Parables of Jesus Table

15:1 the tax collectors See Matt 5:46 and note.

15:2 Pharisees and the scribes See note on Luke 5:17.

welcomes sinners and eats with them In response to the religious leaders’ complaint, Jesus tells parables to explain His purpose in welcoming sinners and sharing table fellowship with them. He teaches that each repentant sinner prompts a heavenly celebration (vv. 7, 10, 32).

15:4 until he finds it When this detail is applied to Jesus’ teaching about sinners, it conveys the divine initiative to recover those who are lost.

15:5 he places it on his shoulders The shepherd carries the sheep to safety.

15:6 Rejoice with me There is shared joy over the recovery of the lost sheep (compare Luke 15:7, 10).

15:7 more joy in heaven over one sinner This does not indicate that sinful people are valued more dearly than righteous people. Rather, the heavenly hosts are celebrating repentance—the return of one who was lost.

15:8 search carefully until she finds Compare v. 4 and note.

15:9 Rejoice with me Compare v. 6 and note.

15:10 over one sinner who repents Compare v. 7 and note.

15:11 a certain man had two sons The parable’s opening line sets up two parts, one for each son (vv. 12–24, 25–32).

15:12 give me the share of the property The younger son is demanding his share of the inheritance, which could be paid out at any time as permitted by his father. The older son would have received a double portion amounting to two-thirds of what belonged to his father (see Deut 21:17).

So he divided his assets between them The older son did not necessarily receive his two-thirds share at this time. The division of assets was for the purpose of determining the one-third portion due to the younger son.

15:13 gathered everything According to parallels in Greek literature, the word synagō used here (meaning “gather together”) suggests that the younger son converted his assets—perhaps livestock and property—to currency.

by living wastefully The older brother later notes that this includes spending money on prostitutes (Luke 15:30).

15:15 pigs Since pigs were unclean animals according to the law (Lev 11:7; Deut 14:8), Jesus suggests that the younger son became a swine-herding slave to a Gentile (non-Jewish person)—a threefold dishonor. The scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees to whom Jesus is speaking (Luke 15:2) would have equated this existence to a cursed life.

15:16 carob pods The Greek word used here refers to seed pods similar to peapods but from the carob tree, which was common throughout the Mediterranean region. They were used as animal feed and have a sweet, chocolate-like flavor.

15:18 heaven A way of referring to God without uttering His name.

15:19 no longer worthy to be called your son Since he already had received (and spent) his inheritance, this statement must refer to more than the son’s legal standing within the family. He regards his actions as being so reprehensible that he deserves to be cut off from his family in a relational sense.

15:20 ran The father’s act of running toward his lost son alludes to the divine initiative to seek and welcome sinners (see v. 4 and note). Nothing in the text indicates that the father’s act of running was somehow shameful.

kissed him Suggestive of forgiveness (compare 2 Sam 14:33 and note).

15:21 heaven See note on Luke 15:18.

worthy to be called your son The father does not let him finish the speech he prepared (vv. 18–19).

15:22 Quickly bring out the best robe Probably reserved for honored guests.

put a ring on his finger Indicative of sonship and the ability to approve transactions on behalf of his father.

sandals on his feet Being impoverished, the son was likely barefoot. All three gifts in this verse, coupled with the food in v. 23, are gracious provisions by his father.

15:23 the fattened calf Reserved for joyous, lavish celebrations.

15:24 He was lost and is found This phrase conveys the point of all three parables in ch. 15. Jesus is telling the scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees (vv. 2–3) that the Father rejoices over repentant sinners and embraces them as His children.

15:25 Now his older son was in the field Indicates a shift to the second part of the parable (see note on v. 11).

15:28 he became angry Instead of rejoicing that his lost brother was found, the older brother responds with resentment. This attitude reflects the scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees’ complaint about Jesus’ fellowship with sinners (v. 2).

did not want to go in The older brother refuses to join the celebration in the house.

15:29 have never disobeyed your command Possibly intended to reflect the thinking of the scribes (teachers of the law), Pharisees, and perhaps other Jews who considered themselves righteous and were bothered by the warm welcome that Jesus gave to those they classified as sinners (vv. 1–2).

15:30 this son of yours The older brother avoids calling the younger son “my brother.”

15:31 everything I have belongs to you Indicative of the older son’s status as the firstborn.

15:32 it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice Compare v. 7 and note; v. 10.

was lost, and is found The story concludes with the father repeating his joyful statement from v. 24. Through all three parables in this chapter, Jesus conveys God the Father’s deep desire to embrace sinners and those that many in Israel treated as outcasts.