Preface: Luke 15 is Jesus giving 3 parables to the religious crowd who are observing and criticizing Him. He speaks of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son in this chapter.

Bible Summary: Jesus said, "Heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. A son squandered his father's wealth. He returned and his father called a feast.".

This should be the most extensive examination of Luke 15 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Outline of Chapter 15:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–2           The Audience to whom Jesus Spoke

         vv.     3–7           The Parable of the Lost Sheep

         vv.     8–10         The Parable of the Lost Coin

         vv.    11–32         The Parable of the Prodigal Son

         vv.        11–24        The Younger Son

         vv.        25–32        The Older Son

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Luke 15 (by Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Luke 15 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Luke 15

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel of Luke 15

         Introduction         The Principals of Luke 15

         Introduction         The Places of Luke 15

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Luke 15

         Introduction         Outlines and Summaries of Luke 15 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Luke 15 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Luke 13–17)

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translation for Luke 15

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions

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         v.      16              Ripened Carob Husks (a photograph)

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         v.      24              The Prodigal Son Parable Part I

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         v.      32              The Parable of the Prodigal Son—Part II

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Luke 15 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Luke 15

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Luke 15

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         Summary 

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Luke 15:3–7

         Addendum          Christian Community Bible Note on Luke 15:11–32

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Luke 15:14–19

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Luke 15:20–24

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Luke 15:25–32

         Addendum 

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Luke 15

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         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Luke 15

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Luke 15

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Luke 15

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An Introduction to Luke 15

I ntroduction: Luke 15 is one of the easiest chapters to outline. There are simply three sections because Jesus tells three parables: there is the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. These are not three parables about the same thing, but they are related parables. They carry the same theme, which is why the chapters were divided as they were (to put the three parables together by themselves).

It is important that we know Jesus’ audience. There are the religious types, the pharisees and scribes—and they are very upset by what it is that they are seeing. Then there are the tax collectors and sinners, and they are fellowshipping with Jesus at a meal.

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The Audience to whom Jesus Spoke

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       I will use the Westcott-Hort Greek text as the basis for my English translation. I use that test primarily because e-sword has a nice module by Rob Wolfram which has the interlinear English text, Strong’s #’s, and the Greek morphology. The e-sword tab is IWH+P. I do not use their English text for my translation. Also, throughout, I take in consideration alternate readings.

As a young Christian, I was quite interested in the alternative readings. After many decades of study, I have found that, as with the Hebrew text, disputed readings rarely have any affect on the interpretation of a text (apart from perhaps a half-dozen fairly well-known alternate readings, like the end of the book of Mark).

I will compare the Greek text to English translations of the Latin and Syriac (= Aramaic) texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation and George Lamsa’s translation from the Syriac. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.).

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls are irrelevant, as they preceded the writing of the New Testament by over 200 years.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    But was with Him approaching, all the tax collectors and the sinners, to hear Him. And are murmuring not only the pharisees but also the scribes, saying that, “This One, sinners He keeps on admitting and He keeps on eating with them.”

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        Then the Makse {the Tax collectors} and the Khataye {the Sinners} were drawing near to Him so that they might hear Him.

And the Saphre {the Scribes}, and the Phrishe {the Pharisees} were murmuring, and saying, “This one receives the Khataye {the Sinners}, and eats with them!

James Murdock’s Syriac NT And publicans and sinners came to him, to hear him.

And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured, and said: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Original Aramaic NT              But Tax Collectors and sinners were approaching to hear him.

And the Scribes and Pharisees were complaining and they were saying, "This one receives sinners, and he eats with them."

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         But Tax Collectors and sinners were approaching to hear him.

And the Scribes and Pharisees were complaining and they were saying, “This one receives sinners, and he eats with them.”

Significant differences: 

English Translations:          I have included translations which I disagree with and footnotes that I do not necessarily agree with. If I believe that the author is too far from the truth, I may even address that at the footnote. However, nearly all of the correct commentary will be found following the Greek text box and the translation of each phrase.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             Now all the tax-farmers and sinners came near to give ear to him. 

And the Pharisees and scribes were angry, saying, This man gives approval to sinners, and takes food with them.

Bible in Worldwide English     The tax collectors and bad people all came close to Jesus to hear him. The Pharisees and scribes did not like it. And they said to each other, This man is glad to have bad people come. He eats with them.

Easy English                          One day, many bad people and men who took taxes from people were coming round Jesus. They all wanted to hear what Jesus was saying. The Pharisees and teachers of God's Law did not like this. ‘This man is friendly with people that do not obey God,’ they said. ‘He even eats with them in their homes.’

God’s Word™                         All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. But the Pharisees and the scribes complained, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Good News Bible (TEV)         One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, "This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!"

J. B. Phillips                           Jesus speaks of the love of God for “the lost”

Now all the tax-collectors and “outsiders” were crowding around to hear what he had to say. The Pharisees and the scribes complained of this, remarking, “This man accepts sinners and even eats his meals with them.”

The Message                         The Story of the Lost Sheep

By this time a lot of men and women of questionable reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story. V. 3 is included for context.

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    The Picture-Story of the Lost Sheep

All the tax-gatherers and sinners were coming to hear Jesus. The proud religious law-keepers and the teachers of the Law began to speak against Him. They said, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

New Simplified Bible              One day a large number of tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus. Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: »This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!«

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible              THE SHEEP THAT GOT AWAY

Jesus attracted a crowd of tax collectors[1] and sinners. They got as close to him as they could so they could hear what he had to say. Pharisees and Jewish scholars known as scribes didn’t like that. They grumbled, “This guy not only welcomes sinners, he eats with them!”

¹15:1See note for 5:30.

⁸5:30Jews considered tax collectors collaborators with the enemy – Romans who had been occupying the Jewish homeland for about a century. Tax collectors were often Jews who bid on the job of collecting taxes from their fellow Jews. Their bid was a promise to pay that amount of money to Rome. Whatever they collected above that bid, they kept as profit. Many tax collectors had a reputation for overcharging. Some rabbis later taught that it was perfectly okay to lie to a tax collector – essentially, to cheat a cheater.

Contemporary English V.       Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, "This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them."

The Living Bible                     Dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus’ sermons; but this caused complaints from the Jewish religious leaders and the experts on Jewish law because he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them!

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           Parable of the Lost Sheep

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

The Passion Translation        The Parable of the Lost Lamb

Many dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often gathered around to listen as Jesus taught the people. This raised concerns with the Jewish religious leaders and experts of the law. Indignant, they grumbled and complained, saying, “Look at how this man associates with all these notorious sinners and welcomes them all to come to him!”.

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  Now, many tax collectors and other people who were considered to be habitual sinners kept coming to Jesus to listen to him teach.  When the Pharisees and teachers of the Jewish laws saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them." They thought Jesus was defiling himself by doing this.

Williams’ New Testament      Now all the tax-collectors and notorious sinners were crowding around Him to listen to Him. And so the Pharisees and scribes continually grumbled, and said, "This fellow is welcoming notorious sinners, and even eating with them."

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Well, tax collectors and sinners kept coming to [Jesus] to listen to the things that he was saying. And because of this, the Pharisees and Scribes started murmuring:‘This man welcomes sinners… And look, he even eats with them!’

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            All the tax collectors and the sinful people were near Him to be listening to Him. And both the Separatists and the Old Testament transcribers were whispering among themselves, saying, "This Man accepts sinful people in and eats together with them."

Common English Bible           Occasions for celebration

All the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to listen to him. The Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

New Advent (Knox) Bible       When they found all the publicans and sinners coming to listen to him, the Pharisees and scribes were indignant; Here is a man, they said, that entertains sinners, and eats with them.

NT for Everyone                     The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin

All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming close to listen to Jesus. The Pharisees and the legal experts were grumbling. ‘This fellow welcomes sinners!’ they said. ‘He even eats with them!’

20^th Century New Testament The tax-gatherers and the outcasts were all drawing near to Jesus to listen to him; But the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law found fault. "This man always welcomes outcasts, and takes meals with them!" they complained.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    Then He was approached by all the tax collectors and sinners, who wanted to hear Him.. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This man meets with sinners, and dines with them."

Evangelical Heritage V.          .

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                The Lost Sheep.

And all the tax-farmers and the sinners were drawing near to listen to Him; but the Pharisees and professors were grumbling loudly, saying, "This fellow admits sinners, and eats with them."

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           Then resorted unto him all the publicans and sinners, for to hear him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured saying: He received to his company sinners, and eats with them.

International Standard V                                    The Parable about the Faithful Shepherd

(Matthew 18:12-14)

Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus. [Lit. him] But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

NIV, ©2011                             The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Weymouth New Testament    Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him; and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, "He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!"

Wikipedia Bible Project          All the tax collectors and other ‘sinners’ used to come and listen to Jesus. The Pharisees and the religious teachers complained. “This man is welcoming sinners, and eating with them,” they said.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)     The lost sheep

(Mt 18:12)

Meanwhile tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Mt 9:9-11

The Heritage Bible                 .

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible (2011)   The Parable of the Lost Sheep.

^a * The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”^b

* [15:1–32] To the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:1–7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Mt 18:12–14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Lk 15:8–10; the prodigal son, Lk 15:11–32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner.

a. [15:1–7] Mt 9:10–13.

b. [15:2] 5:30; 19:7.

New Catholic Bible                 Salvation—Joy and Torment of God^[a]

This Man Receives Sinners.^[b] Now the tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus, and the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

[a] Luke 15:1 These three joyous parables of Luke’s Gospel disclose the sentiments that the Father and Jesus have toward human beings. God is untiringly concerned for those who are far off, the sinners or unbelievers. His joy is to seek out and find those who are lost. This desire and this joy of God are revealed to us in the comportment of Christ himself toward sinners. In turn, the Church must trust in the mercy of God and must seek out and welcome those who seem far away. May she always bear witness to the value that human beings have in the eyes of God.

[b] Luke 15:1 In the name of God’s love for sinners, Jesus overthrows several customs of his day. He refuses to accept the attitudes held by well-regarded religious figures: scorn toward others and smugness in their own self-sufficiency.

New English Bible–1970        The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Peraea)

[ Lk.15.1-7 → ] - Mt.18.12-14

ANOTHER TIME, the tax-gatherers and other bad characters were all crowding in to listen to him; and the Pharisees and the doctors of the law began grumbling among themselves: 'This fellow', they said, 'welcomes sinners and eats with them.'

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!”

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Holy New Covenant Trans.    Tax collectors and "sinners" all came near to listen to Jesus. Then the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain, "This man welcomes sinners! He even eats with them!"

Israeli Authorised Version      Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Prushim and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Tree of Life Version                Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear Yeshua. The Pharisees and the Torah scholars began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...were but him Approaching All The Tax Collectors and The [Men] Offending to hear him and murmured The also Pharisees and The Clerics Saying for This [men] offending awaits and [He] eats (together) [with] them...

Awful Scroll Bible                   Moreover, there continues to be drawing near to him, all manner of tax-talliers and they missing-the-mark to listen to him.

However the Resolved and the scribes, remains to grumble-throughout, speaking out certainly-of-whom, "This-same one welcomes-near for himself they missing-the-mark, and eats-with them."

Concordant Literal Version    .

exeGeses companion Bible   YAH SHUA ON THE LOST SHEEP

And all the customs agents and sinners

approach to hear him:

and the Pharisees and scribes murmur, wording,

This one awaits sinners and eats with them.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Now all the mochesim (taxcollectors) and the chote’im (sinners) were coming near Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach to listen to him.

And both the Perushim and the Sofrim were grumbling, saying, This one gives a kabbalat panim reception to chote’im (sinners) and eats at tish with them.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. § 62. The Lost Sheep, Lost Silver, and Lost Son.

Chapter 15.

But allʹ the tax-collectors and the sinners were |unto him| drawing nearˎ to be hearkening unto him; and both the Pharisees and the Scribes were murmuring, saying—

||This man|| |unto sinners| giveth welcome, and eateth with them.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                The Lost Sheep

Now all the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

An Understandable Version   Now the tax collectors and worldly people were all gathering around Jesus to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and experts in the Law of Moses both complained, saying, “This man welcomes worldly people and [even] eats with them.”

The Expanded Bible              A Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin

The tax collectors [^C who were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion] and sinners all ·came [drew near] to listen to Jesus. But the Pharisees and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] began to ·complain [murmur; grumble]: “Look, this man ·welcomes [associates with; receives] sinners and even eats with them [^C indicating social acceptance].”

Jonathan Mitchell NT             Now all the tax collection contractors (or: governmental customs and tribute agents) and outcasts (cultural, religious and legal failures; those who by habit and lifestyle miss the mark; sinners) were progressively drawing near to Him to continue listening and hearing Him,

Consequently both the Pharisees and the scribes (scholars; theologians of the Law) kept on privately grumbling, muttering complaint and discontent among themselves, one after another saying "This man is constantly receiving and giving welcoming-hospitality to outcasts (sinners; etc.) and is habitually eating with them."

P. Kretzmann Commentary    Verses 1-2

Parables of the Love of Christ to the Lost.

The murmuring Pharisees:

Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him.

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

The fifteenth chapter of Luke is, as one commentator has called it, the golden center of this Gospel, revealing in a wonderful way the love of the Savior for the lost and condemned sinners. The Lord here exhibits the unspeakable riches of His merciful love to all men, but especially to those that feel the need of that mercy. There were nearing to Him at that time, the evangelist writes. As iron filings are attracted to a magnet, so the message of love and forgiveness which Jesus proclaimed drew the broken hearts to His grace. It was not merely the attraction of human sympathy and kindness, but it was the sweetness of the Savior's love and the glorious promise of pardon, full and free. Publicans and sinners they were, despised and cast out of the synagogues throughout the land; they were not permitted to associate on a plane of equality with the Jews in good standing. But these outcasts came, not like the majority of the other people, primarily for the purpose of witnessing miracles of various kinds, but to hear Him. The blessed words of salvation attracted them; they could not hear enough of the healing message which Christ proclaimed with unwearying kindness. Others, however, were present that had a different opinion concerning such intimacy of the Lord with publicans and sinners. The Pharisees and scribes murmured with indignation against Him, saying that He made Himself the equal of the scum of the lowly people by receiving them and eating with them. The mocking and derisive words of the Pharisees have now become the song of praise in the mouth of believing Christians: "Jesus sinners doth receive!"

Syndein/Thieme                     {The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin}

`` Now all the tax collectors and sinners were continually crowding close for the purpose of hearing and obeying {akouo} Him {Jesus}.

``But the Pharisees and the experts in the sacred scriptures/law were 'grumbling in a low undertone muttering, conferring secretly with one another and discontentedly complaining' {diagogguzo}, "This one gives access to Himself and His companionship to sinners and eats with them."

Translation for Translators     Jesus taught that God is pleased when people turn from their sinful behavior.

Luke 15:1-10

Many [HYP] tax collectors and others whom people considered to be habitual sinners kept coming to Jesus to listen to him teach. The Pharisees and men who taught the Jewish laws who were there [SYN] began to grumble, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and he also defiles himself by eating with them!”

The Voice                               Jesus became increasingly popular among notorious sinners—tax collectors and other social outcasts. The Pharisees and religious scholars noticed this.

Pharisees and Religious Scholars: This man welcomes immoral people and enjoys their company over a meal!

Bible Translations with a Lot of Footnotes:

NET Bible®                             The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin

Now all the tax collectors¹ and sinners were coming² to hear him. But³ the Pharisees⁴ and the experts in the law⁵ were complaining,⁶ “This man welcomes⁷ sinners and eats with them.”

^1sn See the note on tax collectors in 3:12.

^2tn Grk “were drawing near.”

^3tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

^4sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

^5tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

^6tn Or “grumbling”; Grk “were complaining, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

^7tn Or “accepts,” “receives.” This is not the first time this issue has been raised: Luke 5:27-32; 7:37-50.

The Spoken English NT         The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Mt. 18:10-14)
All the tax collectors and “sinners” used to show up^a to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and scripture experts would be grumbling. They’d say, “This guy welcomes sinners, and eats with them!”^b

^a.Lit. “were coming near.”

                                               ^b.      The Pharisees and the scripture experts were religiously strict, and thought it was their duty never to associate with “sinners” (see, e.g., Psalm 1:1 ff.).

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     Parable of a lost sheep
Then all the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were getting close to Him to hear Him. Well the Pharisees and the scribes started complaining, saying, “This man welcomes ‘sinners’ and eats with them”.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear Him; And the Pharisees and the scribes criticized Him, saying, "This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Analytical-Literal Translation  .

Context Group Version          Now all the tax-collectors and disgracers [of God] were drawing near to him to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receives disgracers [of God], and eats with them.

Far Above All Translation       Now all the tax collectors and the sinners would approach him to hear him, at which the Pharisees and scribes would mutter among themselves, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

New American Standard B.    The Lost Sheep

Now all the tax collectors and sinners [I.e., irreligious Jews] were coming near Jesus [Lit Him] to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

New Matthew Bible                The loving mercy of God is openly seen in the parables of the hundredth sheep and of the son that was lost.

Then all the publicans and sinners sought him out, in order to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, He receives sinners into his company, and eats with them.

Restored Holy Bible 6.0         .

Revised Young's Lit. Trans.   And all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near to him, to hear him, and the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring, saying -- This one does receive sinners, and does eat with them.'

The gist of this passage:     The scribes and pharisees took note that tax collectors and sinners came to the Lord; and that he actually would have meals with them.

1-2

Translation: The tax collectors and sinners were with Jesus [lit., Him], coming near to hear Him.

Religious types tended to avoid certain questionable types. They did not associate with tax collectors or anyone that they considered committees of sins (obviously, everyone sins, so there were particular sins—overt ones—which the scribes and pharisees found objectionable). Like many people today, the scribes and pharisees were fine with one set of sins, but not another.

Jesus did not turn these questionable people (questionable in the eyes of religious types) away. He spoke with them; He taught them.

Luke 15:1 The tax collectors and sinners were with Jesus [lit., Him], coming near to hear Him.

Translation: But the pharisees and the scribes are saying,...

The scribes and pharisees are watching what is happening, and they speak to their observations.

Translation: ...“This One keeps accepting sinners [into His company] and He is eating with them.”

They perceive that Jesus is a religious man, sort of like them, but He is speaking with and accepting into His company, tax collectors and sinners. He is not automatically rejecting them; which is what the religious types would have expected. So all the pharisees can see what a group of reprobates that the Lord is taking company with.

Since this was behavior that the Lord exhibited in public often, I would assume that this is an earlier event in the Lord’s public ministry. This is because the religious types were calling Jesus on this, as if He is doing something wrong.

Luke 15:2 But the pharisees and the scribes are saying, “This One keeps accepting sinners [into His company] and He is eating with them.” (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Luke 15:1–2 The tax collectors and sinners were with Jesus [lit., Him], coming near to hear Him. But the pharisees and the scribes are saying, “This One keeps accepting sinners [into His company] and He is eating with them.” (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Luke 15:1–2 Tax collectors and sinners came near to hear Jesus speak. All the while, the scribes and pharisees complained, “This man keeps on accepting sinners into His company; and He is speaking with them and eating with them.” (Kukis paraphrase)

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The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    But He said, face to face with them, the parable this, saying, “What man out from you [all] having one hundred sheep and losing from them one, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert-wilderness and departs for the lost one until he has found it?

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it?

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        And Eshu {Yeshua} told them this Mathla {Parable},

“What gabra {man} from you has one hundred erbiyn {sheep}, and if one from them might be lost, doesn’t leave the ninety and nine in the dadabra {the high pasture} and goes seeking that one which was lost, until he should find it?

James Murdock’s Syriac NT And Jesus spoke to them this similitude:

What man among you, that hath a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the desert, and go and seek for that which is lost, until he find it?

Original Aramaic NT              And Yeshua told them this parable:

"What man among you has a hundred sheep, and if one of them should be lost, would not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness and go seek* that one which is lost until he would find it?" *

Lamsa Peshitta (Syriac)         And Yeshua told them this parable:

“What man among you has a hundred sheep, and if one of them should be lost, would not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness and go seek that one which is lost until he would find it?”

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And he made a story for them, saying, 

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if one of them gets loose and goes away, will not let the ninety-nine be in the waste land by themselves, and go after the wandering one, till he sees where it is?

Bible in Worldwide English     So Jesus told them this story. He said, Which one of you will not do this? A man has a hundred sheep. He loses one of them. He leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and he goes to look for the one that is lost. He looks until he finds it.

Easy English                          A story about a sheep that a man has lost

So Jesus told them this story: ‘Think about a man who has 100 sheep. He may lose one of them. What does he do then? He leaves all his other sheep in the fields. Then he goes. He looks for the sheep that he has lost. He looks until he finds it.

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  Then Jesus told them this story:

"Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but one of them gets lost. What will you do? You will leave the other 99 sheep there in the field and go out and look for the lost sheep. You will continue to search for it until you find it.

God’s Word™                         Jesus spoke to them using this illustration:

"Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it?

Good News Bible (TEV)         So Jesus told them this parable:

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them---what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it.

J. B. Phillips                           So Jesus spoke to them, using this parable: “Wouldn’t any man among you who owned a hundred sheep, and lost one of them, leave the ninety-nine to themselves in the open, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

The Message                         “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?

NIRV                                      .

New Life Version                    Then Jesus told them a picture-story, saying, “What if one of you had one hundred sheep and you lost one of them? Would you not leave the ninety-nine in the country and go back and look for the one which was lost until you find it?

New Simplified Bible              Then Jesus told them an illustration: »If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it.

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible              So Jesus told them a parable. "If you were out in a pasture with 100 sheep and you suddenly realized one of them had gone missing, wouldn’t you instantly leave those sheep grazing in the pasture while you looked for that lost sheep until you found it?

Contemporary English V.       Then Jesus told them this story:

If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it?

The Living Bible                     So Jesus used this illustration: “If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           .

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  So Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose that one of you has a hundred sheep and you lose one of them. Certainly you will leave the ninety-nine other sheep in the wilderness and go search for the lost sheep until you have found it..

William's New Testament       So He told them the following story:

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep, and if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and continue to look for the lost one until he finds it?

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          So he then told them this parable:

‘Which of you who owns 100 sheep,

And then should lose just one,

Wouldn’t leave the 99 out in the fields,

To search for the lost until it is found?

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            He told this illustration to them, saying,

"What person among you who has a hundred sheep, and when he loses one from them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the backcountry and travel based on the one that has been lost until he finds it?

Common English Bible           .

A. Campbell's Living Oracles Then he addressed this similitude to them:

What man, amongst you, who has a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, to go after that which is lost, till he find it?

New Advent (Knox) Bible       Whereupon he told them this parable: 4 If any of you owns a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does he not leave the other ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

NT for Everyone                     So Jesus told them this parable. ‘Supposing one of you has a hundred sheep,’ he said, ‘and you lose one of them. What will you do? Why, you’ll leave the ninety-nine out in the countryside, and you’ll go off looking for the lost one until you find it!

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    And He responded to them with this parable, saying, "What man among you, having a hundred sheep, if he were lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the field, and pursues the one which is lost until he finds it?

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  He accordingly addressed this parable to them:

"What man among you, possessing a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture, and go in search of the lost one until he has found it?

Free Bible Version                 So Jesus told them this story as an illustration.

“Imagine a man who had a hundred sheep lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and search for the one that’s lost until he finds it?

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

International Standard V        So he told them this parable:

“Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn’t he?

Lexham Bible                         So he told them this parable, saying, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it?

UnfoldingWord Literal Text    .

Weymouth New Testament    So in figurative language He asked them, "Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?

Wikipedia Bible Project          So Jesus told them this story. “If a man has a hundred sheep and loses one, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go looking for the one that’s lost, until he found it?

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  So Jesus told them this parable:

• “Who among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and seek the lost one till he finds it?

THE BLACK SHEEP

• 4. Why do the Pharisees complain? Because they are scrupulously concerned about ritual purity. In this perspective—present in the Old Testament—in a relationship between two people, the one who is unclean will contaminate the other. Since “sinners” by definition never think of purifying themselves of the hundred and one impurities of daily life, Jesus could then be considered a teacher ready to become impure at any moment. So it is that Jesus will speak of God’s mercy that has not swept away sinners from his presence.

Then again, is not there something more human in the indignation of “good” people: let everyone see the difference between the rest and us! Once more Jesus battles against the old idea of merits that have been gained and therefore worthy of God’s reward.

Happy the one sheep Jesus went after, leaving the ninety-nine! Poor righteous ones who do not need God’s forgiveness!

In large cities today, the church seems to be left with only one sheep. Why does she not get out, namely, let go of her income, privileges or devotions of a commercial style, to go out looking for the ninety-nine who got lost? To leave the comfortable circle of believers who have no problems, to look beyond our renewed rituals, and to be ready to be criticized just as Jesus was criticized, is the challenge today.

Who lights the lamp, sweeps the house and searches except God himself? Out of respect for God, the Jews of Jesus’ time preferred not to name him, and they used expressions such as the angels or heaven.

Mt 18: 12-14

Ezk 34: 4, 16

The Heritage Bible                 And he spoke to them this parable, saying,

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and one of them is being destroyed, absolutely does not leave behind the ninetynine in the desert, and goes after the one being destroyed until he finds him?.

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible (2011)   So to them he addressed this parable. ^c “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one^d until he finds it?^e

c. [15:4–7] Mt 18:12–14.

d. [15:4–6] 19:10.

e. [15:4] Ez 34:11–12, 16.

New Catholic Bible                 The Parable of the Lost Sheep.^[c] Therefore, he told them this parable: “Which one of you, if you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?

[c] The parable of the lost sheep pushes antithesis to the extreme so that persons may never doubt God’s tenderness for them.

New English Bible–1970        .

Revised English Bible–1989   So he told them this parable: 'Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it?

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           So he told them this parable: “If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, doesn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

Holy New Covenant Trans.    Then Jesus gave them this example: "Suppose a man has 100 sheep but he loses one of them. He will leave the other 99 sheep in the open country, and go out and look for the lost one. The man will continue to search for the lost sheep until he finds it.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...[He] says but to them the comparison this Saying Who? Man from you* Having hundred sheep* and Losing from them one [thing] not leaves the ninety nine [things] in the [one] deserted and [He] goes to the [thing] having lost until [He] may find it...

Awful Scroll Bible                   Therewithal he told the same-as this putting-beside, with regards to them, instructing,

"Who of the aspects-of-man out of yous holding a hundred small cattle, and be lost-away one of them, leaves- not -along-down a leaving-along-down the ninety-nine, from-within the wilderness, and himself proceeds upon that having been lost-away, until he shall be came upon it?

Concordant Literal Version    .

exeGeses companion Bible   And he words this parable to them, speaking,

What human of you, having a hundred sheep,

and loses one of them,

leaves not the ninety-nine in the wilderness

and goes after the lost, until he finds it?

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach told them this mashal, saying,

What man of you, if he has meah kevasim (a hundred sheep) and has lost from them one, does not leave the tishim vteshah (ninety-nine) in the open pasture, and go for the one which has been lost until he finds it?

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                So He told them this parable: “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it?

An Understandable Version   So, Jesus told them this parable, saying, “Which one of you who has a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in a deserted place and go looking for the lost one until he finds it?

The Expanded Bible              ·Then [So] Jesus told them this ·story [parable]: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. ·Then he will [^L Won’t he…?] leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the ·open field [wilderness; desert] and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it.

Jonathan Mitchell NT             So He spoke this illustration (parable) to them, presently saying,

"What person from among you folks, presently owning (possessing) one hundred sheep and then upon losing one of them, is not normally leaving the ninety-nine down within the wilderness (open range; desolate and uninhabited place) and then continuing on his way upon [the track of] the lost one – until he can (or: may) find it?

P. Kretzmann Commentary    Verses 3-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep:

And He spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?

Syndein/Thieme                     ``So Jesus told {lego} this parable face to face with them, saying,`` "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and having one lost {apollumi}, would not leave the ninety-nine 'unprotected in the desert/pasture' and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?"

Translation for Translators     So Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose that one of you had 100 sheep. If one of them were lost, ◂you (sg) would certainly leave the 99 sheep in the pasture, and go and search for the one lost sheep until you found it./would you not leave the 99 sheep in the pasture, and go and search for the one lost sheep until you found it?► [RHQ]

The Voice                               Jesus (with another parable): Wouldn’t every single one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it?

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

NET Bible®                             So⁸ Jesus⁹ told them¹⁰ this parable:¹¹ “Which one¹² of you, if he has a hundred¹³ sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture¹⁴ and go look for¹⁵ the one that is lost until he finds it?¹⁶

^8tn 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.

^9tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

^10sn 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.

^11tn Grk “parable, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

^12tn Grk “What man.” The Greek word ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in a somewhat generic sense.

^13sn This individual with a hundred sheep is a shepherd of modest means, as flocks often had up to two hundred head of sheep.

^14tn Or “desert,” but here such a translation might suggest neglect of the 99 sheep left behind.

^15tn Grk “go after,” but in contemporary English the idiom “to look for” is used to express this.

^16sn 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.