressing contempt of his brother the greatest sin against his father is uttered; so Pharisees sin most heinously against God in their feelings and acts towards their fellow-men.
Devoured thy living. There is a reproach of the father implied here also.
With harlots. It was preeminently Pharisaical to recall just then this fact
Thou killedst, etc. In contrast with the latter part of Luk 15:29.