Luke 15:24

“For this my son was dead, etc.] These words contain the reasons of the above entertainment, and of all that spiritual joy and mirth; in which the father acknowledges the returning penitent as his son; though he had behaved so wickedly before, and though he judged himself unworthy of the relation; and this he did, by sending the Spirit of adoption into his heart, to witness his sonship to him; and takes notice of his past state and condition, to show the great reason there was for joy, at his present one: for before be was “dead”, dead in Adam, in whom all died; dead in law, being under a sentence of condemnation and death; and dead in trespasses and sins, which is a spiritual or moral death:…”

“my son--now twice his son. dead . . . lost--to me; to himself--to my service, my satisfaction; to his own dignity, peace, profit. alive again . . . found--to all these. merry--(See on Luk 15:10).”

“Was dead - This is capable of two significations: “I supposed” that he was dead, but I know now that he is alive. He was “dead to virtue” - he was sunk in pleasure and vice. The word is not unfrequently thus used. See 1 Timothy 5:6; Matthew 8:22; Romans 6:13. Hence, to be restored to “virtue” is said to be restored again to life, Romans 6:13; Revelation 3:1; Ephesians 2:1. It is probable that this latter is the meaning here. See Luke 15:32. Was lost - Had wandered away from home, and we knew not where he was. return to 'Top of Page'”

“this: Luk 15:32; Mar 8:22; Joh 5:21, Joh 5:24, Joh 5:25, Joh 11:25; Rom 6:11, Rom 6:13, Rom 8:2; Co2 5:14, Co2 5:15; Eph 2:1, Eph 2:5, Eph 5:14; Col 2:13; Ti1 5:6; Jde 1:12; Rev 3:1 he: Luk 15:4, Luk 15:8, Luk 19:10; Gen 45:28; Jer 31:15-17; Eze 34:4, Eze 34:16; Mat 18:11-13 they: Luk 15:7, Luk 15:9, Luk 10:19; Isa 35:10, Isa 66:11; Jer 31:12-14; Rom 12:15; Co1 12:26 Luke 15:25”