Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!"

3 So He told them this parable:

4 "What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field ^[a] and go after the lost one until he finds it?

5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,

6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!'

7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 "Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, ^[b] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

9 When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!'

10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 He also said: "A man had two sons.

12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.' So he distributed the assets ^[c] to them.

13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.

14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. ^[d]

15 Then he went to work for ^[e] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

16 He longed to eat his fill from ^[f] the carob pods ^[g] the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any.

17 When he came to his senses, ^[h] he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying ^[i] of hunger! ^[j]

18 I'll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

19 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.'

20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, ^[k] and kissed him.

21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father told his slaves, 'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger ^[l] and sandals on his feet.

23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let's celebrate with a feast,

24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.

25 "Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

27 'Your brother is here,' he told him, 'and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' ^[m]

28 "Then he became angry and didn't want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

29 But he replied to his father, 'Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets ^[n] with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.'

31 " 'Son,' ^[o] he said to him, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

Luke 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

Parables of the lost sheep, and the piece of silver. (1-10) The prodigal son, his wickedness and distress. (11-16) His repentance and pardon. (17-24) The elder brother offended. (25-32)

Verses 1-10 The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost, is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!

Verses 11-16 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. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel grace; and it has been, and will be, while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. It is bad, and the beginning of worse, when men look upon God's gifts as debts due to them. The great folly of sinners, and that which ruins them, is, being content in their life-time to receive their good things. Our first parents ruined themselves and all their race, by a foolish ambition to be independent, and this is at the bottom of sinners' persisting in their sin. We may all discern some features of our own characters in that of the prodigal son. A sinful state is of departure and distance from God. A sinful state is a spending state: wilful sinners misemploy their thoughts and the powers of their souls, mispend their time and all their opportunities. A sinful state is a wanting state. Sinners want necessaries for their souls; they have neither food nor raiment for them, nor any provision for hereafter. A sinful state is a vile, slavish state. The business of the devil's servants is to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, and that is no better than feeding swine. A sinful state is a state constant discontent. The wealth of the world and the pleasures of the senses will not even satisfy our bodies; but what are they to precious souls! A sinful state is a state which cannot look for relief from any creature. In vain do we cry to the world and to the flesh; they have that which will poison a soul, but have nothing to give which will feed and nourish it. A sinful state is a state of death. A sinner is dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of spiritual life. A sinful state is a lost state. Souls that are separated from God, if his mercy prevent not, will soon be lost for ever. The prodigal's wretched state, only faintly shadows forth the awful ruin of man by sin. Yet how few are sensible of their own state and character!

Verses 17-24 Having viewed the prodigal in his abject state of misery, we are next 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 sinner 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 our 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 robe 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. Principles of grace and holiness are wrought in him, to do, as well as to will.

Verses 25-32 In the latter part of this parable we have the character of the Pharisees, though not of them alone. It sets forth the kindness of the Lord, and the proud manner in which his gracious kindness is often received. The Jews, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles; and numbers in every age object to the gospel and its preachers, on the same ground. What must that temper be, which stirs up a man to despise and abhor those for whom the Saviour shed his precious blood, who are objects of the Father's choice, and temples of the Holy Ghost! This springs from pride, self-preference, and ignorance of a man's own heart. The mercy and grace of our God in Christ, shine almost as bright in his tender and gentle bearing with peevish saints, as his receiving prodigal sinners upon their repentance. It is the unspeakable happiness of all the children of God, who keep close to their Father's house, that they are, and shall be ever with him. Happy will it be for those who thankfully accept Christ's invitation.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or the wilderness
• [b]. Gk 10 drachmas; a drachma was a silver coin a denarius.
• [c]. Lit livelihood, or living
• [d]. Lit and he began to be in need
• [e]. Lit went and joined with
• [f]. Other mss read to fill his stomach with
• [g]. Seed casings of a tree used as food for cattle, pigs, and sometimes the poor
• [h]. Lit to himself
• [i]. The word dying is translated lost in vv. 4-9 and vv. 24,32.
• [j]. Or dying in the famine; v. 14
• [k]. Lit He ran, fell on his neck
• [l]. Lit hand
• [m]. Lit him back healthy
• [n]. Lit livelihood, or living
• [o]. Or Child