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 15:6 mean?

Explanation

This verse is a part of the Parable of the Lost Sheep, where Jesus teaches about the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Christ describes a shepherd who has lost one of his hundred sheep and leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness to go after the one that is lost until he finds it.

Upon finding it, he is so joyful that he calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate the return of the lost sheep.

The literal meaning is straightforward: a person is happy when they find something precious they've lost and wants to share their joy with others.

However, the deeper meaning is spiritual.

In this parable, the lost sheep represents a lost soul, and the shepherd represents Christ or God who seeks and saves those who have strayed from the faith.

The rejoicing with friends and neighbors symbolizes the communal and heavenly joy over one sinner's repentance and return to righteousness.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written in the context of a Greco-Roman world during the early Christian period.

At the time, many people were familiar with pastoral scenes and the role of a shepherd.

The work of a shepherd to tend to his flock was a relatable metaphor that could be understood by the largely agrarian society.

Moreover, the Pharisees and the scribes were known to murmur against Jesus for receiving sinners and eating with them. This parable was part of a response to their criticism, highlighting God's inclusive love and the value of every individual.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse presents several insights:

God’s Pursuit of Sinners: The shepherd's actions are representative of God's initiative in seeking out those who are lost.
The Value of Individuals: Each sheep (person) is valuable to God, and there's great rejoicing even over one who returns.
Repentance and Forgiveness: The recovery of the sheep is symbolic of the repentance of a sinner and the forgiveness he receives.
Community in Salvation: Salvation is not just an individual matter; it involves a community's collective celebration, mirroring the joy in heaven.

Different denominations may focus on various aspects of this parable.

Some may emphasize divine grace, while others might stress the need for human repentance and the response to God's call.

Practical Applications

The Parable of the Lost Sheep, including this verse, offers several practical applications:

Seeking the Lost: Christians are encouraged to follow the example of the shepherd and pursue those who have gone astray.
Celebrating Conversion: Christians should rejoice when people come to faith, reflecting the same joy that occurs in heaven.
Inclusivity: This story calls for a welcoming attitude towards repentant sinners rather than a judgmental stance.
Value of Souls: It teaches the immeasurable value of every person in God’s eyes.

Cross-References

Matthew 18:12-14: "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray..."
Ezekiel 34:16: "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away..."
1 Peter 2:25: "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

Language Study

A key word in this verse is "rejoice" (Greek: χαίρω, chairō), which is an imperative verb that means to be glad or happy.

It's used in the present active form which suggests the shepherd is calling for an ongoing state of happiness.

This reflects the sustained joy over the repentant believer in the spiritual interpretation of the parable.

"Found" (Greek: εὑρίσκω, heuriskō) points to the shepherd's active role in searching and successfully recovering what is lost, which represents God's active role in salvation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religions, the theme of a shepherd searching for a lost sheep can also be found. For example, in Mesopotamian literature, there is a theme of gods searching for lost items or people.

However, the difference in the Christian parable is the intimate, personal relationship between the shepherd and each sheep, highlighting the individual's value.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, one could consider the social behaviors of sheep and shepherds.

Studies show that sheep are social animals and can form strong bonds with others, suggesting a lost sheep would be a cause for concern.

Likewise, good shepherding practices involve knowing one's flock and caring for its well-being, which reflects the careful and intentional search for the one lost sheep in the parable.

commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 15:6 offer various interpretations and applications:

John Calvin praises the shepherd's diligence and relates it to how ministers of the gospel should act towards sinners.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the joy of finding the lost sheep, translating it into the joy in the church and in heaven over a sinner repenting.
William Barclay suggests that the parable shows that God's love is not passive but searching and redemptive, and the joy of God is the joy of finding the lost.
**Craig S.

Keener** notes the cultural expectation that neighbors would indeed join in the celebration, reflecting a tight-knit community in which Christ's parable was set.

Luke 15

Luke 15

What does Luke 15:6 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 15:6 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?