Luke 15

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What 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?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And 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.

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.

Either 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?

And 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.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

And he said, A certain man had two sons:

And 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.

And 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.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And 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!

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And 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.

And 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.

But 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:

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

And 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:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

It 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.

What does Luke 15:11 mean?

Explanation

Luke 15:11 begins the parable of the Prodigal Son, a story Jesus tells to illustrate the nature of repentance and the love of God.

In this verse, Jesus introduces the characters of the parable, a man (representing God) and his two sons.

The term "a certain man" suggests a story that relates to the human condition universally.

The two sons represent two different types of people in their relationship to God: one who remains with the father (indicative of the Pharisees and scribes) and one who wanders away (representative of sinners and tax collectors).

The deeper meaning of the verse begins to unravel the themes of loss, redemption, and grace.

It sets the stage for a narrative that emphasizes rebellion, the consequences of sin, and the nature of divine forgiveness.

The story, while simple in its telling, is profound in the lessons it conveys about human frailty and the boundless capacity for compassion within the heart of God.

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Historical Context

The parable of the Prodigal Son was told by Jesus during his ministry, primarily to the Pharisees and scribes, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.

The context is a response to the criticism Jesus faced from the religious leaders of the day for associating with sinners and tax collectors.

In the culture of the time, a younger son asking for his inheritance while the father was still alive would be seen as a grave insult, effectively wishing his father dead.

This historical context adds to the gravity of the younger son's actions within the story and the scandalous nature of the father's forgiving response.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives view this verse and the parable as a whole in various ways:

Traditional Christian View: This parable illustrates the generosity of God's grace.

The father's response represents God's readiness to forgive and celebrate the return of a repentant sinner.

Reformed Theology: Emphasizes the sovereignty of God in the process of repentance and the idea of irresistible grace, where the son's return signifies the work of God in the heart of the believer.
Catholic Theology: Apart from grace and forgiveness, the parable is also seen as emphasizing the importance of penance and reconciliation with the Church.
Liberation Theology: The focus might be on the economic and social dimensions of the parable, analyzing the structures of power and wealth distribution.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in various ways:

Forgiveness: It encourages believers to forgive others as God forgives, not holding grudges or waiting for the offending party to earn it.
Repentance: It invites individuals to examine their lives, recognize their faults, and return to God.
Reconciliation: Stressing the importance of reconciliation in relationships, mirroring the reconciliation between God and humanity.

Cross-References

Luke 15:20 - "And 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."

Luke 15:32 - "It 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."
2 Corinthians 5:18 - "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term used for "man" is "ἄνθρωπός" (anthrōpos), which generally refers to a human being or mankind. The use of "two sons" (δύο υἱοὺς) implies duality in the narrative, which later reveals contrasting behaviors and attitudes.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

There are parallels to this parable in other cultural stories that emphasize a journey followed by a return home, such as the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh.

Religious comparisons could be drawn with the Hindu prodigal son narrative in the Mahabharata, where the son goes on a journey of self-discovery and returns wiser.

Scientific Perspectives

While the parable is a religious and moral teaching rather than a scientific one, contemporary psychology may relate to the themes of the parable analyzing family dynamics, human development, and behavioral consequences.

Psychological studies on forgiveness and reconciliation could provide an understanding of the positive effects of such practices on individual well-being.

Commentaries

Respected Bible commentators offer various insights on this verse:

Matthew Henry: Focuses on the grace of God in receiving penitent sinners.
John Calvin: Emphasizes God's paternal embrace of those who have estranged themselves from Him.
William Barclay: Discusses the shocking nature of the younger son's request and the overarching theme of a father's love.

These commentaries highlight different aspects of theological interpretation, grounding the parable within Christian doctrine and moral teaching.

Luke 15

Luke 15

What does Luke 15:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 15:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?