15
The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were whispering among themselves. They said, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ 3 Then Jesus told them a story. 4 He said, ‘Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he leave the 99 in the open country? Won't he go and look for the one lost sheep until he finds it? 5 When he finds it, he will joyfully put it on his shoulders 6 and go home. Then he will call his friends and neighbours together. He will say, “Be joyful with me. I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you, it will be the same in heaven. There will be great joy when one sinner turns away from sin. Yes, there will be more joy than for 99 godly people who do not need to turn away from their sins.
8 ‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the house? Won't she search carefully until she finds the coin? 9 And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbours together. She will say, “Be joyful with me. I have found my lost coin.” 10 I tell you, it is the same in heaven. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who turns away from sin.’
15:1–10 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were angry that Jesus welcomed everyone. They hated tax collectors. The Pharisees didn't accept people they thought were terrible sinners. To them these sinners were unclean because they didn't obey Jewish laws. The Pharisees believed sinners should work harder at obeying the laws. Jesus answered by telling three stories. The first was about a lost sheep and the second was about a lost coin. The third was about a lost son. These parables showed what Jesus was doing in Israel. He was searching for people who knew they were lost. He was rescuing them and bringing them into God's kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is for all who want to be found by Jesus.
11 Jesus continued, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke to his father. He said, “Father, give me my share of the family property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons.
13 ‘Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spent everything he had. Then the whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 He went to work for someone who lived in that country. That person sent the son to the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.
17 ‘Then he began to think clearly again. He said, “How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ ” 20 So he got up and went to his father.
‘While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He 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 fit 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 fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.” So they began to celebrate.
25 ‘The elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on. 27 “Your brother has come home,” the servant replied. “Your father has killed the fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.”
28 ‘The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and begged him. 29 But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But this son of yours wasted your money with some prostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!”
31 ‘ “My son”, the father said, “you are always with me. Everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.” ’
15:11–32 The third story Jesus told about lost things was about a father and his sons. The younger son's words and actions were shocking. He asked for his share of the family property while his father was still alive. That was the same as wanting his father to be dead. Then he left his family and wasted all his money living a sinful life. Soon his money and his pride were gone. He was so poor that he ate the pig's food. Then he repented. He stopped living in sinful ways and returned to his father. The father forgave his younger son and was so glad he was home. Many people who were listening to Jesus were like the younger son. They hadn't paid attention to God's ways and were living sinful lives. Jesus asked them to turn away from their sin and live close to God. Israel's leaders were like the older brother in the story. He was angry that a feast was held for his sinful younger brother. Israel's leaders saw Jesus accepting people who were sinful and unclean. They saw him sharing God's love with them. The leaders didn't want that to happen. But God is delighted when his lost children come to him. There is so much joy in heaven when people turn away from their sin. That is what all three stories in Luke chapter 15 are about.