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.

It was {G1161} meet {G1163} that we should make merry {G2165}, and {G2532} be glad {G5463}: for {G3754} this {G3778} thy {G4675} brother {G80} was {G2258} dead {G3498}, and {G2532} is alive again {G326}; and {G2532} was {G2258} lost {G622}, and {G2532} is found {G2147}.

We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead but has come back to life β€” he was lost but has been found.’”

But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

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.

Commentary

Luke 15:32 concludes the impactful Parable of the Lost Son, often known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. These words are spoken by the loving father to his elder, resentful son, explaining the joyous celebration for the return of his younger brother.

Context

This verse is the culmination of a series of parables Jesus told in Luke chapter 15, all centered around the theme of "lostness" and "finding." Preceding this parable are the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. Jesus spoke these to Pharisees and scribes who criticized His association with "sinners" and tax collectors. The father in the story represents God, the younger son represents a repentant sinner, and the elder son represents those who are self-righteous and struggle with God's grace towards others.

Key Themes

  • Divine Joy Over Repentance: The primary message is the overwhelming joy that God experiences when a lost soul turns back to Him. The father's insistence on celebration underscores the heavenly rejoicing over one sinner who repents, a theme echoed earlier in this chapter (Luke 15:7).
  • God's Unconditional Love and Forgiveness: Despite the younger son's reckless squandering of his inheritance and his shameful return, the father's love is immediate and complete. He rushes to embrace his son (Luke 15:20) and restores him to full sonship, demonstrating God's boundless mercy and willingness to forgive.
  • Spiritual Transformation and Redemption: The phrases "was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found" powerfully illustrate the spiritual state of one separated from God and the profound transformation that occurs upon repentance. It signifies a move from spiritual death to life, from alienation to restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "It was meet" means "it was fitting" or "it was proper and necessary." This highlights the father's conviction that the celebration was not merely optional but absolutely required given the profound spiritual change. The Greek word for "alive again" is anazao (ἀνα΢άω), meaning "to live again," or "to revive," emphasizing a resurrection-like experience from spiritual death.

Practical Application

Luke 15:32 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today:

  • For the Lost: It is a beacon of hope, assuring all who feel far from God that His arms are open wide, ready to receive them with joy and full restoration, regardless of their past.
  • For the Believer: It reminds us of the incredible value God places on every individual soul and encourages us to share in His joy when others come to faith. It also challenges us to examine our own hearts, ensuring we reflect the Father's welcoming love rather than the elder brother's judgmental spirit. Our response to those who repent should mirror God's own delight and forgiveness, demonstrating the very love of Christ.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Ephesians 2:1

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

  • Ephesians 2:10

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

  • Isaiah 35:10

    And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

  • Psalms 51:8

    Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.

  • Romans 3:4

    God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

  • Jonah 4:10

    Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
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