Luke 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 

Luke 15:9-10

15:9 Then 7  when she has found it, she calls together her 8  friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice 9  with me, for I have found the coin 10  that I had lost.’ 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels 11  over one sinner who repents.”

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

8 tn Grk “the”; in context the article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).

9 sn Rejoice. Besides the theme of pursuing the lost, the other theme of the parable is the joy of finding them.

10 tn Grk “drachma.”

11 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.