Luke 15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

◄ Luke 15:32 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

English Standard Version
It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

New American Standard Bible
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

King James Bible
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

International Standard Version
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.'"

American Standard Version
But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again ; and was lost, and is found.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found.

Darby Bible Translation
But it was right to make merry and rejoice, because this thy brother was dead and has come to life again, and was lost and has been found.

Young's Literal Translation
but to be merry, and to be glad, it was needful, because this thy brother was dead, and did live again, he was lost, and was found.'

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

15:25-32 In the latter part of this parable we have the character of the Pharisees, though not of them alone. It sets forth the kindness of the Lord, and the proud manner in which his gracious kindness is often received. The Jews, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles; and numbers in every age object to the gospel and its preachers, on the same ground. What must that temper be, which stirs up a man to despise and abhor those for whom the Saviour shed his precious blood, who are objects of the Father's choice, and temples of the Holy Ghost! This springs from pride, self-preference, and ignorance of a man's own heart. The mercy and grace of our God in Christ, shine almost as bright in his tender and gentle bearing with peevish saints, as his receiving prodigal sinners upon their repentance. It is the unspeakable happiness of all the children of God, who keep close to their Father's house, that they are, and shall be ever with him. Happy will it be for those who thankfully accept Christ's invitation.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

32. It was meet—Was it possible he should simply take his long vacant place in the family without one special sign of wonder and delight at the change? Would that have been nature? But this being the meaning of the festivity, it would for that very reason be temporary. In time, the dutifulness of even the younger son would become the law and not the exception; he too at length might venture to say, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee"; and of him the father would say, "Son, thou art ever with me." In that case, therefore, it would not be "meet that they should make merry and be glad." The lessons are obvious, but how beautiful! (1) The deeper sunk and the longer estranged any sinner is, the more exuberant is the joy which his recovery occasions. (2) Such joy is not the portion of those whose whole lives have been spent in the service of their Father in heaven. (3) Instead of grudging the want of this, they should deem it the highest testimony to their lifelong fidelity, that something better is reserved for them—the deep, abiding complacency of their Father in heaven.