Luke 14:15:5-7

Rachel Workman: 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Who is righteous? Certainly not me. I am still a sinner in need of a Savior.

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John Burnett:  ⁵ When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.  Verse 7 is another reference to repentance being required for one to get to heaven.  It is tongue in cheek for Him to say “99 who need no repentance” because there is no one who falls into that category.  Romans 3:12 says no one does good so that means everyone needs repentance and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  He is glorified when one repents, He is disrespected when we think of our selves as righteous.

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Mike Grimm:  ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

God’s love for each individual is so great that He seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is “found.” Jesus associated with sinners because He wanted to bring the lost sheep—people considered beyond hope—the gospel of God’s kingdom. Before we were believers, God sought us; and His love is still seeking those who are yet lost.

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Tomorrow’s reading for Luke 15:8-10

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins^[a] and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”