The big picture
Luke 15 opens in verse 1 with “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no…”, and closes in verse 32 with “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include father, lost, merry, servants, calf. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Luke · King James Version · 32Luke 15:1-8
1–8: Drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
Luke 15:1–8 opens with “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” and reaches “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A shepherd finding the sheep, a woman finding the coin, and the father running to receive the returning son while the elder son remains outside, with particular weight carried by find, lose, lost.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drew, hear, near. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 15:1-8
King James Version1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4What 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?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Luke 15:9-16
9–16: When she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours…
Luke 15:9–16 opens with “And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice…” and reaches “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A shepherd finding the sheep, a woman finding the coin, and the father running to receive the returning son while the elder son remains outside, with particular weight carried by country, father, living.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have…” Naming Rejoice keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he said, A certain man had two sons:” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Luke 15:9-16
King James Version9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Luke 15:17-24
17–24: When he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s…
Luke 15:17–24 opens with “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough…” and reaches “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A shepherd finding the sheep, a woman finding the coin, and the father running to receive the returning son while the elder son remains outside, with particular weight carried by father, servants, heaven.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, enough, father’s. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Luke 15:17-24
King James Version17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:25-32
25–32: His elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the…
Luke 15:25–32 opens with “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick…” and reaches “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A shepherd finding the sheep, a woman finding the coin, and the father running to receive the returning son while the elder son remains outside, with particular weight carried by father, brother, calf.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dancing, drew, elder. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him…” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Luke 15:25-32
King James Version25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Luke 15:1 begins with “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”
Where the chapter turns
Luke 15:22 forms a natural hinge: “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:”
The final note
Luke 15:32 leaves the reader with “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words father, lost, merry, servants, calf, fatted help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.