# Luke 15 đ: Lost and Found
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Observations / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin
**Principle**: Everyone matters to God.
[[#Verse 01.]] Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, âThis man welcomes sinners and eats with them.â
[[#Verse 03.]] So Jesus told them this parable:Â
[[#Verse 04.]] âWhich one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
[[#Verse 06.]] Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, âRejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.âÂ
[[#Verse 07.]] I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
## The Parable of the Lost Coin
**Principle**: Everyone has value. No one is left out.
[[#Verse 08.]] âOr what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it?Â
[[#Verse 09.]] Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, âRejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.â
[[#Verse 10.]] In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of Godâs angels over one sinner who repents.â
#### The Parable of the Compassionate Father
**Principle**: The Father runs to us.
[[#Verse 11.]] Then Jesus said, âA man had two sons.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] The younger of them said to his father, âFather, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.â So he divided his assets between them.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] He was longing to eat the carob podsthe pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] But when he came to his senses he said, âHow many of my fatherâs hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger!Â
[[#Verse 18.]] I will get up and go to my father and say to him, âFather, I have sinned against heaven and against you.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.ââÂ
[[#Verse 20.]] So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] Then his son said to him, âFather, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.âÂ
[[#Verse 22.]] But the father said to his slaves, âHurry! Bring the best robe,and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!Â
[[#Verse 23.]] Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate,Â
[[#Verse 24.]] because this son of mine was dead, and is alive againâhe was lost and is found!â So they began to celebrate.
[[#Verse 25.]] âNow his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] The slave replied, âYour brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.âÂ
[[#Verse 28.]] But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him,Â
[[#Verse 29.]] but he answered his father, âLook! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends!Â
[[#Verse 30.]] But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!âÂ
[[#Verse 31.]] Then the father said to him, âSon, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.ââ
[[Luke 16]]
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Luke 15 contains three parables about lost things: a sheep, a coin, and a son.
2. A flock of one hundred sheep (15:4) was a typical size for a family of modest means.
3. A shepherd often carried a lost sheep on his shoulders (15:5), since a frightened sheep may refuse to walk.
4. The silver coins (15:8) were drachmas, each worth about a day's wage. Some suggest they were part of the woman's dowry.
5. Village houses had small windows and dirt floors, so finding a coin took a lamp and a careful sweep (15:8).
6. Under the Law, the firstborn son received a double portion (Deuteronomy 21:17), so a younger of two sons would receive one third of the estate.
7. Asking for an inheritance while the father was still living (15:12) was deeply disrespectful in that culture.
8. Feeding pigs (15:15) was about as low as a Jewish young man could fall, since pigs were unclean animals.
9. The carob pods the pigs ate (15:16) were food for animals and for the very poor.
10. Running (15:20) was considered undignified for an older man of standing, which makes the father's welcome even more striking.
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep (15:4-6) and reveals the Father who runs to welcome His returning children (15:20). He came to seek and to save the lost (19:10).
## đ Key Observations / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. The religious leaders complained that Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them (15:2). How does our church make lost people feel welcome?
2. The father ran to his son while he was still a long way off (15:20). What does this picture teach you about how God receives you?
3. The older brother refused to join the celebration (15:28-30). Where might you resemble the older brother?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 7: There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
- đ verse 10: There is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.
- đ verse 20: The father sees his son from far off, is filled with compassion, runs, and embraces him.
- đ verse 24: The son who was dead is alive again; he was lost and is found.
## đ Related Passages
- đ [[Ezekiel 34#Verse 11.|Ezekiel 34:11-16]] - God searches for His sheep.
- đ [[Matthew 18#Verse 12.|Matthew 18:12-14]] - The shepherd seeks the lost.
- đ [[Psalm 51#Verse 04.|Psalm 51:4]] - Against You I have sinned.
- đ [[Psalm 103#Verse 13.|Psalm 103:13]] - The Father's compassion.
- đ [[Isaiah 61#Verse 10.|Isaiah 61:10]] - Clothed with garments of salvation.
- đ [[Ephesians 02#Verse 01.|Ephesians 2:1-5]] - Dead in sin, made alive.
- đ [[Jonah 04#Verse 01.|Jonah 4:1-4]] - Anger at God's mercy.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Luke 15 - SOAP|The Joy of the Lord]]
## đ Internal Notes