v1-2: The tax collectors and sinners drew near to listen to Jesus. The Pharisees and teachers of the law (scribes) criticised Jesus. Theirs is the attitude of false religion towards the true. The words of their criticism, "This man welcomes sinners", were wonderfully true.

‘Sinners’ may be used to describe Gentiles, of those who were made unclean through leprosy, or other condition that made them unclean. However, it was more commonly used to describe those who chosen lifestyle was clearly sinful; drunkards, sexually immoral, thieves, tax collectors, etc. As far as the religious leaders were concerned, they were outcasts. It was these people to whom Christ gave real hope.

v3: Jesus told one parable , with three emphases;

• shepherd and sheep; Jesus Christ the seeking shepherd;
• woman and coin; Holy Spirit, diligence and omnipotence;
• father and son; Father, forgiving and reconciling.

The initial application is to Israel, the lost nation. God will receive it back. The wider application is of individual sinners coming in repentance to God. The whole Godhead is at work bringing an individual to repentance and faith. The parable indicates God's willingness to receive back those who have strayed - His is an active love, working to find sheep and lamb.

v4: The sheep was lost, as was the coin and the son. This is the emphasis for Israel, Matt 10.6. The letters of Paul emphasise that a person outside of Christ is dead, rather than lost.

The shepherd made a real effort to find his sheep; see 1 Sam 9, where Saul looked for his sheep. Ownership demands care, love, sacrifice. The 99 were safe; they saw the shepherd's concern for the one, and they knew they were secure.

v5: The shepherd returned rejoicing; Ps 126.5-6; Is 53.11; the results of Christ's travail and death. "His shoulders", a place of security and safety. He did not rest until the lost sheep was safe; Jesus Christ set His face as a flint to go to Jerusalem, to purchase for us eternal redemption.

v6: "My sheep"; a declaration of ownership. The shepherd's joy is reflected elsewhere, v9, 23-25, 32.

v7: Even though the initiative was with the shepherd, the lesson was of repentance. This is the way to real joy, both on earth, and in Heaven.

The reference to the ninety-nine may be to the Pharisees, who argued that they needed no repentance, see 5.32.

v8-10: In a similar way, the coin was lost. It was not conscious of being lost.

Further, it made no decision to go away, unlike a sheep which strayed. Some people choose to reject Christ; others simply live their lives in total ignorance of Christ.

The ten coins were the woman's dowry, which also indicated here belonging to Israel. She had status as a woman in Israel. Such a loss was therefore extremely serious. No wonder she swept the house until she found it. This pictures God's unending effort to restore His people to Himself. Everything has been done to bring back the lost.

v11-13: Jesus continued His parable. The Prodigal Son departed. His attitude was rebellious and selfish, "give me". He wanted material wealth. Although the request was unwise, it was granted (Num 11; 1 Sam 8; Ps 106.15); we need to ask God for the right things.

The son left the place of security and blessing. Sin takes the person away from fellowship with the godly, and into fellowship with the ungodly. Sin puts a barrier between man and God, and between fellow men; here the barrier was a physical distance.

v14: Leanness of the soul. This may have taken some months, before the son ran out of money. He found that physical and material pleasures could not last, see Prov 14.20. The reality is that sin cannot satisfy. Outside of Christ, we can have no peace.

v15-16: He felt compelled to join himself with an unbeliever, a citizen of the distant country. He fed pigs, an abhorrence to the Jews (Dan 4.32). He was in such desperate state that he wanted to eat the pigs' food (see also 16.21, where the same description is of the rich man in Hades). Jesus' hearers would have appreciated the awful situation into which the man had fallen.

The prodigal son joined himself to a citizen of the country. As Roy Hession puts it ' ...and make worldly alliances in the hope of bringing back a little pleasure to his now joyless heart.' (We Would See Jesus)

v17-19: The man's desperate state made him realise the folly of his original decision, and the wisdom of returning. He was sorrowful and repentant; "I have sinned,...I am not worthy,...make me..." A hired man was lower than an ordinary servant; they were temporary labourers. The son knew that even the hired labourers his father employed from time to time were better off than him.

v20: The father was full of compassion; the picture is of the father looking out every day for his son. His health had perhaps suffered, his farm neglected; all because he had loved his son, and longed for his return.

v21: Doubtless the son returned dirty, ragged, gaunt, but he was still his son. He was received back without condemnation, such is God's mercy. There was no criticism of past actions, for he had suffered enough for his folly; there was forgiveness and restoration. There are no clever admonitions for the present, nor patronising advice for the future. The father receives him back, and that is sufficient.

v22: The robe was a sign of honour; no longer unworthy;

The ring was a sign of ownership; no servant either of the citizen of the distant country, or even his father's servant, he was a son;

The sandals were a sign of sonship; he was no slave.

The son was restored, reconciled, and raised; and none of that was deserved.

Our God does not put repentant sinners on probation, to see how they will turn out. He gives them an unrestrained welcome, and honours them as sons.

v23-24: The joy was for more than just father and son. We should rejoice at the blessing of others. The fatted calf was kept for a celebration, a special occasion, and the Lord here teaches that this occasion is eminently suitable.

v25-27: The older son was in the field working. He missed his younger brother's arrival. He may well have been faithful, but he became critical.

v28-30: The older son was filled with anger and jealousy, an unforgiving spirit. He did not share in the rejoicing (1 Cor 12.26); he was self-righteous (18.11-12), I've "never disobeyed your orders," wanting all the favour for himself. He was like the Pharisees, critical of a Saviour who receives sinners. His claim was probably not true; he was not so faithful as he had claimed, for he was mean hearted. He said, "this son of yours", not even describing him as his own brother.

v31-32: The father loved both his sons. He addressed the older son as "son", affirming his own position. All that was left belonged to the older son. For the younger had received his inheritance. He would have to wait to enjoy it.

The father firmly maintained his decision; the younger son had returned; the lost was found, and it was right to rejoice.

The older son's attitude is similar to that of the vineyard workers, see Matt 20.11-12, and to the Pharisees. But we should be careful not to be ungrateful that others are blessed and praised.