Prophetic Commentary for NT#18: Luke 15; 17:12-19

Citing Luke 15, Joseph Smith said: “I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable?  [So these three parables did] not refer to Abraham, Israel or the Gentiles, in a national capacity, as some suppose [but were] for men in an individual capacity.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 276.)

Citing Luke 15:3-10, President Gordon B. Hinckley said:  “Some cry out in pain and suffering and loneliness and fear. Ours is to reach out and help them, to lift them, to feed them if they are hungry, to nurture their spirits if they thirst for truth and righteousness ….  I pray that each of us [will] seek those who need help, who are in desperate and difficult circumstances and lift them in the spirit of love.” (See Oct 1996 Conference Report; quoted in New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 74.)

Regarding Luke 15:13,  riotous [zalal (Hebrew): lavish, worthless].

Nephi said, “[T]herefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy” (2 Nephi 9:51).  President Brigham Young said, “All that we possess and enjoy are the gifts of God … whether they be in earthly substance, physical constitution, or mental power…  It is not our privilege to waste the Lord's substance … nor to devote one day of time to vanity” (Journal of Discourses 11:136.)  Elder Harold B. Lee said: “[T]hose with great spirituality show appreciation to God, to whom they are indebted for all that they have, by a thrifty, frugal husbanding of their substance and by extending generosity to the unfortunate … rather than indulging in reckless, riotous living as a prodigal”(Oct 1942 Conference Report). Elder David A. Bednar has said, “A young man or woman may waste countless hours … and ultimately sacrifice cherished human relationships, because of mind- and spirit-numbing video and online games”(June 2010 Ensign). Elder Oakes has said, “Team sports and technology toys are winning away time … better [spent] serving the Lord and strengthening the family” (see October 2007 Conference Report).

Citing Luke 15:20-24)  President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Every parent ought to read [the parable of the prodigal son] again and again. It is large enough to encompass every household, and … all mankind, for are we not all prodigal sons and daughters who need to repent and partake of the forgiving mercy of our Heavenly Father and then follow His example?” (June 1991 First Presidency Message; quoted in New Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 75.)

Quoting Luke 15:25–29, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said: “[T]he opening line of the Savior’s account reads, ‘A certain man had two sons’—and He might have added, ‘both of whom were lost.’ …. [The older] son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. . . [T]his dutiful son—and he is wonderfully dutiful—forgets for a moment … that his faithfulness has been and always will be rewarded. [He] lacks the one thing that might make him the complete man of the Lord he nearly is. He has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charity … to see that this is not a rival returning. It is his brother.” 

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“Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this…

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“How does this happen? … [One way] is that every day we see allurements of one kind or another that tell us what we have is not enough. … [that] we need to be more handsome or more wealthy, more applauded or more admired than we see ourselves as being. We are told we haven’t collected enough possessions or gone to enough fun places. We are bombarded with the message that on the world’s scale of things we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.”

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“How can we overcome such a tendency? …. [W]e can count our many blessings and we can applaud the accomplishments of others. … [W]e can serve others, the finest exercise for the heart ever prescribed. But finally these will not be enough.” ["Wherefore … pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, [for] if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for … charity envieth not, and seeketh not her own.”(See Moroni 7:45-48)].

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“The father in this story does not … measure [his sons] against their neighbors. He doesn’t even compare them with each other. His gestures of compassion toward one do not require a withdrawal or denial of love for the other. He is divinely generous to both of these sons….

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“[Our Heavenly Father] doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there [are] perfectly tailored robes of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, “robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb” [Revelation 7:14.] May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize is my earnest prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (“The Other Prodigal,” April 2002 Conference Report.)

Citing Luke 17:12–19) Elder Merrill J. Bateman said: “In becoming a whole person, the grateful leper was healed inside as well as on the outside. That day nine lepers were healed skin deep, but only one had the faith to be made whole.” (April 1995 Conference Report, 16; quoted in New Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 75.)