Luke Chapter 15 · Verse 17
And 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!
Original Language Analysis
εἰς
to
G1519
εἰς
to
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
1 of 16
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
ἑαυτὸν
himself
G1438
ἑαυτὸν
himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
2 of 16
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
ἐλθὼν
when he came
G2064
ἐλθὼν
when he came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
4 of 16
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Πόσοι
How many
G4214
Πόσοι
How many
Strong's:
G4214
Word #:
6 of 16
interrogative pronoun (of amount) how much (large, long or (plural) many)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατρός
father's
G3962
πατρός
father's
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
9 of 16
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Cross References
Ezekiel 18:28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.Ephesians 5:14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.Jeremiah 31:19Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.Acts 2:37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?Psalms 73:20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.Ecclesiastes 9:3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.Luke 8:35Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.Luke 16:23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.Lamentations 1:7Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
Historical Context
Jewish theology emphasized corporate election—being born into Abraham's covenant guaranteed salvation unless one apostatized. The Pharisees' opposition to Jesus stemmed partly from His undermining this presumption, insisting that individual repentance and faith were necessary. His emphasis on heaven's joy over one repentant sinner challenged their contempt for outcasts and their confidence in their own righteousness. The parable's shepherd leaving ninety-nine for one would seem economically foolish but reveals God's radical commitment to seeking the lost.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding that all people need repentance (there are no genuinely righteous apart from grace) transform your view of evangelism?
- What does heaven's celebration over repentance teach about God's priorities versus human religious priorities?
Analysis & Commentary
Jesus applies the parable: 'I 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' (λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὕτως χαρὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἔσται ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ μετανοοῦντι ἢ ἐπὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἐννέα δικαίοις οἵτινες οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν μετανοίας). The phrase 'joy in heaven' (χαρὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ) reveals divine celebration over conversion. The comparison with 'ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance' contains irony—no such persons exist (Romans 3:23). The Pharisees considered themselves these ninety-nine, exposing their self-righteousness. True repentance (μετανοοῦντι, metanoouti, present participle) involves ongoing transformation, not one-time religious performance.