Luke 15

The scope of all these parables is to represent the exceeding riches of God’s grace to sinners, especially the Gentiles. The lost sheep brought back represents them as elected and given to Christ, the chief Shepherd, to be saved by him; but stupidly wandering on in deserts of ignorance, idolatry, and other wickedness and misery, but followed after by a laborious and faithful dispensation of the gospel, apprehended by Christ’s Spirit, and by his power and grace converted to God, instated in his covenant, and made members of his church. The lost piece of silver recovered represents them as dear and precious in God’s account, and wholly incapable of doing any thing for their own relief; but, by means of shaking providences, the gospel dispensation, and conscience-convincing and heart-renewing influences, converted to Christ. The prodigal son reformed represents them as God’s honoured creatures apostatizing from him, and perverting their natural powers, and the blessings of providence, to the basset purposes of iniquity, till they had rendered themselves slaves and worshippers of Satan, wicked and miserable to the last degree; but at last, by strokes of affliction, and convictions of conscience, encouraged by gospel invitations, made to apply to God for his free and full salvation:—graciously drawn and received by him, clothed with the imputed righteousness of Christ, endowed with his Spirit and grace, as a pledge of their eternal inheritance; qualified by gospel promises and influences to walk in God’s ways; and feasted on the flesh, blood, and fulness, of Christ, and made glad with the light of his countenance. The joy attending the recovery of the lost sheep, piece of silver, or prodigal son, imports that God is more glorified in the redemption of men than in the preservation of angels who never sinned;—in the conversion of the Gentiles than in the preservation of the Jewish church;—in the conversion of notorious sinners than of such as have been always civilized;—and in the conversion of all ranks and degrees of sinners than in the pretended religion of self-righteous persons; and that he and his angels more rejoice therein. The elder son denotes the Jews, particularly the scribes and Pharisees, who took such offence at God’s calling the Gentiles into his gospel church, and honouring them above themselves, who had long been his peculiar people, that they obstinately refused to embrace the gospel, and unite with them in one church. He may also represent all self-righteous professors, and even peevish believers, who take offence at God’s vouchsafing his singular favours to persons converted from notorious wickedness. 3

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XV.—Great is the grace and condescension of Jesus Christ to the very chief of sinners, and base the heart that rages against his love. Alas! how bent are sinners to wander from God, and expose themselves to danger and ruin! Unable to recover themselves, they are plunged in, and covered with, wretchedness and guilt. Yet, madly prodigal, and haters of God’s presence and government, they are puffed up with a self-conceit of their excellency and merit, and, imagining all that they have their own, covetous of a present portion, and regardless of every thing eternal, they apostatize more and more from God, and become slaves to their lusts, abusing every gift of God to their service. Yea, though destitute of every thing holy, honourable, or gladdening, they are quickly involved in disappointment, perplexity, and wretchedness, and exposed to everlasting destruction; yet still obstinately will they pursue every folly, however base on ruinous, rather than return to a gracious God!—Infinite is the love of God, in seeking the lost and converting prodigals! Quick-scented is his mercy, to espy our necessities and mark our cares and desires, and alert, in hastening to our relief. Active and generous is he in drawing us to himself, embracing the polluted, pardoning our iniquity, accepting us in the Beloved, giving us his Spirit, renewing our nature, shedding abroad his love in our hearts, and supplying all our wants with his benefits.—What a change his grace makes! The most thoughtless consider their ways, and become wise unto salvation; the proud become humble; the lost are recovered to every thing useful and glorious; and the dead in trespasses and sins are made alive to God and his service! What ground of inexpressible joy is this to saints, to ministers, to angels, to God himself! But detestable is it, from a principle of malice and self-conceit, to take offence at the freedom, extent, and sovereignty, of his grace; or to murmur at the happiness of sinners by means of it. Marvellous is it that God should court such froward transgrossors with overtures of mercy! But wo, wo, wo, to their souls if they obstinately reject them!