And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
What does Luke 15:14 mean?
The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Luke 15:11-15 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Luke 15:14
A mighty famine - Famines were common in Eastern nations. They were caused by the failure of the crops - by a want of timely rains, a genial sun, or sometimes by the prevalence of the plague or of the pestilence, which swept off numbers of the inhabitants.
Key words
- spent
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And when he had spent all,.
Context in Luke 15
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Luke 15 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as journey to Jerusalem. Luke emphasizes salvation for the poor and the outsider, prayer, joy, women, table fellowship, the Holy Spirit, and the universal reach of Christ’s mission. Read this chapter with the wider themes of salvation, Spirit, and prayer in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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