Luke 15

Luke 15:3

There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity. This case of healing in the synagogue on the Sabbath is only given by Luke. We do not know when or where it occurred. In Matthew 12:10-13 Mr 3:1-5, is recorded a similar case. The disease of the woman was probably paralysis.

Luke 15:6

The ruler of the synagogue. The president of the body of elders. Answered with indignation. Because he thought Jesus had broken the Sabbath. The Mosaic law did not forbid healing on the Sabbath, but the “Tradition of the Elders” did (see PNT Matthew 15:2). There are six days. He argues that the woman could have been healed on a week day.

Luke 15:7

[Thou] hypocrite. Because he would help his ox or ass out of trouble on the Sabbath, but would not so help a human being.

Luke 15:8

Whom Satan hath bound. All disease is the offspring of sin, but from Satan came sin.

Luke 15:10

For notes on the parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven, see Matthew 13:31-33.

Luke 15:14

He went through the cities. It is supposed, east of the Jordan, in Perea.

Luke 15:15

Are there few that be saved? The same question is often asked now. Christ never answers it, but bids the questioner to look out for his own salvation.

Luke 15:16

Strive to enter in. The language implies that effort, earnest, agonizing is necessary. The word “strive” in the Greek is “agonizomai”, from whence our word “agonize” comes. By the strait gate. The door of the kingdom is so narrow that we cannot take our sins, our lusts, our worldliness and worldly pleasures in with us.

Luke 15:17

Hath shut to the door. Even that narrow door shall be shut. The time of opportunity will pass by. Even here on earth, the heart hardens so that it will be impossible to stir it to repentance.

Luke 15:18

We have eaten and drank in thy presence. Compare with Matthew 7:22, where see notes.

Luke 15:20

Ye shall see Abraham. See notes on Matthew 8:11,12.

Luke 15:22

Last which shall be first. See PNT Matthew 20:16.

Luke 15:23

There came certain of the Pharisees. Their object was to frighten Jesus away, and hence they asserted that Herod, Herod Antipas, would kill him. He was the tetrarch of Galilee and ruler of the country beyond the Jordan, who slew John the Baptist. See PNT Matthew 2:1.

Luke 15:24

Tell that fox. Herod’s most marked characteristic was unscrupulous cunning. The Lord uses the term to indicate that he understood the scheme. It was an artifice of Herod and the Pharisees to get him away. Herod was afraid to kill him on account of his popularity. I perform cures to day. The meaning is, “I will attend to my present work here, which is only for a little season”, and the third [day], in a short time. I shall be perfected. By the suffering at Jerusalem. See Hebrews 2:10. In other words, he will go freely about his work, but will soon be put to death, but not by Herod, who had no jurisdiction at Jerusalem. In that city he would die, for “it cannot be that a prophet should perish out of Jerusalem.

Luke 15:26

O Jerusalem. See notes on Matthew 23:37-39. These words were probably uttered twice.

Luke 15:29

Teaching in Parables SUMMARY OF LUKE 14: Healing on the Sabbath. The Chief Seats at a Wedding Feast. The Rule for Inviting Guests. The Parable of the Great Supper and the Excuses. Bearing the Cross Essential to Discipleship. Counting the Cost. One of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath. In despite of the rigid ideas of the Pharisees concerning work on the Sabbath, it was made a day of feasting. “Meet the Sabbath with a lively hunger; let thy table be covered with fish, flesh, and generous wine” is a rabbinical precept. They watched him. Though pretending hospitality, on the watch for grounds of accusation.

Luke 15:30

A certain man before him who had the dropsy. Either a guest or one who came to be healed.

Luke 15:31

Is it lawful? Conscious that they were watching him, he asked them a question which they declined to answer. The “tradition” said it was unlawful.