FRAMEWORKS:
Luke's Gospel, Chapter 15
For
preliminaries see chapter 1
v.1-7
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
v.8-10
The Parable of the Lost Coin
v.11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
v.1-7
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
v.1
(‘sinners' listened
to Jesus) Now
the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear
Jesus.
v.2
(yet the religious
leaders were unhappy with him) But
the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man
welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
v.3
(so
Jesus tells a story) Then
Jesus told them this parable:
v.4
(imagine
a shepherd loses one of his sheep, won't he leave the rest to
search for it until he finds it) “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?
v.5,6
(when he finds
it he will rejoice) And
when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes
home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
v.7
(heaven rejoices
more over the one coming to repentance than the 99 righteous [it's
natural to rejoice in this way]) 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.
v.8-10
The Parable of the Lost Coin
v.8
(or
imagine a woman who loses a silver coin, one of many, won't she
search for it) “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?
v.9
(when she finds
it won't she rejoice) And
when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together
and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
v.10
(similarly heaven
rejoices over the one sinner who repents) In
the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of
the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
v.11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
v.11
(or another
story: a man with two sons) Jesus
continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
v.12
(the younger
one wants his inheritance – now!) The
younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the
estate.' So he divided his property between them.
v.13
(he takes it
and spends it) “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.
v.14
(and when it
was gone he was in dire need) After
he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole
country, and he began to be in need.
v.15
(so he got a
job feeding pigs) So
he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who
sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
v.16
(he longer to
have what the pigs had) He
longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating,
but no one gave him anything.
v.17
(he realised
the folly of his position) “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!
v.18,19
(he determined
to go home in repentance) I
will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father,
I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy
to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'
v.20
(but
before he got there his father saw him and ran and greeted him
warmly) 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.
v.21
(he
confessed his folly) “The
son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against
you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
v.22
(but the father
dressed him with honour) “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.
v.23
(and ordered
a celebratory feast) Bring
the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
v.24
(he considered
his son had been dead but was now alive) For
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and
is found.' So they began to celebrate.
v.25
(the older son,
hearing the noise came in from the fields) “Meanwhile,
the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he
heard music and dancing.
v.26
(he
asked what was happening) So
he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
v.27
(the servant
explained) ‘Your
brother has come,' he replied, ‘and your father has killed the
fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
v.28
(the older son
became angry) “The
older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father
went out and pleaded with him.
v.29
(the son explained
he felt unappreciated) 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.
v.30
(and now this
stupid younger son is being celebrated) But
when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes
comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
v.31
(the father
reassures him) “‘My
son,' the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything
I have is yours.
v.32
(but a life
being given back is worth celebration) 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.'”