Luke 15:24

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

For {G3754} this {G3778} my {G3450} son {G5207} was {G2258} dead {G3498}, and {G2532} is alive again {G326};{G2532} he was {G2258} lost {G622}, and {G2532} is found {G2147}. And {G2532} they began {G756} to be merry {G2165}.

For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Luke 15:24 is a pivotal verse within the beloved Parable of the Prodigal Son, spoken by the father upon the return of his wayward younger son. It encapsulates the profound joy and theological significance of repentance and restoration.

Context

This verse is the climax of one of three parables Jesus tells in Luke 15, specifically in response to the Pharisees and scribes grumbling about Him welcoming and eating with "sinners" (Luke 15:2). The parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son all emphasize God's compassionate pursuit of the lost and the immense joy that ensues when they are found. The father's declaration here is the reason for the lavish celebration and feast, signifying a complete reversal of fortune and status for the returning son, who had squandered his inheritance and fallen into destitution.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Redemption and Restoration: The core message is the son's spiritual resurrection. He was "dead" in the sense of being spiritually separated, morally bankrupt, and estranged from his family, but is now "alive again" through forgiveness and reconciliation. This mirrors the Christian concept of being made new in Christ.
  • God's Unconditional Forgiveness: The father's immediate embrace and declaration, even before the son could fully articulate his rehearsed confession, highlights God's boundless grace and willingness to forgive. It demonstrates a love that goes beyond societal expectations of honor and shame in that culture.
  • Joy Over Repentance: The verse directly reflects the theme woven through all three parables in Luke 15: that there is immense joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10). The father's command to "be merry" underscores the celebratory nature of a lost soul being found.
  • The Father's Heart for the Lost: This parable vividly portrays God the Father's longing for His children who have strayed. His running to meet the son and showering him with honor reveals a divine heart eager for reconciliation and restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses powerful imagery:

  • "Dead" (Greek: nekros) and "alive again" (Greek: anazao): These terms emphasize a profound transformation. The son was not physically dead, but spiritually and relationally alienated, and is now revived to a state of life and fellowship.
  • "Lost" (Greek: apollymi) and "found" (Greek: heuriskō): These words highlight the state of being utterly adrift and then miraculously discovered and restored, much like the lost sheep and lost coin.
  • "Merry" (Greek: euphraino): This signifies a deep, heartfelt rejoicing and celebration, reflecting the divine joy over the salvation of a soul.

Practical Application

Luke 15:24 offers profound encouragement and challenge for believers today:

  • It assures those who feel far from God that His arms are open wide, ready to receive them with forgiveness and joy upon their repentance.
  • It reminds Christians of the incredible value God places on every individual soul and the universal call to repentance.
  • It challenges the church to mirror the father's heart, extending radical welcome, forgiveness, and celebration to those who return to faith, rather than judgment.
  • It inspires a deep sense of gratitude for the spiritual life and reconciliation we have in Christ, acknowledging that we too "were dead, and are alive again."
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ephesians 2:5

    Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

  • Ezekiel 34:16

    I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

  • Colossians 2:13

    ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

  • Luke 19:10

    For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

  • Luke 15:4

    What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

  • Ephesians 2:1

    ¶ And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;

  • Luke 15:32

    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.

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