Chapter Heading
Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost
General Outline
1-2. The Pharisees & Scribes grumble at Jesus eating with sinners
3-7. The Lost Sheep
8-10. The Lost Coin
11-24. The Lost Son, Part 1
25-32. The Lost Son, Part 2
Brief Summary
The Pharisees sit outside grumbling as sinners repent and sup with Jesus. Jesus then tells a parable, aimed at their grumbling. The Shepherd goes after a lost sheep and celebrates when it is found. So too, the angels rejoice when a sinner repents! The woman searches for the lost coin, and rejoices when it is found. So too, the angels! And what about the Father who loses and regains a son? He throws a party and rejoices for the son who repents. The older son, however, sits outside and grumbles. He is angry at the Father’s joy and implies that He does not love His older son. But the Father loves both sons and explains this to the older: “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” (Lk 15.31b-32, NKJV). So too with every repentant sinner!