Luke Chapter Fifteen | Words Of Truth
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Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

Luke Chapter Fifteen


Luke 15:1 “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”

  • Even though Jesus has been clear concerning the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33), the crowds keep gathering to hear Him.
  • One of the reasons Jesus came into this world was to save sinners (Matthew 1:18-21, Matthew 18:11, I Timothy 1:12-16, Titus 2:11-14, and I John 2:1-2) from the wrath that will come upon sinners (Colossians 3:6 and I Thessalonians 1:10; cf. Jude 1:14-15).
  • To save sinners, they [sinners] need to be told what to do (Matthew 3:1-12, Matthew 9:13, Luke 24:47, and Acts 3:19).
  • If Jesus or any other faithful teacher avoids sinners, how would they hear (Romans 10:8-17)?

Luke 15:2 “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

  • This one is not new for Jesus (Luke 5:27-32 and Luke 7:36-50).
  • As we addressed in the notes on verse 1, to whom was Jesus to go with the Gospel? He taught so that the lost might be saved (John 5:34).

Luke 15:3-10 “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.”

  • Jesus often used Parables (Matthew 13:34-35).
  • It is fitting that He put forth a Parable about having sheep, for He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18, Hebrews 13:20, I Peter 2:21-25, and I Peter 5:4).
  • Matthew records similar teaching from Jesus (Matthew 18:12-14).
  • A man who cares for his animals (Proverbs 12:10) will go find them if they are lost (i.e. I Samuel 9:3).
  • Israel’s spiritual shepherds did not seek the sheep that needed them (Ezekiel 34:1-8). Even of old, God acted as a Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-12).

  • The coin is something of value, something worth looking for (Luke 19:1-10).
  • Let’s think about the value of one saved soul in the eyes of God. For whom did Jesus die (I John 2:1-2 and I John 4:14)? How many of those whom Jesus died for will choose to truly seek to be saved (Matthew 7:13-14)?
  • The valuable soul that is not lost is not invaluable, it is just that the work of our Lord is primarily focused on saving the lost (Luke 5:27-32 and I Timothy 1:15). This will be more fully explained later in the context (Luke 15:25-32).
  • God takes pleasure in His people (Psalms 149:4 and Zephaniah 3:17) and does not want His people to be lost (Ezekiel 33:10-20).
  • Rejoicing in Heaven… Think about the Heavenly vision of John regarding the angels (Revelation 5:11-13). Consider how the angel that appeared to the shepherds spoke about Jesus (Luke 2:8-11).
  • Consider how the Lord views salvation as well as the angels in Heaven who are watching (Matthew 18:1-14).

Luke 15:11 “And he said, A certain man had two sons:”

  • This is contextually relevant because one son falls and is restored (Luke 15:11-24) while the other errs in the reception of his restored brother (Luke 15:25-32).
  • There is another time in which Jesus used a parable of a man with two sons (Matthew 21:23-31).

Luke 15:12-16 “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.”

  • An inheritance was a large part of the Jewish culture as directed under the Law of Moses (I Chronicles 28:8 and Proverbs 13:22).
  • He left home (Proverbs 27:8), but not for the purpose in which a man generally does (Mark 10:6-9).
  • He went far away. Think about why (Proverbs 6:20; cf. Romans 1:28).
  • He WASTED his goods on riotous [lacking in morals] living (Proverbs 21:17, Proverbs 21:20, Proverbs 23:19-22, Proverbs 28:7, Romans 13:13-14, and I Peter 4:1-5).
  • Later, we get more details (Luke 15:30; cf. Proverbs 5:1-23, Proverbs 6:20-7:27, Proverbs 23:27, Proverbs 29:3, and Ephesians 5:5).
  • Wisdom says, go to the ant and think about providing for yourself (Proverbs 6:6-11). He only thought about the temporary pleasure of sin and did not see beyond immediate gratification (Deuteronomy 32:29).
  • Instead of an immediate turn around, he invested more by becoming a citizen of that country (Jeremiah 8:5-6).
  • Swine were unclean to the Jews (Leviticus 11:7), but he went to feeding them and even “fain have filled” [coveted] what they ate.
  • Now, fully in the world, no one cared for him in his despair. True brotherly love is saintly (I John 3:14-18), not worldly (I John 5:19). He had nothing to offer, so the world had no reason for interest.

Luke 15:17 “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!”

  • He came to himself from his hunger. For repentance to occur, there has to be a come to self moment (Psalms 119:59, Ezekiel 18:27-28, and Ephesians 5:14).
  • Then he realized how much better it was in his father’s house (Lamentations 1:1-9).
  • In life, you have one of two fathers (I John 3:1-10).
  • Only one of those two choices provide one with a home fit for living (John 14:1-3 and I John 5:11).

Luke 15:18-19 “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.”

  • The time to return has come about (Isaiah 55:6-7, Jeremiah 3:22, Jeremiah 4:1-4, Hosea 14:1, Jonah 3:1-10, and Acts 26:18-20).
  • He recognized his transgression to be against Heaven (Hosea 4:6-7) and personally against his father (Luke 17:3-4).
  • Humility in the process of repentance (James 4:6-10).

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.”

  • When we think about returning to our Father if we have sinned, we should know He is compassionate (Deuteronomy 30:1-3, Psalms 86:15, Psalms 145:8, Isaiah 49:8-16, and Romans 9:15-16).
  • We, who are in Christ, are of great advantage today because Jesus is our priest advocating for us (Hebrews 2:9-18 and Hebrews 4:14-16).
  • At the same time, there is a point wherein compassion ceases and opportunities for repentance can vanish (II Chronicles 36:14-17 and Hebrews 10:25-31).

Luke 15:21 “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.”

  • The son did as he intended (Luke 15:18-19).
  • Again, we see humility in his sinful state (Psalms 51:16-17 and Luke 18:9-14).
  • This cannot provoke someone to virtue signal. Some show fake humility. While a sinner who is repenting may abhor himself (Job 42:1-6), God expects His people to walk worthy (Ephesians 4:1 and I Thessalonians 2:12).
  • In the end we are to be counted worthy (II Thessalonians 1:5 and Revelation 3:4).

Luke 15:22-24 “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.”

  • A feast for the joy that is occurring here (Ecclesiastes 8:15). Remember, the joy in Heaven (Luke 15:7; 15:10).
  • The reason for celebration is his son was dead because of sin (Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:12-13, and I Timothy 5:6).
  • Now that he is restored, there is reason to rejoice (Matthew 18:11-13).

Luke 15:25-32 “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.”

  • The celebratory environment that comes with restoration (Psalms 126:1-6).
  • If one’s brother is lost, restoration ought to be the goal (James 5:19-20).
  • The fact is, some are not happy to see the lost saved (Jonah 3:1-4:11, Acts 13:43-51, and I Thessalonians 2:14-16).
  • Think about this though… THIS IS YOUR BROTHER (I John 4:20-21).
  • It is our Father’s will that all men be saved (Ezekiel 33:11, I Timothy 2:1-4, Titus 2:11-14, II Peter 3:9, and I John 4:14).
  • How could we claim to be our Father’s children if we would not rejoice over the lost being saved? Are we not supposed to be pleasing our Lord (Colossians 1:10)?