Luke 15

1 Now [at that time, then] all [every single one] the tax collectors [publicans, gatherers of public revenue] and sinners [those who miss the mark, sinful people] were gathering around [drawing near, coming close] to listen [to hear, to obey] to Jesus [the Savior, the Messiah]. word study 2 So the Pharisees [strict Jewish sect] and scribes [scholars of the law] began to grumble [murmur, complain]: “This man [Jesus] welcomes [receives, accepts] sinners [those who miss the mark, the unrighteous] and eats [shares a meal, has fellowship] with them [in their company, as a friend].” word study 3 Then [at that time, next] Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] told [spoke, shared] them [his disciples, the crowd] this [the following, a specific] parable [story, illustration, a teaching comparison] [saying, to explain, to illustrate]: word study 4 “What man [a human being, a person] among you, if he has [possesses, holds] a hundred [a large number, numerous] sheep and loses [destroys, misplaces] one of them, does not leave [abandon, depart from] the ninety-nine [a majority, most] in the pasture [a grazing area, a place of nourishment] and go after [pursue, search for] the one that is lost [destroyed, misplaced], until he finds [discovers, meets] it? word study 5 And when he finds [discovers, comes across] it, he joyfully [rejoicing, with great happiness] puts [layeth, places] it on [upon, over] his shoulders [the body part that bears burdens], word study 6 comes home [to his house, returning with joy], and calls together [summons, gathers] his friends [loved ones, companions] and neighbors [those living nearby, acquaintances] to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me [be glad, celebrate together], for I have found [discovered, recovered] my lost [destroyed, misplaced] sheep!’ word study 7 In the same way [thus, in this manner], I tell you [declare to you, say unto you] that there will be more joy [deep and lasting happiness] in heaven [the sky and God’s home, the spiritual realm] over one sinner [a sinful person, one who does wrong] who repents [changes their mind, turns away from sin] than over ninety-nine righteous ones [just and fair individuals, those who are innocent] who do not need to repent [feel sorry for their sins, change their ways]. word study 8 Or what woman [a female, either married or unmarried] who has ten [a decade, a complete number] silver coins [drachmas, a type of ancient currency] and loses [misplaces, is separated from] one [a single, unity] of them does not [certainly not, under no circumstances] light [kindle, ignite] a lamp [a portable light source, symbolizing spiritual guidance], sweep [clean, remove dirt from] her house [home, dwelling place], and search [look for, seek diligently] carefully [with attention to detail, thoroughly] until [up to the point when, while waiting] she finds [discovers, meets with] it? word study 9 And when she finds [discovers, comes upon] it, she calls [gathers, summons] together her friends [nearest companions, dear ones] and neighbors [those living nearby, close associates] to say [declare, proclaim], ‘Rejoice [celebrate, be glad] with me, for I have found [recovered, regained] my lost [misplaced, missing] coin [drachma, a valuable silver piece].’ word study 10 In the same way [thus, in this manner], I tell you, there is joy [deep and lasting happiness] in the presence [before] of God’s [the one true deity] angels [heavenly messengers] over one [a single] sinner [sinful person] who repents [changes their mind, turns from sin].” word study 11 Then [at that time, next] Jesus said, “There was [existed, had being] a man [a human being] who had [possessed, was given] two [a pair] sons [children, offspring]. word study 12 The younger [new, youthful] son said to him, ‘Father [male parent, patriarch], give me my share [portion, inheritance] of the estate [property, substance].’ So he divided [to distribute, separate] his property [goods, livelihood] between them [his sons]. word study 13 After [not many] a few days, the younger [new, youthful] son got everything together and journeyed [went abroad, traveled] to a [far, long] distant country, where he squandered [scattered, wasted] his wealth [estate, substance, possessions] in [riotous, reckless, wildly] wild living [a life of reckless spending, lacking self-control]. word study 14 After he had spent [used up, exhausted] all he had, a severe [mighty, strong] famine [hunger, lack of food] swept through that country [region, land], and he began [started, commenced] to be in need [want, lack, falling short]. word study 15 So he went [traveling to a new place] and hired himself out [to join, to cleave] to a citizen [a resident, an inhabitant] of that country [region, land], who sent him into his fields [to the countryside, to the farm] to feed [to pasture, to care for] the pigs [swine, unclean animals]. word study 16 He longed [yearned deeply, was desirous] to fill his belly [stomach, womb] with the pods [husks, kernels] the pigs [swine, unclean animals] were eating, but no one [nobody, none] would give him a thing [anything, food]. word study 17 Finally he came to his senses [returned to a state of moral and spiritual awareness] and said, ‘How many of my father’s [male parent, paternal figure] hired servants [paid laborers] have plenty of food [bread, necessities for life]? But here I am [the speaker himself], starving to death [perishing with hunger, dying from lack of food]! word study 18 I will get up [arise, stand up from a position of rest] and go back [travel, journey] to my father [male parent, paternal figure] and say [speak, utter] to him, “Father [paternal figure, one who cares], I have sinned [missed the mark, fallen short] against heaven [the sky, God’s home] and against you [in your presence, before your eyes]. word study 19 I am [no more deserving, not worthy] no longer worthy to be called your son [a child of yours, a son in your eyes]. Make me [treat me, consider me] like [as, similar to] one of your hired servants [a worker, a laborer for you].”’ word study 20 So he got up [arose, stood up from his current state] and went to his father [the male parent who had given him life and provision]. But while he was still [yet, in the midst of his journey] in the distance [far away, at a great physical and emotional remove], his father [the one who had been waiting and watching for him] saw him [perceived, noticed, and understood his situation] and was filled with compassion [moved with pity, sympathy, and tender mercy]. He ran [hastened, moved quickly with urgency and love] to his son [the child who was dear to him], embraced [fell on, threw his arms around, and held closely] him, and kissed [pressed his lips to, showed affection and acceptance] him. word study 21 The son declared [to say, speak openly], ‘Father [male parent, heavenly Father], I have sinned [missed the mark, fallen short] against heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] and against you [in your presence, before your eyes]. I am no longer [not anymore, no more worthy] worthy [deserving, suitable] to be called [invited, named] your son [child, offspring]. ’ word study 22 But the father [a male parent] said to his servants [slaves or attendants], ‘Quick! Bring [carry out] the best [first or foremost] robe [a long, dignified garment] and put it on him [to clothe]. Put a ring [a circular piece of jewelry] on his finger [hand] and sandals [shoes or footwear] on his feet [the lower extremities]. word study 23 Bring the fattened [fed grain to make it fat, well-nourished] calf [a young bullock] and kill [sacrifice, offer to God] it. Let us feast [eat, celebrate with food] and celebrate [rejoice, be merry, cheer one another]. word study 24 For this [my beloved] son of mine [a child of God] was dead [spiritually lifeless] and is alive again [revived]! He was lost [completely destroyed] and is found [discovered]!’ So they began [to commence celebrating] to celebrate [rejoice, with great joy]. word study 25 Meanwhile [at the same time, as he came near] the older [elder, more mature] son was in the field [countryside, rural area], and as he approached [came near, drew close to] the house [home, family dwelling], he heard [listened to, perceived] music [a symphony, harmonious sound] and dancing [a celebration, joyful movement]. word study 26 So he called [summoned, invited near] one [a single, unity] of the servants [young men, ministers] and asked [inquired, sought to learn] what [which things, these events] was going on [happening, taking place, meant]. word study 27 ‘Your brother [male sibling, fellow believer] has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father [male parent, heavenly Father] has killed the fattened [well-fed, mature] calf, because he has him back [received him again, welcomed him home] safe [unharmed, whole] and sound [healthy, complete].’ word study 28 The older son [became greatly enraged] became angry [was deeply displeased] and refused [would not, was unwilling] to go in [to enter the house, join the celebration]. So his father [the paternal parent, head of the household] came out [went out, emerged] and pleaded [entreated, begged, comforted] with him [urged, encouraged]. word study 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look [behold, see], all these years [many years, a long time] I have served [been a slave, obeyed] you and never [at any time, not even once] disobeyed [transgressed, gone against] a commandment [instruction, divine order] of yours. Yet you never [not even once, at any time] gave me even [as much as] a young goat [kid, a small goat] so I could celebrate [make merry, rejoice] with my friends [those who are close to me, companions]. word study 30 But when [at the exact moment] this son [child, offspring] of yours returns [comes back, arrives] from squandering [wasting, devoting to sinful purposes] your wealth [property, possessions] with [in the company of, among] prostitutes [harlots, immoral women], you kill [slaughter, sacrifice] the fattened [well-fed, plump] calf [young bull, animal for sacrifice] for him [on his behalf, to honor him]!’ word study 31 ‘Son [child, born to parents], you are always [at all times, ever] with me [in my presence, accompanying me],’ the father said, ‘and all [everything, every possession] that is mine [belonging to me, my own] is yours [belonging to you, your possession]. word study 32 But it was fitting [necessary, appropriate] to celebrate [make merry, rejoice] and be glad [happy, joyful], because this brother [male sibling, fellow believer] of yours was dead [lifeless, spiritually unresponsive] and is alive [revived, living] again; he was lost [destroyed, completely gone] and is found [discovered, recovered].’” word study