The Lost Sheep and the Lost Piece

The words

Luke 15:1–10 (opens a new tab)

1. Angels of God

   The angels of God appear in the coin story’s final saying, where Jesus describes joy in their presence over one sinner who repents; the preceding search ends in shared celebration.

   Luke 15:8–10 (opens a new tab)

2. Eateth

   Eats; shares a meal.

   Luke records a complaint from Pharisees and scribes that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them; he then responds with the stories of the lost sheep and lost coin.

   Luke 15:1–3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

3. Hundred Sheep

   Jesus begins with a man having a hundred sheep and losing one; the search ends when he finds it, carries it home and calls others to share his joy.

   Did you know?

   The last verse of Psalm 119 also uses the image of a lost sheep; the speaker asks to be sought and says he has not forgotten the commandments.

   Luke 15:4–6 (opens a new tab) · Psalm 119:176 (opens a new tab)

4. Just Persons

   Righteous people, in this comparison.

   In the sheep story’s closing comparison, Jesus contrasts one sinner who repents with ninety-nine just persons described as needing no repentance; the NET calls them righteous people.

   Luke 15:7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

5. Layeth

   Lays; places upon.

   When the sheep is found, the man lays it on his shoulders rejoicing and comes home; he then calls friends and neighbors to rejoice with him over the sheep.

   Luke 15:5–6 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

6. Ninety and Nine

   Ninety-nine; the remaining sheep.

   The man leaves ninety and nine in the wilderness, rendered open pasture by the NET, to seek the one; the closing comparison uses ninety-nine just persons described as needing no repentance.

   Luke 15:4, 7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

7. Presence

   Presence appears in the coin story’s conclusion: Jesus speaks of joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents, after the woman invites others to rejoice over her find.

   Luke 15:9–10 (opens a new tab)

8. Rejoicing

   Rejoicing accompanies the man placing the sheep on his shoulders; both stories then have friends and neighbors called to rejoice, followed by a saying about joy over repentance.

   Luke 15:5–7, 9–10 (opens a new tab)

9. Repenteth

   Repents; turns from wrongdoing.

   Repenteth appears in both closing sayings: Jesus links joy in heaven, and joy before God’s angels, with one sinner who repents. The NET uses repents for the older verb form.

   Luke 15:7, 10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab) · Strong’s Greek: repent (opens a new tab)

10. Scribes

    Experts in religious law.

    The scribes join the Pharisees in the complaint that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them; the NET calls them experts in the law. Jesus’s answer begins with the man’s lost sheep.

    Luke 15:2–4 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

11. Shoulders

    The found sheep is carried on the man’s shoulders while he rejoices; the next scene is his arrival home and call to friends and neighbors to celebrate the recovery.

    Luke 15:5–6 (opens a new tab)

12. Silver

    Silver names the material of the woman’s ten pieces; the NET calls them silver coins and identifies the lost coin as a drachma. Her search ends with a call to shared joy.

    Luke 15:8–9 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

13. Sinners

    Sinners are named with tax collectors among those drawing near to hear Jesus; the complaint about his welcome introduces the two stories, whose closing sayings each mention one sinner who repents.

    Luke 15:1–3, 7, 10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

14. Sweep

    The woman sweeps the house after lighting a candle in the KJV; the NET calls the light a lamp. The search continues until she finds the lost coin.

    Luke 15:8–9 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)

15. Ten Pieces

    Ten silver coins.

    The woman begins with ten silver coins and loses one; she lights a lamp, sweeps the house and searches until it is found, then calls friends and neighbors to share her joy.

    Luke 15:8–9 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:1-10 (opens a new tab)