Luke 15

Commentary

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

(Matthew 18:10-14)

1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I 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.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Matthew 18:10–14)

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. 2 The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

3 He told them this parable.

4 “Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? 5 When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’ 10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son
(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)

11 He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. 13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. 14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. 19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf, 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.’ They began to celebrate.

25 “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. 27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ 28 But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Matthew 18:10–14)

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.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 Or what woman who has ten silver coins a 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.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son
(Deuteronomy 21:18–21)

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. b’

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.’ ”

 

Footnotes:

8 a Greek ten drachmas , each worth about a day’s wages
21 b WH includes Make me like one of your hired servants ; see verse 19.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

(Matthew 18:10-14)

1And all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming nigh to him, to hear him, 2and the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying -- This one doth receive sinners, and doth eat with them.'

3And he spake unto them this simile, saying, 4'What man of you having a hundred sheep, and having lost one out of them, doth not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go on after the lost one, till he may find it? 5and having found, he doth lay it on his shoulders rejoicing, 6and having come to the house, he doth call together the friends and the neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep -- the lost one. 7'I say to you, that so joy shall be in the heaven over one sinner reforming, rather than over ninety-nine righteous men, who have no need of reformation.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8'Or what woman having ten drachms, if she may lose one drachm, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek carefully till that she may find? 9and having found, she doth call together the female friends and the neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I found the drachm that I lost. 10'So I say to you, joy doth come before the messengers of God over one sinner reforming.'

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

(Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

11And he said, 'A certain man had two sons, 12and the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the substance falling to me, and he divided to them the living. 13'And not many days after, having gathered all together, the younger son went abroad to a far country, and there he scattered his substance, living riotously; 14and he having spent all, there came a mighty famine on that country, and himself began to be in want; 15and having gone on, he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him to the fields to feed swine, 16and he was desirous to fill his belly from the husks that the swine were eating, and no one was giving to him. 17'And having come to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father have a superabundance of bread, and I here with hunger am perishing! 18having risen, I will go on unto my father, and will say to him, Father, I did sin -- to the heaven, and before thee, 19and no more am I worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hirelings. 20'And having risen, he went unto his own father, and he being yet far distant, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and having ran he fell upon his neck and kissed him; 21and the son said to him, Father, I did sin -- to the heaven, and before thee, and no more am I worthy to be called thy son. 22'And the father said unto his servants, Bring forth the first robe, and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand, and sandals for the feet; 23and having brought the fatted calf, kill it, and having eaten, we may be merry, 24because this my son was dead, and did live again, and he was lost, and was found; and they began to be merry.

25'And his elder son was in a field, and as, coming, he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing, 26and having called near one of the young men, he was inquiring what these things might be, 27and he said to him -- Thy brother is arrived, and thy father did kill the fatted calf, because in health he did receive him back. 28'And he was angry, and would not go in, therefore his father, having come forth, was entreating him; 29and he answering said to the father, Lo, so many years I do serve thee, and never thy command did I transgress, and to me thou didst never give a kid, that with my friends I might make merry; 30but when thy son -- this one who did devour thy living with harlots -- came, thou didst kill to him the fatted calf. 31'And he said to him, Child, thou art always with me, and all my things are thine; 32but to be merry, and to be glad, it was needful, because this thy brother was dead, and did live again, he was lost, and was found.'

The Favor of God Message paraphrase

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³ Then Jesus told them this parable: 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? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 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.”

The Parable of the Lost Coin

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? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 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. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole 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 to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

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! ¹⁸ I will set out 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 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. 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.’ 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’s have a 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. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 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. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

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

Footnotes:

15:4: Shepherding was a common occupation in ancient Israel, so the parable of the lost sheep would have resonated deeply with Jesus’ audience.

15:7: Repentance brings immense joy to God and the heavenly hosts because it signifies restoration of relationship.

15:8: The coin likely represented one-tenth of a woman’s dowry, making its recovery crucial to her security.

15:15: Pigs were considered unclean in Jewish culture, highlighting the younger son’s desperation and his fall from honor.

15:20: The father’s running to the son demonstrates God’s eagerness to forgive and welcome back the repentant sinner.

15:28: The elder brother represents the self-righteous who struggle with God’s grace being extended to those they consider unworthy.

15:32: The parable underscores God’s boundless love, always seeking to bring the lost back into relationship with Him.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Luke 15?
2Introduction to Luke 15
3Context of Luke 15
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Luke 15 Unique Insights
7Luke 15 Connections to Yeshua
8Luke 15 Scriptural Echoes
9Luke 15 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Luke 15?

Introduction to Luke 15

Luke 15 stands as one of the most beloved chapters in Scripture, containing what many call “the pearl of all parables” – the Prodigal Son. However, this chapter is actually a masterful trilogy of parables about lost things being found: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Each story builds in complexity and emotional depth, creating a powerful crescendo that reveals the heart of God for those who are lost and the joy of heaven when they return.

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The significance of this chapter cannot be overstated, as it provides perhaps the clearest window into the character of God as a pursuing Father who actively seeks the lost and celebrates their restoration. These parables were Jesus’ response to the criticism of the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were complaining about His association with “tax collectors and sinners.” Through these stories, Jesus not only defends His ministry but reveals the very nature of God’s kingdom and His mission.

Context of Luke 15

Within the immediate context of Luke’s Gospel, chapter 15 falls within the larger section of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:27). The preceding chapters show Jesus challenging conventional wisdom about status, wealth, and religious priorities. In Luke 14, He had just spoken about the great banquet and the cost of discipleship. Now, He addresses the fundamental issue of who God accepts and how He views those considered “lost.”

The larger biblical context reveals this chapter as a pivotal exposition of God’s redemptive heart that has been consistent throughout Scripture. From God seeking Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:9), to יהוה (Yahweh) pursuing Israel as His treasured possession, to the incarnation itself, God has always been a seeking God. This chapter particularly resonates with the prophetic traditions of Ezekiel 34, where God promises to search for His scattered sheep, and Hosea, where God’s persistent love for unfaithful Israel is displayed.

Furthermore, these parables connect deeply with the broader New Testament themes of grace, repentance, and restoration. They provide the theological foundation for understanding passages like 2 Peter 3:9 about God’s patience in wanting all to come to repentance, and James 5:19-20 about the importance of bringing back those who wander from the truth.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • Murmuring (διεγόγγυζον, diegongyzon) – This word in verse 2 carries heavy echoes of Israel’s complaints in the wilderness. The imperfect tense suggests ongoing, habitual grumbling. The prefix dia- intensifies the basic verb, painting a picture of grumbling that spreads through a crowd like a contagion.
  • Receives (προσδέχεται, prosdechetai) – More than just allowing someone to approach, this word means to welcome warmly and to eagerly await. It’s the same word used of Simeon who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25).
  • Lost (ἀπολωλός, apololos) – A perfect participle suggesting a completed state of being lost. In Jewish thought, being “lost” was often associated with spiritual death and alienation from God’s covenant community.
  • Found (εὑρίσκω, heurisko) – More than just locating something, this word implies discovery and recognition. It’s often used in the Septuagint for moments of divine revelation.
  • Repents (μετανοοῦντι, metanoounti) – Literally means “to change one’s mind” but in Jewish context implies a complete reorientation of life towards God. It’s connected to the Hebrew concept of “teshuvah” (return).
  • Compassion (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, esplanchnisthē) – A visceral word literally referring to one’s internal organs, describing an emotional response so strong it produces physical effects. Used almost exclusively of God or Jesus in the Gospels.
  • Kiss (κατεφίλησεν, katephilēsen) – The kata- prefix intensifies the normal word for kiss, suggesting repeated, fervent kissing. This was a sign of complete acceptance and restoration to family status.
  • Rejoice (συγχάρητέ, syncharēte) – The syn- prefix emphasizes communal joy. This isn’t private celebration but public festivities that involve the whole community.

Compare & Contrast

  • The lost sheep being one out of a hundred versus the lost coin being one out of ten versus the lost son being one out of two creates an intentional progression. Each item becomes more precious, personal, and costly in its loss, culminating in the irreplaceable value of a son.
  • The phrase “tax collectors and sinners were approaching” (προσήγγιζον) deliberately echoes the language used elsewhere for approaching God in worship, creating a striking contrast with the Pharisees’ criticism.
  • The elder son’s statement “I have never disobeyed your command” uses language (ἐντολήν) typically associated with Torah observance, highlighting the irony of his technical obedience masking spiritual rebellion.
  • The father “ran” (δραμὼν) to his son, an action considered undignified for an elderly Middle Eastern patriarch, emphasizing the radical nature of divine love that transcends social conventions.
  • The celebration terms used for the found sheep and coin (συγχάρητέ) are identical, but escalate to a full feast (εὐφρανθῶμεν) for the son, showing increasing levels of joy and restoration.
  • The phrase “was dead and is alive” uses perfect tense verbs (ἦν… ἀνέζησεν) to emphasize the permanence of the transformation, connecting to baptismal and resurrection imagery.
  • The father’s interruption of the son’s prepared speech mirrors God’s eagerness to restore before full penance is performed, contrasting with common religious expectations of earned forgiveness.

Luke 15 Unique Insights

The chapter contains fascinating numerical symbolism that would have resonated with Jewish audiences. The progression from 100 to 10 to 2 (in the three stories) follows a rabbinic method of argumentation called “qal vahomer” (light to heavy), where each subsequent case builds upon the previous one to make a stronger point.

The early church father Tertullian noted that the woman searching for the lost coin represents the Church empowered by the Spirit (symbolized by the lamp) seeking lost souls in the darkness of the world. This interpretation was widely accepted in patristic literature and adds a missional dimension to the narrative.

The Prodigal Son’s request for his inheritance was essentially wishing his father dead in ancient Middle Eastern culture. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks points out that this makes the father’s acceptance even more remarkable, as it parallels God’s forgiveness of Israel after the golden calf incident – forgiving not just sin but rebellion that struck at the very heart of the relationship.

The use of the fatted calf in the celebration carries echoes of the peace offering in Levitical law, suggesting not just a family reconciliation but a restoration of covenant relationship with God. This connects to the messianic banquet imagery found throughout Luke’s Gospel.

The elder brother’s attitude reflects a profound spiritual problem that the prophets often addressed – the danger of serving God from duty rather than love. His inability to call the prodigal “my brother” (saying instead “this son of yours”) reveals a heart as far from the father as his brother’s geographical exile had been.

Luke 15 Connections to Yeshua

The three parables in this chapter profoundly illuminate different aspects of the Messiah’s mission. The shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to seek the one directly parallels Yeshua’s statement about coming to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). This image of the divine shepherd was deeply rooted in Jewish expectation of the Messiah, drawing from Ezekiel 34 where God promises to personally search for His scattered sheep.

The father’s running embrace of his returning son provides one of Scripture’s most powerful images of the incarnation – God in the Messiah running to meet sinful humanity halfway, clothing us with the best robe (righteousness), putting a ring on our finger (authority), and sandals on our feet (sonship). The costly price of this restoration is hinted at in the slaughtered calf, pointing toward the Messiah’s ultimate sacrifice that makes reconciliation possible.

Luke 15 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates deeply with numerous Old Testament themes and passages. The image of God as shepherd echoes Psalm 23 and Isaiah 40:11. The lost-and-found motif connects to Ezekiel 34:11-16 where God promises to search for His scattered sheep.

The prodigal son narrative particularly echoes the Jacob-Esau reconciliation in Genesis 33, where the guilty party returns home expecting judgment but receives embrace and restoration. It also reflects the heart of Hosea 11:1-11, where God’s fatherly love persists despite Israel’s rebellion.

The elder brother’s attitude mirrors that of Jonah, who was angry at God’s compassion toward Nineveh, and the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) who complained about equal wages for less work.

Luke 15 Devotional

This chapter invites us to locate ourselves within its narrative. Are we like the lost sheep, having wandered away perhaps without even realizing it? Are we like the lost coin, lifeless and useless until found by divine grace? Or perhaps we see ourselves in the prodigal, having deliberately chosen paths that led away from the Father’s house?

Most challenging of all, we might recognize the elder brother in ourselves – outwardly obedient but inwardly resentful, serving God from duty rather than delight. The father’s response to both sons reveals that the deeper issue isn’t moral failure but understanding the Father’s heart. When we truly grasp His character – His costly, pursuing, celebrating love – it transforms both our repentance and our service.

The fact that the father equally pursues relationship with both sons reminds us that self-righteousness can be as much a barrier to fellowship with God as moral failure. Today’s invitation is to join the celebration of heaven, rejoicing when the lost are found and the dead come alive.

Did You Know

  • The Greek word for “prodigal” (ἀσώτως) literally means “without salvation” or “unsavedly,” suggesting not just financial waste but spiritual destruction.
  • The ring given to the returning son would have been a signet ring, representing restoration not just to family but to authority and trust within the household.
  • In Middle Eastern culture, it was considered deeply undignified for an elderly man to run in public, making the father’s actions particularly shocking to the original audience.
  • The “fatted calf” mentioned was likely being saved for a special occasion like a wedding, making its use here particularly significant as a celebration of restoration.
  • The phrase “was dead and is alive” uses resurrection language that early Christians would have connected to baptismal imagery and their own spiritual transformation.
  • The elder son’s refusal to enter the feast parallels the Pharisees’ rejection of Jesus’ ministry, as both stayed outside while “sinners” celebrated inside.
  • The woman’s ten coins may have been her dowry, making the lost coin not just financially but socially and personally significant.
  • The shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep “in the wilderness” would have been considered reckless by normal standards, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of divine love.
  • The prodigal’s decision to return was motivated initially by hunger rather than genuine repentance, yet the father accepted him anyway – showing that God can work with even imperfect motives.
  • The father’s gifts to the returning son – robe, ring, and sandals – were symbols of full restoration to family status, as slaves went barefoot and wore different clothing.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

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