Luke 15:7 BSB — MannaFest

Luke 15:7

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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.

KJV

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

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Commentary

8 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (397)

The woman did not idly rejoice to find her coin. The coin, having the image of the emperor, is not ordinary. The image of the King is the register of the church. We are sheep. Let us pray that he would be pleased to place us beside the water of rest. We are sheep. Let us seek pastures. We are coins. Let us have a price. We are sons. Let us hurry to the Father. Let us not fear because we have squandered the inheritance of spiritual dignity that we received on earthly pleasures.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Ambrose of Milan

Catena Aurea by Aquinas (397)

Now the angels, inasmuch as they are intelligent beings, do not unreasonably rejoice at the redemption of men, as it follows, I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. Let this serve as an incentive to goodness, for a man to believe that his conversion will be pleasing to the assembled angels, whose favour he ought to court, or whose displeasure to fear.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Over one sinner - One gross, open, notorious sinner, that repenteth - That is, thoroughly changed in heart and life; more than over ninety and nine just persons - Comparatively just, outwardly blameless: that need not such a repentance - For they need not, cannot repent of the sins which they never committed.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Observe, (1.) The repentance and conversion of sinners on earth are matter of joy and rejoicing in heaven. It is possible that the greatest sinners may be brought to repentance. While there is life there is hope, and the worst are not to be despaired of; and the worst of sinners, if they repent and turn, shall find mercy.

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Likewise joy ... - It is a principle of human nature that the “recovery” of an object in danger of being lost, affords much more intense joy than the quiet “possession” of many that are safe. This our Saviour illustrated by the case of the lost sheep and of the piece of silver. It might also be illustrated by many other things. Thus we rejoice most in our health when we recover from a dangerous disease; we rejoice over a child rescued from danger or disease more than over those who are in health or safety.

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

(1858)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

23 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Λέγω	Legō	I say	G3004 →
ὑμῖν	humin	to you	G4771 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
οὕτως	houtōs	in the same way	G3779 →
χαρὰ	chara	joy	G5479 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
τῷ	tō	<the>	G3588 →
οὐρανῷ	ouranō	heaven	G3772 →
ἔσται	estai	there will be	G1510 →
ἐπὶ	epi	over	G1909 →
ἑνὶ	heni	one	G1520 →
ἁμαρτωλῷ	hamartōlō	sinner	G268 →
μετανοοῦντι	metanoounti	repenting	G3340 →
ἢ	ē	rather than	G2228 →
ἐπὶ	epi	over	G1909 →
ἐνενήκοντα	enenēkonta	ninety	G1768 →
ἐννέα	ennea	nine	G1767 →
δικαίοις	dikaiois	righteous ones	G1342 →
οἵτινες	oitines	who	G3748 →
οὐ	ou	no	G3756 →
χρείαν	chreian	need	G5532 →
ἔχουσιν	echousin	have	G2192 →
μετανοίας.¶	metanoias	of repentance.	G3341 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Luke 5:32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
leads to
- Luke 19:10
  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
- Luke 15:10
  In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
- 1 Timothy 1:15–16
  This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
Through
Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
leads to
- Ezekiel 33:11
  Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live.…
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- Ezekiel 18:23
  Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
Through
Luke 15:32
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.’”
leads to
- Ephesians 2:1–10
  And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- Luke 15:24
  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.