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The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain

A.The Shepherd Who Goes After One Sheepvv. 1-7

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. 2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, 6 comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

B.The Woman Who Sweeps for One Coinvv. 8-10

8 Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

C.The Lost Son and the Elder Brothervv. 11-32

11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing. 17 Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death! 18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. 25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours. 32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition
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Chapter summary

Three parables of the lost.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾

Three parables of the lost. Lost sheep. Joy over one that repenteth more than over ninety and nine. Lost coin. Lost son. The father who saw him 'when he was yet a great way off' and ran to meet him; the elder brother at the end refuses to come in. Perhaps Luke's most beloved chapter.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Luke — Luke overview

  • A. 1–7 The Shepherd Who Goes After One Sheep
  • B. 8–10 The Woman Who Sweeps for One Coin
  • C. 11–32 The Lost Son and the Elder Brother
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
  • Luke 158 verses
    • Luke 15:6comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’
    • Luke 15:7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
    • Luke 15:10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
    • Luke 15:12The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
    • Luke 15:18I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
    • Luke 15:21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
    • Read Luke 15: 2 more there →
  • Luke 193 verses
    • Luke 19:7And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
    • Luke 19:9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.
    • Luke 19:10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
    • Read Luke 19 →
  • Ezekiel 343 verses
    • Ezekiel 34:11For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out.
    • Ezekiel 34:12As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
    • Ezekiel 34:16I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’
    • Read Ezekiel 34 →
  • Ephesians 23 verses
4 more chapters this one speaks with
  • Matthew 92 verses
    • Matthew 9:10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
    • Matthew 9:11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
    • Read Matthew 9 →
  • Luke 52 verses
    • Luke 5:29Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
    • Luke 5:32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
    • Read Luke 5 →
  • Psalms 862 verses
    • Psalms 86:5For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
    • Psalms 86:15But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
    • Read Psalms 86 →
  • Proverbs 291 verse

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.