BOOK 42 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Luke 15

Luke book home•Chapter 15 of 24•32 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Luke 15 Overview

Publicans and sinners draw near to hear Jesus while Pharisees and scribes complain that He receives sinners. Jesus answers with three parables: a shepherd rejoicing over a found sheep, a woman rejoicing over a found coin, and a father receiving a lost son while an older brother resents the celebration. The chapter reveals heaven’s joy over repentance and exposes self-righteous resentment of mercy.

LukeBook

15Chapter

32Verses

GospelsDivision

Before you read Luke 15

Coming from

Luke 14 established the immediate context: At a Pharisee’s house Jesus heals a man on the sabbath, teaches guests not to seek the highest seats, tells hosts to invite those unable to repay, and gives the parable of the great supper where invited guests make excuses and the poor and outsiders are brought in.

In this chapter

Luke 15 answers one accusation—Jesus receives sinners—with three escalating stories about lostness, recovery, joy, and the heart of God.

Leads into

Luke 16 continues the account: Jesus tells the parable of the unjust steward to teach prudent use of temporary resources, warns that no servant can serve God and mammon, and rebukes money-loving Pharisees.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The lost sheep and coin emphasize the seeker’s action; the prodigal story adds the returning son and the elder brother’s resentment. Together they answer the leaders’ complaint about Jesus’ fellowship with sinners.

The prodigal does not earn restoration by his speech or labor plan. The father runs, embraces, clothes, restores, and celebrates before the son can become a hired servant.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

God values the lost personally

One sheep and one coin matter enough to prompt searching.

Heaven rejoices over repentance

Recovery produces joy, not grudging toleration.

The Father’s compassion outruns the prodigal’s bargaining plan

The son is restored as son, not hired as a servant.

Self-righteousness can resent grace

The elder brother obeys outwardly while revealing alienation from the father’s heart.

Jesus’ welcome of sinners reflects God’s own joy

The accusation at the chapter’s start becomes the theme of the parables.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ezekiel 34:11–16

God Himself seeks lost sheep in Ezekiel, a powerful backdrop to Jesus’ shepherd parable.

Hosea 11

Divine compassion toward a wayward son/nation resonates with the father’s heart.

Matthew 18:12–14

Matthew uses a lost-sheep story in a disciple/community context.

Ephesians 2:4–5

Paul’s picture of rich mercy toward the spiritually dead harmonizes with the father’s initiative toward the returning son.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make the prodigal’s return a proof that sinners must reform before God will receive them

The father’s grace dominates the scene; repentance is real but not a meritorious payment.

Do not ignore the elder brother

The parable is aimed partly at religious complainers who resent mercy.

Do not confuse every use of lost/found with a complete technical definition of eternal salvation

The parables answer a specific controversy about repentance and receiving sinners.

Read Luke 15 watching for…

The complaint that triggers all three parables.

Who searches in the first two stories.

Repeated joy/rejoicing language.

The prodigal’s change of mind and planned speech.

The father’s actions before the speech is complete.

The elder brother’s language about himself and his brother.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-10Jesus answers criticism for receiving sinners with the lost sheep and lost coin 11-24The younger son leaves, wastes his inheritance, repents, and is received by his father 25-32The elder son resents the celebration, and the father explains the joy of restoration

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.