Luke 15:6-7

15:6 Returning ¹  home, he calls together ²  his ³  friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner ⁴  who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people ⁵  who have no need to repent. ⁶ 

Luke 15:23-24

15:23 Bring ⁷  the fattened calf ⁸  and kill it! Let us eat ⁹  and celebrate, 15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ ¹⁰  So ¹¹  they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:32

15:32 It was appropriate ¹²  to celebrate and be glad, for your brother ¹³  was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’” ¹⁴ 

[15:6]  ¹ tn Grk “And coming into his…” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[15:6]  ² sn A touch of drama may be present, as the term calls together can mean a formal celebration (1 Kgs 1:9-10).

[15:6]  ³ tn Grk “the”; in context the article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215). It occurs before “neighbors” as well (“his friends and his neighbors”) but has not been translated the second time because of English style.

[15:7]  ⁴ sn There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. The pursuit of the sinner is a priority in spite of the presence of others who are doing well (see also Luke 5:32; 19:10). The theme of repentance, a major Lukan theme, is again emphasized.

[15:7]  ⁵ tn Here δικαίοις (dikaioi") is an adjective functioning substantivally and has been translated “righteous people.”

[15:7]  ⁶ tn Or “who do not need to repent”; Grk “who do not have need of repentance.”

[15:23]  ⁷ tn Grk “And bring.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[15:23]  ⁸ tn Or “the prize calf” (L&N 65.8). See also L&N 44.2, “grain-fattened.” Such a calf was usually reserved for religious celebrations.

[15:23]  ⁹ tn The participle φαγόντες (fagontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[15:24]  ¹⁰ sn This statement links the parable to the theme of 15:6, 9.

[15:24]  ¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the father’s remarks in the preceding verses.

[15:32]  ¹² tn Or “necessary.”

[15:32]  ¹³ sn By referring to him as your brother, the father reminded the older brother that the younger brother was part of the family.

[15:32]  ¹⁴ sn The theme he was lost and is found is repeated from v. 24. The conclusion is open-ended. The reader is left to ponder with the older son (who pictures the scribes and Pharisees) what the response will be. The parable does not reveal the ultimate response of the older brother. Jesus argued that sinners should be pursued and received back warmly when they returned.