Bible Teachers:What does Luke chapter 15 mean?
Chapter Context
Luke 15 contains three parables with the theme of something "lost." The lost sheep, coin, and son represent sinners who leave God foolishly, unknowingly, or rebelliously. God seeks the foolish and the ignorant and waits patiently for the rebel to return to Him in humble repentance. Next is a collection of teachings on the differences between worldly and kingdom living (Luke 16:1—17:10). After two more groups of a miracle, teachings on the kingdom, and teachings on salvation (Luke 17:11—19:27), Jesus will enter Jerusalem and prepare for the crucifixion.
What does Luke chapter 15 mean?
Luke 15 continues Jesus' teachings on the proper response to the coming of the kingdom of God. The sometimes-labeled "Travelogue to Jerusalem" stretches from Luke 9:51 to Luke 19:27. It includes events, teachings, and miracles selected to provide a context for Jesus' death and resurrection and the establishment of the church. This chapter contains the three "lost parables." These are the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son. Each parable represents someone who has left God for different reasons: foolishness, ignorance, and rebellion. Since they all result in restoration of what was lost, some also refer to them as the "found parables."
Luke 15:1–2 sets the scene. As at the beginning of Jesus' ministry (Luke 5:27–32), a crowd of social outcasts and "sinners" have gathered around Him. This disgusts the Pharisees and scribes: lawyers who specialize in the traditional oral law. The religious leaders criticize Jesus for associating with such persons. Jesus responds with three parables describing how religious leaders
should react when faced with sinners who wish to repent.
Luke 15:3–7 gives the parable of the lost sheep, representing a sinner who has left God out of foolishness. A shepherd with one hundred sheep discovers one has strayed. He leaves the ninety-nine and goes on a search. When he finds the lost sheep, he carries it home and celebrates with his friends. In the same way, heaven rejoices when a sinner repents: why can't the Pharisees?
Luke 15:8–10 contains the parable of the lost coin, symbolic of a sinner who does not know he is lost. A woman has ten silver coins; one goes missing. She sweeps every corner until she finds it and, again, celebrates with her friends and neighbors. In the same way, the angels rejoice when a sinner repents; are the Pharisees more pious than angels?
Luke 15:11–32 is the parable of the prodigal son; this typifies a sinner who leaves God intentionally and rebelliously. A son dishonors his father, takes his inheritance, and spends it frivolously. Famine and poverty lead to regret and humility. The son returns home in hopes his father will make him a servant and at least feed him. Instead, the father restores him to a loving relationship. The son's older brother, however, resents his father's easy forgiveness. As educated religious leaders, the Pharisees have every advantage God can give. Why can't they rejoice when another returns to God and God restores him?
The next section contains several parables and teachings on how to respond—or not to respond—to the arrival of God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10). After two more sections that include a miracle and teachings on the kingdom of God (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27), Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.
