SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:22
Mas el padre dijo a sus siervos: Sacad el principal vestido, y vestidle; y poned un anillo en su mano, y zapatos en sus pies.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 15:22
Verse 22. Bring forth the best robe] Bring out that chief garment, thn stolhn thn prwthn, the garment which was laid by, to be used only on birth-days or festival times. Such as that which Rebecca had laid by for Esau, and which she put on Jacob when she made him personate his brother. See the notes on Gen. xxvii. 15. Put a ring on his hand] Giving a ring was in ancient times a mark of honour and dignity. See Gen. xli. 42; 1 Kings xxi. 8; Esther viii. 2; Dan. vi. 17; James ii. 2.
Shoes on his feet] Formerly those who were captivated had their shoes taken off, Isa. xx. 1; and when they were restored to liberty their shoes were restored. See 2 Chron. xxviii. 15. In Bengal, shoes of a superior quality make one of the distinguishing parts of a person's dress. Some of them cost as much as a hundred rupees a pair; 10 or 12. Reference is perhaps made here to some such costly shoes. It is the same among the Chinese: some very costly shoes and boots of that people are now before me.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. But the father said to his servants , etc.] The word but, with which those words begin, is expressive of much grace, as it often is; (see 1 Corinthians 6:11 Ephesians 2:4 1 Timothy 1:13 Titus 3:4) and signifies, that though the son had behaved so badly, and was now so sensible of it himself, as that he desired to be a hired servant, being unworthy to be called a son; but the father, against whom he had sinned, would hear nothing of it: but said to his servants ; not the angels, but the ministers of the Gospel; who are the servants of the most high God; and whose business it is to set forth, in the ministry of the word, the righteousness of Christ, and the everlasting love of God; and to direct souls to a life and conversation becoming the Gospel of Christ; and to set before them the rich provisions of the Gospel for their nourishment, joy, and comfort. These servants, the father of the son ordered, not to take him away from his presence, as one whose person he could not endure in his sight; nor to terrify and affright him with the curse and condemnation of the law, and fill his mind with wroth and terror; nor even to chastise and correct him for his former course of living, and to upbraid him with it; but to confer upon him all the honour, and high favours, and blessings that could be expressed in the following language: bring forth the best robe ; out of the wardrobe, that it is in. The Vulgate Latin version adds quickly; which increases the father's regard to him and shows that he was in haste to have his son appear in a better condition: the Arabic version adds it in the next clause, and put it on him quickly; which expresses the same thing: and the Ethiopic version renders it, hasten ye, bring, etc. By the best robe is meant, not water baptism; nor an holy life and conversation; nor any particular grace, as faith, or hope, or charity; or the whole of sanctification; nor Adam's robe of innocence; but the righteousness of Christ which is often compared to a robe, or garment, ( Isaiah 61:10 Zechariah 3:4 Revelation 19:8) because it is not any thing in believers, but what is unto them, and upon them, and is put there by an act of God's grace in imputation; and is what covers their naked souls, and hides their sins from the avenging eye of divine justice; protects them from all injuries, and saves them from wrath to come; as well as beautifies and adorns them, and renders them acceptable in the sight of God; and keeps them warm and alive; and gives them a right and title to eternal life. This is as in the Greek text the first robe; and so it is rendered by the Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; because it was first in God's designation and counsel, and in Christ the head of his people, in whom they are blessed with all spiritual blessings before the foundation of the world, and so with this blessing; and it was also provided and secured in the everlasting covenant of grace, long before Adam's robe of innocence and righteousness was made and wore by him: the reference is not to the first that should be come at in the wardrobe; or to that which the son wore before he went into the far country; but to the tylj , Talith, which was the first and uppermost garment wore by the Jews, and answers to the Greek word stolh , the stole, here used: so the Babylonish garment is called, atlymd aljxya , which the gloss interprets a Talith, made of pure wool. The Ethiopic version renders the phrase, fragrant garments; and such are Christ's garments of salvation, and robe of righteousness; (see Psalm 45:8) the Persic version renders it, the splendid robe; and the Syriac, as ours, the chief, or best robe; and such is Christ's righteousness: it is a better righteousness, not only than that of a self-righteous Pharisee; but better than the outward conversation garment of a real good man, which, at best, is imperfect; or than the inward sanctification of the Spirit of God, which, though pure, is not yet perfect: it is better than the robe of innocence wore by Adam in his sinless state; for that was but a natural righteousness, and the righteousness of a creature, and was loseable, as the event has shown; and had he kept it, would not have given him a title to eternal life: yea, it is better than the righteousness of the angels heaven; for what is said of Adam's, may be said of theirs, that it is natural, the righteousness of a creature; and had it not been for confirming grace, a loseable one: but Christ's righteousness is pure and perfect; the righteousness of God, and an everlasting one: and when the servants of God, the ministers of the Gospel, are ordered to bring it out, and put it on him : this is done, not by the imputation of it to men, for that is the Father's act; nor by application of it to them, that is the Spirit's work; but by a declaration of it, setting it forth in a ministerial way before them; declaring it to be a justifying one, and encouraging their faith to lay hold upon it as such: and put a ring on his hand ; on one of the fingers of his hand: by which is intended not the grace of faith; that is, rather the hand on which the ring is put; and though this grace is both precious and ornamental, as will be allowed, yet it does not unite to Christ, this must be denied; it being a grace which flows from union, as all grace does; and by which souls have communion with Christ: nor are good works designed; such indeed who are called by grace, are to be set to work from a right principle, to a right end; and true grace does show itself by works; and good works are the seal and token of grace to the world; but then, as before, these are rather meant by the hand; since that is the instrument of action: nor is the seal and earnest of the Spirit meant by the ring. The Spirit of God is certainly the seal of grace, and the earnest of glory; and to have this is a high favour, and a precious benefit indeed, and what will never be taken away; but as faith, so not the Spirit is the bond of union between God and his people, but the fruit of it: by the ring is meant the everlasting love of God; and which, as a ring, is round, and has neither beginning nor end; it does not begin with the obedience of his people, nor with their love to him; nor with their conversion; nor with the mission, sufferings, and death of Christ; but was from all eternity; nor will it have any end, nor can there be any separation from it: this is the bond of union, that can never be dissolved; and this being manifested to the soul, is a token of freedom; it sets a man free from the bondage of corruption, and from the slavery of Satan, and introduces into the liberty of the children of God: it is a mark of great honour, a sign of riches, both of grace and glory; it is a declaration of sonship, and heirship; and is a seal and pledge of everlasting happiness: now the putting on of this ring does not design the shedding abroad of this love in the heart by the Spirit of God; but the declaration of it by his servants in a ministerial way; setting it forth in its nature and effects, to the great joy and comfort of souls; when believers receive it by the hand of faith, and which constrains them, and makes them active, and puts them upon doing good works to the glory of God. And shoes on his feet : by feet are meant the outward walk and conversation; which in persons called by grace should be different from what it was before, and from that of others: it should not be loose and naked, as those that walk barefoot, but should be upright, straight, and regular; not carnal and earthly, but spiritual and heavenly; and should be with prudence, care, and circumspection, and worthy of their calling, and as becomes the Gospel of Christ: and by the shoes may be meant, the preparation of the Gospel of peace, ( Ephesians 6:15). The Gospel is as shoes to the feet; it beautifies and adorns, ( Song of Solomon 7:1) it keeps the feet tight and straight, the conversation regular and upright; preserves from slipping and failing; strengthens and makes more fit for walking; directs, guides, and influences in walking, and protects from the stones, thorns, and scorpions of the world's reproaches; and the doctrines of it are shoes that will never wear out: and to walk according to the Gospel of Christ, is what Gospel ministers direct and exhort unto, and may be meant by their putting on those shoes; they pressing a good life and conversation from, and by the doctrines of grace. A person with all these things on him was reckoned, among the Jews, as one thoroughly dressed: a canon of theirs, relating to the defilement of leprosy, runs thus f461 ; a man of Israel that goes into a house infected with the plague of leprosy, wydyb wytw[bjw wylgrb wyldnsw wydgbb wbl , clothed with garments, and his sandals on his feet, and his rings on his hands, lo, that man is immediately defiled.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-24 - Having viewed the prodigal in his abject state of misery, we are nex to consider his recovery from it. This begins by his coming to himself That is a turning point in the sinner's conversion. The Lord opens his eyes, and convinces him of sin; then he views himself and every object in a different light from what he did before. Thus the convinced sinne perceives that the meanest servant of God is happier than he is. To look unto God as a Father, and our Father, will be of great use in ou repentance and return to him. The prodigal arose, nor stopped till he reached his home. Thus the repenting sinner resolutely quits the bondage of Satan and his lusts, and returns to God by prayer notwithstanding fears and discouragements. The Lord meets him with unexpected tokens of his forgiving love. Again; the reception of the humbled sinner is like that of the prodigal. He is clothed in the rob of the Redeemer's righteousness, made partaker of the Spirit of adoption, prepared by peace of conscience and gospel grace to walk in the ways of holiness, and feasted with Divine consolations. Principle of grace and holiness are wrought in him, to do, as well as to will.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM πατηρ 3962 N-NSM προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM δουλους 1401 N-APM αυτου 846 P-GSM εξενεγκατε 1627 5657 V-AAM-2P την 3588 T-ASF στολην 4749 N-ASF την 3588 T-ASF πρωτην 4413 A-ASF και 2532 CONJ ενδυσατε 1746 5657 V-AAM-2P αυτον 846 P-ASM και 2532 CONJ δοτε 1325 5628 V-2AAM-2P δακτυλιον 1146 N-ASM εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF χειρα 5495 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM και 2532 CONJ υποδηματα 5266 N-APN εις 1519 PREP τους 3588 T-APM ποδας 4228 N-APM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
22. To his servants. Bond-servants. There is a fine touch in throwing in the bond-servants immediately after thy son (ver. 21).Bring forth. Some texts add quickly (tacu). So Rev.
The best robe (stolhn thn prwthn). Lit., a robe, the first. Properly of a long, flowing robe, a festive garment. See Mark xvi. 5; Luke xx. 46. Ring. See on Jas. ii. 2. Compare Gen. xli. 42.
Shoes. Both the ring and the shoes are marks of a free man. Slaves went barefoot.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
15:22 {The best robe} (stolen ten prwten). stole is an old word for a fine stately garment that comes down to the feet (from stello, to prepare, equip), the kind worn by kings (#Mr 16:5; Lu 22:46). Literally, "a robe the first." But not the first that you find, but the first in rank and value, the finest in the house. this in contrast with his shabby clothes. {A ring} (daktulion). Common in classical writers and the LXX, but here only in the N.T. From daktulos, finger. See crusodaktulios in #Jas 2:2. {Shoes} (hupodemata). Sandals, "bound under." Both sandals and ring are marks of the freeman as slaves were barefooted.
