A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ Based on the Broadus Harmony in the Revised Version — Key Ideas to Explore

Narrative Tension in the Parable of the Prodigal Son

The excerpt from Luke 15 presents the parable with a series of contrasts that Robertson's arrangement highlights. The father's response—'Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet'—is set against the elder son's anger: 'Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine.' The father's repeated phrase 'this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found' underscores the reversal of expectations. Robertson's notes draw attention to the Greek terms, such as 'kissed him much' (κατεφίλησεν), which intensify the emotional contrast between the father's welcome and the elder son's resentment.

Stewardship and the Unjust Steward: A Structural Parallel

In Luke 16, the parable of the unjust steward is immediately followed by the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and then by teachings on service. Robertson's section heading groups these as 'Three Parables on Stewardship,' with distinct audiences: the disciples for the first and third, the Pharisees for the second. The steward's pragmatic reasoning—'I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed'—leads to a morally ambiguous commendation: 'his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely.' Robertson's notes likely address the interpretive challenge of this passage, as the steward's shrewdness is praised while his dishonesty is not condoned. The juxtaposition with the Pharisees, 'who were lovers of money,' sharpens the contrast between worldly and divine values.

Textual Notes and the Challenge of Harmonization

Robertson's apparatus includes textual variants and explanatory notes, such as the alternative reading for the prodigal son's speech ('make me as one of thy hired servants') and the Greek terms for 'bondservants' and 'child.' These details reveal the editor's concern with precise wording and manuscript evidence. The preface acknowledges that 'no effort is made to reconcile all the divergent statements of various details,' instead presenting differences as 'natural marks of individual work.' This approach allows students to engage with the Gospels' distinct voices while using the harmony as a tool for comparison. The inclusion of Old Testament references in the text further aids in tracing intertextual connections.

Readers approaching this harmony should attend to the column arrangement and section headings, which reflect Robertson's interpretive decisions. The notes and appendices provide historical and textual context without forcing harmonization. For a focused study, compare the treatment of parallel passages in Mark, Matthew, and Luke, noting where Robertson's placement emphasizes thematic links over chronological order.

There’s something tender about watching the prodigal son and the unjust steward placed side by side, each reckoning with mercy and money in their own way. It reminds me of the quiet awe I felt years ago reading The All-Sufficiency of Christ. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. I — Inside the Classic — how grace always seems to outlast our calculations.