Lukas 15:6-7

15:6 Returning ¹  home, he calls together ²  his ³  friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 15:7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner ⁴  who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people ⁵  who have no need to repent. ⁶ 

Lukas 15:10

15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels ⁷  over one sinner who repents.”

Lukas 15:22-24

15:22 But the father said to his slaves, ⁸  ‘Hurry! Bring the best robe, ⁹  and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger ¹⁰  and sandals ¹¹  on his feet! 15:23 Bring ¹²  the fattened calf ¹³  and kill it! Let us eat ¹⁴  and celebrate, 15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ ¹⁵  So ¹⁶  they began to celebrate.

[15:6]  ¹ tn Grk “And coming into his…” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[15:6]  ² sn A touch of drama may be present, as the term calls together can mean a formal celebration (1 Kgs 1:9-10).

[15:6]  ³ tn Grk “the”; in context the article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215). It occurs before “neighbors” as well (“his friends and his neighbors”) but has not been translated the second time because of English style.

[15:7]  ⁴ sn There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. The pursuit of the sinner is a priority in spite of the presence of others who are doing well (see also Luke 5:32; 19:10). The theme of repentance, a major Lukan theme, is again emphasized.

[15:7]  ⁵ tn Here δικαίοις (dikaioi") is an adjective functioning substantivally and has been translated “righteous people.”

[15:7]  ⁶ tn Or “who do not need to repent”; Grk “who do not have need of repentance.”

[15:10]  ⁷ sn The whole of heaven is said to rejoice. Joy in the presence of God’s angels is a way of referring to God’s joy as well without having to name him explicitly. Contemporary Judaism tended to refer to God indirectly where possible out of reverence or respect for the divine name.

[15:22]  ⁸ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.

[15:22]  ⁹ sn With the instructions Hurry! Bring the best robe, there is a total acceptance of the younger son back into the home.

[15:22]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “hand”; but χείρ (ceir) can refer to either the whole hand or any relevant part of it (L&N 8.30).

[15:22]  ¹¹ sn The need for sandals underlines the younger son’s previous destitution, because he was barefoot.

[15:23]  ¹² tn Grk “And bring.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[15:23]  ¹³ tn Or “the prize calf” (L&N 65.8). See also L&N 44.2, “grain-fattened.” Such a calf was usually reserved for religious celebrations.

[15:23]  ¹⁴ tn The participle φαγόντες (fagontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[15:24]  ¹⁵ sn This statement links the parable to the theme of 15:6, 9.

[15:24]  ¹⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the father’s remarks in the preceding verses.