Discovery BoxLuke 15:2-7 
Context15:2 But 1 the Pharisees 2 and the experts in the law 3 were complaining, 4 “This man welcomes 5 sinners and eats with them.”
15:3 So 6 Jesus 7 told them 8 this parable: 9 15:4 “Which one 10 of you, if he has a hundred 11 sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture 12 and go look for 13 the one that is lost until he finds it? 14 15:5 Then 15 when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 15:6 Returning 16 home, he calls together 17 his 18 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 19 who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people 20 who have no need to repent. 21
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
2 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
3 tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
4 tn Or “grumbling”; Grk “were complaining, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
5 tn Or “accepts,” “receives.” This is not the first time this issue has been raised: Luke 5:27-32; 7:37-50.
6 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that Jesus’ telling of the parable is in response to the complaints of the Pharisees and experts in the law.
7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 sn Them means at the minimum the parable is for the leadership, but probably also for those people Jesus accepted, but the leaders regarded as outcasts.
9 tn Grk “parable, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
10 tn Grk “What man.” The Greek word ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in a somewhat generic sense.
11 sn This individual with a hundred sheep is a shepherd of modest means, as flocks often had up to two hundred head of sheep.
12 tn Or “desert,” but here such a translation might suggest neglect of the 99 sheep left behind.
13 tn Grk “go after,” but in contemporary English the idiom “to look for” is used to express this.
14 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.
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
16 tn Grk “And coming into his…” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
17 sn A touch of drama may be present, as the term calls together can mean a formal celebration (1 Kgs 1:9-10).
18 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.
19 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.
20 tn Here δικαίοις (dikaioi") is an adjective functioning substantivally and has been translated “righteous people.”
21 tn Or “who do not need to repent”; Grk “who do not have need of repentance.”
