Luke 15:24

KJV

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G3754} this {G3778} my {G3450} son {G5207} was {G2258} dead {G3498}, and {G2532} is alive again {G326};{G2532} he was {G2258} lost {G622}, and {G2532} is found {G2147}. And {G2532} they began {G756} to be merry {G2165}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.

Berean Standard Bible

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

American Standard Version

for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 15:24 encapsulates the joyous declaration of the father upon the return of his prodigal son, marking the climax of Jesus's parable. This verse profoundly articulates the spiritual transformation from alienation and depravity to reconciliation and new life, symbolizing the divine joy and celebratory welcome extended by God to every repentant sinner who returns to Him. It underscores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the boundless grace of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is spoken by the father in the third and longest of three parables in [Luke 15](/luke/15 "Luke 15 - Parables of the Lost"). These parables—the lost sheep ([Luke 15:3-7](/luke/15-3-7 "Luke 15:3-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep")), the lost coin ([Luke 15:8-10](/luke/15-8-10 "Luke 15:8-10 - The Parable of the Lost Coin")), and the lost son ([Luke 15:11-32](/luke/15-11-32 "Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son"))—are unified by the theme of something precious being lost and then found, leading to immense rejoicing. Jesus tells these parables directly in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, who criticized Him for welcoming and eating with "sinners" ([Luke 15:1-2](/luke/15-1-2 "Luke 15:1-2 - Jesus Welcomes Sinners")). The father's declaration in [Luke 15:24](/luke/15-24 "Luke 15:24 - The Father's Joyful Declaration") serves as the ultimate justification for the lavish celebration that follows, mirroring the divine joy over repentance that Jesus emphasizes throughout the chapter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern culture, a son demanding his inheritance while his father was still alive was a profound insult, akin to wishing his father dead. The younger son's subsequent squandering of his wealth, his descent into destitution, and his employment feeding pigs (an unclean animal for Jews) would have marked him as utterly disgraced and an outcast. For the father to run to meet him (a undignified act for an elder), embrace him, and restore him with the best robe, ring, and sandals, followed by a celebratory feast, was an extraordinary act of unconditional love and honor restoration, defying societal norms of shame and retribution. This radical acceptance highlights the counter-cultural nature of God's grace.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 15:24](/luke/15-24 "Luke 15:24 - The Father's Joyful Declaration") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **divine grace and forgiveness**, showcasing God's boundless willingness to pardon those who return to Him, regardless of their past transgressions. It powerfully illustrates **repentance and restoration**, demonstrating that a genuine change of heart leads to full reconciliation and renewed fellowship. The verse also emphasizes the **joy in heaven over a repentant sinner**, a theme explicitly stated in [Luke 15:7](/luke/15-7 "Luke 15:7 - Joy Over One Sinner Who Repents") and [Luke 15:10](/luke/15-10 "Luke 15:10 - Joy in the Presence of God's Angels"), underscoring the immense value God places on every individual soul. Finally, it provides a vivid portrayal of the **Father's heart for the lost**, revealing a God who actively seeks and celebrates the return of His wayward children.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **dead (Greek, _nekrós'_):** While the son was not physically deceased, this term signifies a state of spiritual and relational alienation, moral depravity, and separation from the father's household and the life it offered. It describes a profound spiritual death, cut off from the source of true life and fellowship.
* **lost (Greek, _apóllymi'_):** This word conveys a state of being utterly ruined, destroyed, or having perished, not merely misplaced. It emphasizes the son's complete moral and spiritual ruin, his squandering of his inheritance, and his descent into a life devoid of honor, purpose, or connection to his family. He was utterly adrift and without hope.
* **found (Greek, _heurískō'_):** This term indicates a discovery, often implying a search or a previous state of being hidden or unknown. In this context, it signifies the son's miraculous restoration and recovery from his lost state, not by his own merit, but through the father's active reception and forgiveness. It marks the reversal of his fortune and his re-integration into the family.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For this my son was dead, and is alive again;":** This declaration by the father is the foundational reason for the celebration. The son was "dead" not physically, but in a spiritual and relational sense—estranged from his family, morally bankrupt, and living a life that led to ruin. His return signifies a profound spiritual resurrection, a renewal of life and fellowship that was previously severed.
* **"he was lost, and is found.":** This clause parallels the first, reiterating the son's prior state of being utterly adrift and without hope, now transformed by his return. "Lost" emphasizes his wandering and ruin, while "found" highlights the joyful discovery and restoration, mirroring the themes of the lost sheep and lost coin, where the lost item is recovered and celebrated.
* **"And they began to be merry.":** This final phrase describes the immediate and enthusiastic response to the son's return and the father's declaration. The merriment signifies a deep, heartfelt rejoicing and celebration, encompassing feasting, music, and dancing, reflecting the immense joy in heaven over a sinner's repentance, as Jesus emphasized earlier in the chapter.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 15:24 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. **Metaphor** is central, as the son is described as "dead" and "lost," though he is physically alive. These terms are metaphorical for his spiritual and moral condition, alienated from God and family. Conversely, he is "alive again" and "found," metaphors for his spiritual regeneration and restoration to fellowship. **Parallelism** is evident in the two clauses: "was dead, and is alive again" and "was lost, and is found." This structural repetition emphasizes the complete reversal of the son's state and reinforces the depth of his transformation. The entire parable, culminating in this verse, functions as an **Allegory**, where the father represents God, the younger son represents repentant sinners, and the older son represents the self-righteous Pharisees. The lavish celebration and the father's joy can also be seen as **Hyperbole**, underscoring the extraordinary and overwhelming joy that God experiences over the repentance of even one sinner.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 15:24 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's grace and the reality of spiritual transformation. It reveals a God who does not merely tolerate but actively celebrates the return of His wayward children, demonstrating that true repentance leads to complete restoration and unbridled joy in the divine presence. This verse challenges human notions of merit and judgment, replacing them with a vision of unconditional love and radical forgiveness. It underscores that spiritual life is a gift, a resurrection from a state of death and alienation, and that this new life is cause for the greatest celebration.

* [Luke 15:7](/luke/15-7 "Joy Over One Sinner Who Repents")
* [Luke 15:10](/luke/15-10 "Joy in the Presence of God's Angels")
* [Ephesians 2:1-5](/ephesians/2-1-5 "Made Alive in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 15:24 offers immense comfort and a powerful call to action for believers today. For those who feel far from God, perhaps burdened by past mistakes or a sense of unworthiness, this verse is a resounding assurance that God's arms are open wide. His love is not conditional on our perfection but on our willingness to turn back to Him. There is no sin too great for His forgiveness, and no distance too far for His embrace. For those who are already in fellowship with God, this verse serves as a profound reminder of the spiritual journey they themselves have undertaken—from being "dead in trespasses and sins" to being "made alive together with Christ." It cultivates a deep sense of gratitude for God's transforming grace and inspires us to mirror the father's heart in our own communities, extending radical welcome, forgiveness, and celebratory joy to those who return to faith or seek reconciliation, rather than judgment or condemnation. It compels us to participate in the divine joy of seeing the lost found.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways have I experienced being "dead" or "lost" and then "alive again" or "found" in my own spiritual journey?**
* **How does the father's immediate and unconditional welcome challenge my own tendencies to judge or hold grudges against those who have strayed?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more celebratory and welcoming spirit towards those who are returning to faith or seeking reconciliation in my community?**
* **How does the immense joy in heaven over one repentant sinner motivate my own efforts in evangelism or discipleship?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean that the son "was dead, and is alive again" if he was not physically dead?**

Answer: The terms "dead" and "alive again" in [Luke 15:24](/luke/15-24 "The Father's Joyful Declaration") are used metaphorically to describe the son's spiritual and relational state. He was "dead" in the sense that he was alienated from his family, cut off from the life and blessings of his father's house, and living a life of moral depravity and ruin. His return signifies a profound spiritual resurrection—a restoration to fellowship, honor, and a renewed relationship with his father. This mirrors the biblical concept of humanity being spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" before being "made alive" through faith and repentance, as described in passages like [Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Dead in Sins").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 15:24, with its vivid portrayal of a father's unconditional love and joyous reception of his lost son, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The father in the parable is a clear representation of God the Father, whose heart longs for the return of His lost children. Jesus Himself declared His mission: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "The Son of Man Came to Seek and to Save the Lost")). It is through Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross that humanity, once "dead in trespasses and sins" ([Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Dead in Sins")), can be "made alive together with Christ" ([Ephesians 2:5](/ephesians/2-5 "Made Alive with Christ")). His death and resurrection provide the means for our spiritual resurrection, transforming us from being "lost" to being "found" in Him. The immense joy celebrated in [Luke 15:24](/luke/15-24 "The Father's Joyful Declaration") is the very joy that fills heaven over every sinner who repents and enters into a new life in Christ, a life characterized by reconciliation with God and participation in His eternal kingdom ([Romans 5:10-11](/romans/5-10-11 "Reconciled to God Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ephesians 2:5

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Ezekiel 34:16

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

Colossians 2:13

¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Luke 19:10

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 15:4

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?

Ephesians 2:1

¶ And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Luke 15:32

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.