Luke 15:6

And 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.

And {G2532} when he cometh {G2064}{G1519} home {G3624}, he calleth together {G4779} his friends {G5384} and {G2532} neighbours {G1069}, saying {G3004} unto them {G846}, Rejoice {G4796} with me {G3427}; for {G3754} I have found {G2147} my {G3450} sheep {G4263} which {G3588} was lost {G622}.

and when he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Come, celebrate with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’

comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Context

Luke 15:6 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Lost Sheep, one of three parables Jesus tells in Luke chapter 15 to illustrate God's heart for the lost. This specific verse describes the shepherd's action upon finding the one sheep that had gone astray: he returns home and shares his immense joy with his friends and neighbors. This parable was delivered in response to the Pharisees and scribes grumbling that Jesus welcomed and ate with "sinners," directly addressing their misunderstanding of divine compassion and grace.

Key Themes

  • Divine Joy Over Restoration: The shepherd's enthusiastic call to "Rejoice with me" vividly portrays the intense joy, not just of a human, but symbolically of God and the heavenly hosts, when a lost soul is found and reconciled. This theme is further emphasized in Luke 15:7, where Jesus explicitly states there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
  • The Value of the Individual: Despite having ninety-nine sheep safely, the shepherd's focus and tireless search for the one lost sheep highlights the immeasurable value God places on each individual, regardless of how insignificant they may seem to others.
  • Shared Celebration: The act of calling friends and neighbors to share in the joy underscores the communal aspect of salvation and restoration. It's not a private celebration, but one that involves the wider community, mirroring the joy of angels and believers when someone comes to faith.
  • God's Active Pursuit: The shepherd's diligent search for the lost sheep before rejoicing speaks to God's proactive and persistent love in seeking out those who are alienated from Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "rejoice with me" is sygchairō (συγχαίρω), which literally means "to rejoice together" or "to congratulate." This emphasizes the shared and communal nature of the joy. It's not merely the shepherd's personal relief, but a celebration he actively invites others to partake in, highlighting the contagious and expansive nature of joy over what was lost and is now found.

Practical Application

Luke 15:6 offers profound encouragement and a call to action for believers today:

  1. Embrace God's Heart for the Lost: Just as the shepherd pursued the one, we are called to prioritize reaching out to those who are spiritually lost, remembering their immense value in God's eyes.
  2. Celebrate Every Conversion: The verse reminds us to join in the heavenly celebration when someone turns to Christ. Every new believer is a cause for profound joy within the church community, mirroring the joy of the shepherd and the angels (Luke 15:10).
  3. Experience Divine Joy: Understanding the depth of God's joy over repentance can transform our own perspective on evangelism and discipleship, filling us with hope and enthusiasm for the work of the Kingdom.

This verse, along with the entire chapter, beautifully illustrates the boundless love and persistent grace of God, who delights in the restoration of His children, echoing the sentiments also seen in the Parable of the Lost Coin and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 15:10

    Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

  • Luke 15:24

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

  • 1 Peter 2:25

    For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

  • Acts 11:23

    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

  • Psalms 119:176

    ¶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

  • John 3:29

    He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

  • Acts 15:3

    And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

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