Luke Chapter Fifteen
Parable of the Lost Sheep
15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Luke sets the stage for Jesus to begin teaching a series of parables by pointing out that several tax collectors and sinners had gathered close to Him so that they could hear. Luke also noted that the Pharisees and scribes were repulsed by this action and likely in a mocking manner grumbled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
15:3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Jesus first taught them what has been appropriately named, “The Parable of the Lost Sheep.” This parable tells of a man, the shepherd of a flock of one-hundred sheep, that when he notices one is missing, he leaves the others to go and find the lost sheep. When the animal is found, the shepherd picks it up and lays it over his shoulders and rejoices. When he and his flock return home, he calls together his friends and neighbors to share in his joy and asks them to rejoice with him, because the sheep that was lost has been found. Jesus concludes the parable with a heavenly perspective, “There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (verse 7b, NLT)
This parable offers a number of important insights: 1) that everyone is important, if one strays away from God, He will bring them back; 2) that the “lost sheep” in the world is a priority with God; 3) that when someone who was lost comes back and repents, there is great joy in heaven; 4) that God wants all to share in that joy when one returns; and 5) that the priority of bringing back those that are lost, should also be a priority for every Christian.
Jesus, of course, is the Shepherd, a concept that will be one of the seven central themes in John’s gospel account (see John 10:1-18). Even though this parable focuses on the return of a lost sheep, it can also apply to any person that is willing to repent of their sinful ways and accept Jesus’ free offer of salvation. Helping others find Jesus is the primary objective of the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:18-20) and the entire Bible.
Even though the Pharisees and scribes had little or no interest in shepherding (they considered tending sheep to be one of the lowest occupations) they would at least understand the value of a sheep. But when Jesus concluded with the joy in heaven over one lost sheep being found, it should have pierced their hearts as they were not interested in helping others, especially not helping them find salvation.
Parable of the Lost Coin
15:8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And 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.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Jesus continued by teaching, “The Parable of the Lost Coin.” A subject that the Pharisees probably could better relate to. The parable begins with a woman who had ten silver coins (Greek ‘drachmas’,[1] equivalent to a Roman denarius which was the average pay for twelve hours of work). Jesus asks that if she lost one coin, would she not turn up the lights and sweep her house and diligently look for it until she finds it? And that when she does find the coin, she calls her friends and neighbors together and tells them to rejoice with her, as she found the coin she lost. Jesus says that in the same manner that there will be joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Some debate as to who the women represents (either God the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the church, Christians, etc.), however, each of these has a role in aiding others find salvation. Either by bringing back those that wandered away before committing to Jesus or helping others that never heard or understood salvation through Jesus. God will diligently look and sweep the floor in every dark corner, crack, hole, and crevice in the world with the brightest light (His Son) in order to find the lost. Again, the priority of every Christian should be in some way helping others find Jesus.
Parable of the Prodigal Son
15:11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Jesus begins to teach the parable known simply as, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” The story begins with a man who had two sons. The word ‘prodigal’ refers to someone who spends money freely and recklessly, one who is wastefully extravagant. While ‘prodigal’ is an appropriate description of one son, the parable is about two sons, each representing two different people groups.
The younger son asks his father for his share of his inheritance. Something that would normally be done after his father’s death. This would have been a great insult to the father as the son is essentially saying that he wished his father was dead. Due to the Mosaic Law, the land and property could not be liquidated until after the father’s death. But since he was the youngest, he would only receive one-third of his father’s estate, perhaps the father had enough money to pay him off (the oldest brother would receive a double-portion, see Deuteronomy 21:17). For some reason the father agrees to give him his inheritance early. Before getting “tied up” in legalities we need to remember that this is a parable and we need to track the lesson, not necessarily all of the details!
The son then shortly afterwards leaves home and ends up in a far country (a Gentile country) where he squandered everything he owned. Then a famine began in that country and he soon had nothing to eat. He went to work for the people of that country. The Greek word translated as “hired himself out,” is ‘ekollēthē’,[2] meaning to glue together or follow closely, implying either as a servant or perhaps a beggar. He was sent to feed the pigs, a truly degrading job for a Jewish boy. While feeding the pigs he was longing to eat one of the pods he was feeding the pigs (Greek ‘keratiōn’,[3] the fruit of a carob tree), but no one gave him anything.
15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The son comes to his senses and remembered that his father’s servants were all well-fed and here he is starving. So he decided to go back home and confess to his father that he had sinned against God and against him. And that he no longer deserves to be called his son and would like to be hired as one of his servants. So he started to travel back home. While he was still a distance away, his father saw him coming and was overwhelmed with compassion so he ran to greet him. They embraced and the father kissed him. The son confessed to his father just as he had rehearsed. Instead of chastising and hiring him as a servant, the father instructed his servants to quickly bring the best robe (showing honor), ring (representing authority), and shoes (showing reinstatement as a son) for his son to wear. He also instructed them to kill the fattened calf and prepare a meal to celebrate his return. The father proclaimed, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” They began to celebrate.
15:25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
The older son was out in the field when his brother came home, so when he approached the home he could hear the celebration. He asked one of the servants what was going on and was told that his brother had returned and that their father had the fattened calf prepared to celebrate the safe return of his son. This angered the son and refused to go in and attend the celebration. The father came out and encouraged him to come in but the son began to complain. Saying that for all the many years that he served him, he never once gave him a young goat that he might celebrate with his friends. He then proclaimed, but when my brother comes home (note he calls him ‘this son of yours’, not as his brother) after spending all his inheritance on prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him! The father replied saying that he has always been with him and all that he owns is his, but it was fitting to celebrate since they considered the youngest son dead, but now he is alive; he was lost but is now found. The parable stops. Was Jesus finished?
The first step in understanding any parable (after praying of course) is to identify the ‘players’. The father in this story is often believed to be God the Father, however, as we examine carefully the story, the father figure most likely represents Jesus. The oldest son represents the people of Israel (or more specifically the Pharisees, scribes, and all of the other self-righteous legalistic religious leaders and people). The younger son represents the Gentiles and everyone else saved through forgiving grace and mercy of Jesus. These were people whose hearts were full of lusts and worldly desires but recognized that they were sinners, sought Jesus and repented of their sins. Not only did they receive forgiveness, they were restored as family members. They were once considered dead and condemned to hell, they are now alive and will spend eternity with Jesus as sons and daughters of God (see Romans 8:12-17).
In the second half of the parable the ‘spotlight’ is on the older son. This parable was primarily aimed at the Pharisees and scribes in the audience (see verse two), but to them this story would make little to no sense. We know that the Pharisees, “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” (Luke 18:9b) Therefore, the behavior and sin that was demonstrated by the younger son was completely unacceptable, and thus the need for punishment was necessary (see Deuteronomy 28:15-24). But then hearing that the father offered forgiveness, they undoubtedly thought this parable was completely nonsensical.
The parable leaves the oldest son being resentful of both his father and his brother. Why did Jesus stop there? If Jesus was mirroring the behavior of the Pharisees and all other self-righteous Jews in the character of the oldest son, then the story would likely end with blood being spilled. One might suggest, that the oldest son picked up a stick and killed his father! Just like they did to Jesus. So, perhaps the parable should be renamed. Maybe something like, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son and His Self-Righteous Brother?”
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[1] Strong’s Greek 1406.
[2] Strong’s Greek 2853.
[3] Strong’s Greek 2769.