I content myself with remarking that I do not believe they represent the mind of Christ. The parable contains a story which strikingly illustrates Christ's love toward sinners. That story is told in the most striking manner, and is conveyed in imagery of the most graphic kind. But I am quite unable to see that every part of the imagery employed was intended by our Lord to bear a spiritual meaning.
12. — [The younger of them said. J Let it be noted that the " younger son" was the one who exhibited self-will, and love of inde- pendence. This makes his conduct more reprehensible.
[That falleth to me.l Parkhurst remarks, that "there is re- ference here to the laws both of Jews and Romans. In this they agreed that they did not allow the father of a family the voluntary distribution of his whole estate, but allotted a certain portion to the younger son. (Deut. xxi. 16.) The young man, therefore, only desired the immediate possession of that fortune which according to the common course of things, must in a few years devolve to him."
13. — [With riotous living.] The word would be more literally rendered, " living riotously." The Greek word for " riotously," is only used here. It means strictly " in such a way as to save nothing, — wastefully."
1 4. — [A citizen of that country.] Gill says that this means, " A Fhaiisaical legal preacher." I cannot for a moment see this. *
15. — [To feed swine.] Let it be remembered, that our Lord was speaking to an audience of Jews. They regarded swine, by the law of Moses, as unclean animals. This circumstance of the story therefore, would probably convey to Jewish minds a most vivid idea of the degraded condition to which the younger son was reduced.
16. — [He would fain havefiUed.] Major says that this expression does not mean that he desired and was unable to gratify his desire. It rather signifies " He was glad — he was only too happy." See the same expression in Luke xvi. 21.
[The husks.] There seems little doubt that these husks mean the fruit of a tree called the carob tree, common in the Levant, and still used for feeding swine, but very unsuitable for the food of man. It probably answers to the beech mast, which swine eat among ourselves.
[No man gave unto him!] This does not mean that '* no man gave him husks," as some have supposed. It only means, that *' No man gave him anything at all ; — ^he was entirely neglected by every one."
17. — [Cam£ to himself.] This expression has often called forth the remark that a man must come to himself, before he comes to God.