Luke 15:30-32

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 15:30 sn Note the younger son is not “my brother” but this son of yours (an expression with a distinctly pejorative nuance).
2. Luke 15:30 sn This is another graphic description. The younger son’s consumption had been like a glutton. He had both figuratively and literally devoured the assets which were given to him.
3. Luke 15:30 sn The charge concerning the prostitutes is unproven, but essentially the older brother accuses the father of committing an injustice by rewarding his younger son’s unrighteous behavior.
4. Luke 15:30 sn See note on the phrase “fattened calf” in v. 23.
5. Luke 15:31 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the parable.
6. Luke 15:31 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7. Luke 15:32 tn Or “necessary.”
8. Luke 15:32 sn By referring to him as your brother, the father reminded the older brother that the younger brother was part of the family.
9. Luke 15:32 sn The theme he was lost and is found is repeated from v. 24. The conclusion is open-ended. The reader is left to ponder with the older son (who pictures the scribes and Pharisees) what the response will be. The parable does not reveal the ultimate response of the older brother. Jesus argued that sinners should be pursued and received back warmly when they returned.