Chapter
Verse

Luke chapter 15

English Standard Version

New International Version

New American Standard Bible

11And He said, 'A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them. 13And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living. 14Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! 18I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.'?’ 20So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And 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. 13And 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. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And 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! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And 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. 21And 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. 22But 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: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
New King James Version

What does Luke chapter 15 mean?

Luke 15 continues Jesus' teachings on the proper response to the coming of the kingdom of God. The sometimes-labeled "Travelogue to Jerusalem" stretches from Luke 9:51 to Luke 19:27. It includes events, teachings, and miracles selected to provide a context for Jesus' death and resurrection and the establishment of the church. This chapter contains the three "lost parables." These are the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son. Each parable represents someone who has left God for different reasons: foolishness, ignorance, and rebellion. Since they all result in restoration of what was lost, some also refer to them as the "found parables."

Luke 15:1–2 sets the scene. As at the beginning of Jesus' ministry (Luke 5:27–32), a crowd of social outcasts and "sinners" have gathered around Him. This disgusts the Pharisees and scribes: lawyers who specialize in the traditional oral law. The religious leaders criticize Jesus for associating with such persons. Jesus responds with three parables describing how religious leaders should react when faced with sinners who wish to repent.

Luke 15:3–7 gives the parable of the lost sheep, representing a sinner who has left God out of foolishness. A shepherd with one hundred sheep discovers one has strayed. He leaves the ninety-nine and goes on a search. When he finds the lost sheep, he carries it home and celebrates with his friends. In the same way, heaven rejoices when a sinner repents: why can't the Pharisees?

Luke 15:8–10 contains the parable of the lost coin, symbolic of a sinner who does not know he is lost. A woman has ten silver coins; one goes missing. She sweeps every corner until she finds it and, again, celebrates with her friends and neighbors. In the same way, the angels rejoice when a sinner repents; are the Pharisees more pious than angels?

Luke 15:11–32 is the parable of the prodigal son; this typifies a sinner who leaves God intentionally and rebelliously. A son dishonors his father, takes his inheritance, and spends it frivolously. Famine and poverty lead to regret and humility. The son returns home in hopes his father will make him a servant and at least feed him. Instead, the father restores him to a loving relationship. The son's older brother, however, resents his father's easy forgiveness. As educated religious leaders, the Pharisees have every advantage God can give. Why can't they rejoice when another returns to God and God restores him?

The next section contains several parables and teachings on how to respond—or not to respond—to the arrival of God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10). After two more sections that include a miracle and teachings on the kingdom of God (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27), Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.
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