Luke 15: ‘The Lost’ Parables

• v.1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
• v.8-10 The Parable of the Lost Coin
• v.11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son

v.1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep

v.1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.

v.2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

v.3 Then Jesus told them this parable:

v.4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

v.5,6 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

v.7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

[Note: ‘Sinners’ listened to Jesus yet the religious leaders were unhappy with him, so Jesus tells a story. Imagine a shepherd loses one of his sheep, won’t he leave the rest to search for it until he finds it? When he finds it he will rejoice, and thus heaven rejoices more over the one coming to repentance than the 99 righteous – it’s natural to rejoice in this way.]

v.8-10 The Parable of the Lost Coin

v.8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

v.9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

v.10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

[Note: He continues, or imagine a woman who loses a silver coin, one of many, won’t she search for it and when she finds it won’t she rejoice? Similarly heaven rejoices over the one sinner who repents.]

v.11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son

v.11-13 He tells of an unappreciative son who leaves home with his inheritance

v.11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.

v.12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

v.13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

[Note: Or another story: a man with two sons; the younger one wants his inheritance – now! He takes it and spends it.]

v.14-19 The Son comes to the end of himself

v.14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

v.15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

v.16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

v.17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

v.18,19 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

[Note: When his inheritance was gone he was in dire need, so he got a job feeding pigs and was in such a bad state he longed to have what the pigs had. He realized the folly of his position and determined to go home in repentance.]

v.20-24 On his return he gets w wonderful welcome

v.20 So he got up and went to his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

v.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

v.22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

v.23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

v.24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

[Note: Before he got there his father saw him and ran and greeted him warmly. He confessed his folly but the father dressed him with honour and ordered a celebratory feast. He considered his son had been dead but was now alive.]

v.25-32 The older son reacts badly

v.25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

v.26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

v.27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

v.28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

v.29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

v.30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

v.31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

v.32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

[Note: The older son, hearing the noise came in from the fields and asked what was happening. When the servant explained, the older son became angry, feeling unappreciated. Now this stupid younger son is being celebrated! The father reassures him and explains a life being given back is worth a celebration.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: