Luke 15 reveals the heart of God toward sinners—a heart full of compassion, mercy, and rejoicing. As we prepare for Christmas, these parables remind us of God’s relentless pursuit of the lost and His joy when they return to Him. The shepherd, the woman, and the father represent God’s care for every sinner, no matter how far they have strayed.
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The Parable of the Lost Sheep (15:1-7)[1]
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin (15:8-10)[2]
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (15:11-32)[3]
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
[1] Tax collectors and sinners drew near to hear Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes grumbled because He welcomed them. In response, Jesus told three parables, starting with the lost sheep. A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to search for one that is lost, and when he finds it, he rejoices greatly. Jesus explains that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who think they need no repentance.
[2] A woman loses one of her ten silver coins and diligently searches for it, lighting a lamp and sweeping her house. When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. Jesus emphasizes that the same joy occurs among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
[3] A father has two sons. The younger demands his inheritance, leaves home, and squanders it in reckless living. Reduced to feeding pigs and longing to eat their food, he comes to his senses and decides to return to his father, confessing his sin. The father, seeing him from afar, runs to embrace him, clothes him with a robe, places a ring on his finger, and celebrates his return with a feast.
The older son, however, becomes angry, refusing to join the celebration. He protests that he has always been faithful but was never given such a feast. The father gently reminds him that all he has belongs to him, but it is right to celebrate because the lost son has been found.
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