This is a carrot to the Pharisees and a stick to the sinners. The Pharisees are right to uphold the law and the sinners are wrong to have sinned. The importance of upholding the law is never mentioned as part of the parable.
Most priests prepare a homily on this in a kind of Pharisees are villians angle. I don't think this parable actually does that.
| Luke | |||
| English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
| Luke 15 | |||
| 1. | NOW the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. | Erant autem appropinquantes ei publicani, et peccatores ut audirent illum. | ησαν δε εγγιζοντες αυτω παντες οι τελωναι και οι αμαρτωλοι ακουειν αυτου |
| 2. | And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. | Et murmurabant pharisæi, et scribæ, dicentes : Quia hic peccatores recipit, et manducat cum illis. | και διεγογγυζον οι φαρισαιοι και οι γραμματεις λεγοντες οτι ουτος αμαρτωλους προσδεχεται και συνεσθιει αυτοις |
| 3. | And he spoke to them this parable, saying: | Et ait ad illos parabolam istam dicens : | ειπεν δε προς αυτους την παραβολην ταυτην λεγων |
| 4. | What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? | Quis ex vobis homo, qui habet centum oves, et si perdiderit unam ex illis, nonne dimittit nonaginta novem in deserto, et vadit ad illam quæ perierat, donec inveniat eam ? | τις ανθρωπος εξ υμων εχων εκατον προβατα και απολεσας εν εξ αυτων ου καταλειπει τα ενενηκοντα εννεα εν τη ερημω και πορευεται επι το απολωλος εως ευρη αυτο |
| 5. | And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: | Et cum invenerit eam, imponit in humeros suos gaudens : | και ευρων επιτιθησιν επι τους ωμους εαυτου χαιρων |
| 6. | And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? | et veniens domum convocat amicos et vicinos, dicens illis : Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni ovem meam, quæ perierat. | και ελθων εις τον οικον συγκαλει τους φιλους και τους γειτονας λεγων αυτοις συγχαρητε μοι οτι ευρον το προβατον μου το απολωλος |
| 7. | I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. | Dico vobis quod ita gaudium erit in cælo super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente, quam super nonaginta novem justis, qui non indigent pœnitentia. | λεγω υμιν οτι ουτως χαρα εσται εν τω ουρανω επι ενι αμαρτωλω μετανοουντι η επι ενενηκοντα εννεα δικαιοις οιτινες ου χρειαν εχουσιν μετανοιας |
| 8. | Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? | Aut quæ mulier habens drachmas decem, si perdiderit drachmam unam, nonne accendit lucernam, et everrit domum, et quærit diligenter, donec inveniat ? | η τις γυνη δραχμας εχουσα δεκα εαν απολεση δραχμην μιαν ουχι απτει λυχνον και σαροι την οικιαν και ζητει επιμελως εως οτου ευρη |
| 9. | And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost. | Et cum invenerit convocat amicas et vicinas, dicens : Congratulamini mihi, quia inveni drachmam quam perdideram. | και ευρουσα συγκαλειται τας φιλας και τας γειτονας λεγουσα συγχαρητε μοι οτι ευρον την δραχμην ην απωλεσα |
| 10. | So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. | Ita, dico vobis, gaudium erit coram angelis Dei super uno peccatore pœnitentiam agente. | ουτως λεγω υμιν χαρα γινεται ενωπιον των αγγελων του θεου επι ενι αμαρτωλω μετανοουντι |
| 11. | And he said: A certain man had two sons: | Ait autem : Homo quidam habuit duos filios : | ειπεν δε ανθρωπος τις ειχεν δυο υιους |
| 12. | And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance. | et dixit adolescentior ex illis patri : Pater, da mihi portionem substantiæ, quæ me contingit. Et divisit illis substantiam. | και ειπεν ο νεωτερος αυτων τω πατρι πατερ δος μοι το επιβαλλον μερος της ουσιας και διειλεν αυτοις τον βιον |
| 13. | And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously. | Et non post multos dies, congregatis omnibus, adolescentior filius peregre profectus est in regionem longinquam, et ibi dissipavit substantiam suam vivendo luxuriose. | και μετ ου πολλας ημερας συναγαγων απαντα ο νεωτερος υιος απεδημησεν εις χωραν μακραν και εκει διεσκορπισεν την ουσιαν αυτου ζων ασωτως |
| 14. | And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. | Et postquam omnia consummasset, facta est fames valida in regione illa, et ipse cœpit egere. | δαπανησαντος δε αυτου παντα εγενετο λιμος ισχυρος κατα την χωραν εκεινην και αυτος ηρξατο υστερεισθαι |
| 15. | And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. | Et abiit, et adhæsit uni civium regionis illius : et misit illum in villam suam ut pasceret porcos. | και πορευθεις εκολληθη ενι των πολιτων της χωρας εκεινης και επεμψεν αυτον εις τους αγρους αυτου βοσκειν χοιρους |
| 16. | And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. | Et cupiebat implere ventrem suum de siliquis, quas porci manducabant : et nemo illi dabat. | και επεθυμει γεμισαι την κοιλιαν αυτου απο των κερατιων ων ησθιον οι χοιροι και ουδεις εδιδου αυτω |
| 17. | And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger? | In se autem reversus, dixit : Quanti mercenarii in domo patris mei abundant panibus, ego autem hic fame pereo ! | εις εαυτον δε ελθων ειπεν ποσοι μισθιοι του πατρος μου περισσευουσιν αρτων εγω δε λιμω απολλυμαι |
| 18. | I will arise, and will go to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee: | surgam, et ibo ad patrem meum, et dicam ei : Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te : | αναστας πορευσομαι προς τον πατερα μου και ερω αυτω πατερ ημαρτον εις τον ουρανον και ενωπιον σου |
| 19. | I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. | jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus : fac me sicut unum de mercenariis tuis. | και ουκετι ειμι αξιος κληθηναι υιος σου ποιησον με ως ενα των μισθιων σου |
| 20. | And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him. | Et surgens venit ad patrem suum. Cum autem adhuc longe esset, vidit illum pater ipsius, et misericordia motus est, et accurrens cecidit super collum ejus, et osculatus est eum. | και αναστας ηλθεν προς τον πατερα αυτου ετι δε αυτου μακραν απεχοντος ειδεν αυτον ο πατηρ αυτου και εσπλαγχνισθη και δραμων επεπεσεν επι τον τραχηλον αυτου και κατεφιλησεν αυτον |
| 21. | And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son. | Dixitque ei filius : Pater, peccavi in cælum, et coram te : jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus. | ειπεν δε αυτω ο υιος πατερ ημαρτον εις τον ουρανον και ενωπιον σου και ουκετι ειμι αξιος κληθηναι υιος σου |
| 22. | And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: | Dixit autem pater ad servos suos : Cito proferte stolam primam, et induite illum, et date annulum in manum ejus, et calceamenta in pedes ejus : | ειπεν δε ο πατηρ προς τους δουλους αυτου εξενεγκατε την στολην την πρωτην και ενδυσατε αυτον και δοτε δακτυλιον εις την χειρα αυτου και υποδηματα εις τους ποδας |
| 23. | And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and make merry: | et adducite vitulum saginatum, et occidite, et manducemus, et epulemur : | και ενεγκαντες τον μοσχον τον σιτευτον θυσατε και φαγοντες ευφρανθωμεν |
| 24. | Because this my son was dead, and is come to life again: was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. | quia hic filius meus mortuus erat, et revixit : perierat, et inventus est. Et cœperunt epulari. | οτι ουτος ο υιος μου νεκρος ην και ανεζησεν και απολωλως ην και ευρεθη και ηρξαντο ευφραινεσθαι |
| 25. | Now his elder son was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing: | Erat autem filius ejus senior in agro : et cum veniret, et appropinquaret domui, audivit symphoniam et chorum : | ην δε ο υιος αυτου ο πρεσβυτερος εν αγρω και ως ερχομενος ηγγισεν τη οικια ηκουσεν συμφωνιας και χορων |
| 26. | And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. | et vocavit unum de servis, et interrogavit quid hæc essent. | και προσκαλεσαμενος ενα των παιδων επυνθανετο τι ειη ταυτα |
| 27. | And he said to him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe. | Isque dixit illi : Frater tuus venit, et occidit pater tuus vitulum saginatum, quia salvum illum recepit. | ο δε ειπεν αυτω οτι ο αδελφος σου ηκει και εθυσεν ο πατηρ σου τον μοσχον τον σιτευτον οτι υγιαινοντα αυτον απελαβεν |
| 28. | And he was angry, and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him. | Indignatus est autem, et nolebat introire. Pater ergo illius egressus, cœpit rogare illum. | ωργισθη δε και ουκ ηθελεν εισελθειν ο ουν πατηρ αυτου εξελθων παρεκαλει αυτον |
| 29. | And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve thee, and I have never transgressed thy commandment, and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends: | At ille respondens, dixit patri suo : Ecce tot annis servio tibi, et numquam mandatum tuum præterivi : et numquam dedisti mihi hædum ut cum amicis meis epularer. | ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν τω πατρι ιδου τοσαυτα ετη δουλευω σοι και ουδεποτε εντολην σου παρηλθον και εμοι ουδεποτε εδωκας εριφον ινα μετα των φιλων μου ευφρανθω |
| 30. | But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. | Sed postquam filius tuus hic, qui devoravit substantiam suam cum meretricibus, venit, occidisti illi vitulum saginatum. | οτε δε ο υιος σου ουτος ο καταφαγων σου τον βιον μετα πορνων ηλθεν εθυσας αυτω τον μοσχον τον σιτευτον |
| 31. | But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me, and all I have is thine. | At ipse dixit illi : Fili, tu semper mecum es, et omnia mea tua sunt : | ο δε ειπεν αυτω τεκνον συ παντοτε μετ εμου ει και παντα τα εμα σα εστιν |
| 32. | 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. | epulari autem, et gaudere oportebat, quia frater tuus hic mortuus erat, et revixit ; perierat, et inventus est. | ευφρανθηναι δε και χαρηναι εδει οτι ο αδελφος σου ουτος νεκρος ην και ανεζησεν και απολωλως ην και ευρεθη |
This is a carrot to the Pharisees and a stick to the sinners. The Pharisees are right to uphold the law and the sinners are wrong to have sinned. The importance of upholding the law is never mentioned as part of the parable.
That is a good insight, but I think that's only half of what we're seeing here. It is true that Jesus isn't faulting them for keeping the law, because it is a good thing to follow God's law. What he is faulting them for, as we see in verses 1-2, is their attitude of holding the law above the need to reach out in love to those who are outside the law. We see Jesus articulate this elsewhere:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."" (Matthew 23:23)
Jesus reaffirms the law, but not the practice of a heartless legalism. We get a hint of this later in something the elder son says to his father:
"And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve thee, and I have never transgressed thy commandment, and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends."(Luke 15:29)
This is a subtle poke at the Pharisees being addressed by Jesus that they kept the law punctiliously, but without compassion for their younger brothers who have strayed from the faith, but are trying to return to the Father.
Most priests prepare a homily on this in a kind of Pharisees are villains angle. I don't think this parable actually does that.
I've often heard that too, and I think it's wrong-headed. Except when certain members of the Pharisee party are clearly portrayed as being jealous or participating in the Jewish leaderships efforts to destroy Jesus by bringing false charges against him before Pilate, the Pharisees are not necessarily villains. They are instead portrayed as devout men, but who have fallen into a particular mindset when it comes to faithfully following the law of Moses. This mindset has led some of them into legal rigidity even to the point of losing sight of an authentic love for God and love for neighbor. This is what often leads them into conflict with Jesus and is the occasion for him telling this parable.
Most of the sermons I’ve heard don’t focus on the Pharisees or listeners at all, but aspects of the two sons.