Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. 15:2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The Pharisees complained because John the Baptist fasted. Then, they complained because Jesus went to a party. Men who are depraved and evil will always find something wrong with Christ.
15:3 So Jesus told them this parable:
A parable is a story which teaches divine viewpoint. Since the Jews rejected the Messianic kingdom and called Jesus demon possessed, then Jesus began talking to the Jewish people in parables.
15:4 “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?
If a shepherd loses one sheep, then he will go out and search for it.
15:5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
The sheep is not very intelligent, slow-footed, has no body armor, and has no claws or teeth to protect its self. It would not survive out in the world very long. Therefore, the good shepherd rejoices when he finds his lost sheep.
15:6 Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’
The shepherd is so joyous when he finds a lost sheep, that he throws a party with his friends.
15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
Whenever a sinner repents and turns his attitude positive towards God, then all of the angels rejoice.
15:8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it?
If a woman loses a coin, then she searches the house to find it.
15:9 Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
When she finds the lost coin, then she calls her friends and rejoices with them.
15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Whenever a sinner repents, the angels rejoice in heaven. Angels love to observe sinners turning to God.
The Parable of the Compassionate Father
15:11 Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. 15:12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them.
The young son was ready to set out on his own. His father gave him his part of the estate.
15:13 After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle.
The young man lived a life of sin away from his father.
15:14 Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need.
The young man spent his wealth. He had nothing left. A severe famine hit the land, leaving him without property, clothing, and food.
15:15 So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
Pigs were unclean to Jews. The wealthy Jewish young man found himself feeding unclean pigs.
15:16 He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
The young son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food of the unclean pigs.
15:17 But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger!
The young Jewish man had his eyes opened. He figured out that his father’s servants were living better than himself.
15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
The young man decided to return home and ask forgiveness of his father.
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.”’
The young man was going to ask his father to take him back into the household not as a son, but as a hired servant.
15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.
The father was so overjoyed to see his son, that he ran out to meet his son.
15:21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
The son’s eyes were open. He asked forgiveness for sinning against his father. He returned with a humble personality.
15:22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!
The father ordered his servants to give him the best clothes and shoes. He also gave his son a signet ring, meaning that he possessed the father’s authority of the household.
15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate,
The father wanted to celebrate with a family barbeque.
15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
The father believed that his son was lost. Now he was found. The father was overjoyed.
15:25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
The older son had been working in the field all day. He traveled home and found the family celebrating.
15:26 So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. 15:27 The slave replied, ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.’
The servant reported the good news of the brother’s return.
15:28 But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, 15:29 but he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! 15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
The brother should not have been jealous. He should have rejoiced that his younger brother had seen the light, repented, and returned to the family.
15:31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours.
The father loved both of his sons. His oldest son was not lost and the father was grateful. He was eventually to receive the father’s household. He would be highly rewarded for the love, loyalty, and obedience to which he honored his father.
15:32 It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”
The younger brother was dead to the house. He had chosen to live in sin rather than to live with his family who deeply loved him. When the son returned with repentance, the family rejoiced and took him back as a royal son with full benefits.
Jesus used this parable to demonstrate the love which God possesses for His children. When a child of God sins and then repents, God rejoices, celebrates, and restores the relationship between father and child.