Luke 15:4-7

15:4 “Which one ¹  of you, if he has a hundred ²  sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture ³  and go look for ⁴  the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵  15:5 Then ⁶  when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 15:6 Returning ⁷  home, he calls together ⁸  his ⁹  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 ¹⁰  who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people ¹¹  who have no need to repent. ¹² 

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¹ tn Grk “What man.” The Greek word ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in a somewhat generic sense.

² sn This individual with a hundred sheep is a shepherd of modest means, as flocks often had up to two hundred head of sheep.

³ tn Or “desert,” but here such a translation might suggest neglect of the 99 sheep left behind.

⁴ tn Grk “go after,” but in contemporary English the idiom “to look for” is used to express this.

⁵ sn Until he finds it. The parable pictures God’s pursuit of the sinner. On the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, see John 10:1-18.

⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁷ tn Grk “And coming into his…” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁸ sn A touch of drama may be present, as the term calls together can mean a formal celebration (1 Kgs 1:9-10).

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ tn Here δικαίοις (dikaioi") is an adjective functioning substantivally and has been translated “righteous people.”

¹² tn Or “who do not need to repent”; Grk “who do not have need of repentance.”