Luke 15:10 kjv
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Luke 15:10 nkjv
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 15:10 niv
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 15:10 esv
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 15:10 nlt
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."
Luke 15 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 15:7 | "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than..." | Direct parallel, emphasizes joy in heaven. |
| Luke 15:32 | "But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." | Prodigal Son parable's conclusion, echoes joy over lost found. |
| Eze 18:23 | "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" | God desires repentance and life, not death. |
| Eze 33:11 | "Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!'" | God's yearning for all to repent and live. |
| 2 Pet 3:9 | "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." | God's patience driven by His desire for repentance. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," | Call to repentance leading to forgiveness and renewal. |
| Acts 17:30 | "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." | Universal divine command for repentance. |
| Matt 3:2 | "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." | John the Baptist's foundational call. |
| Mark 1:15 | "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" | Jesus' initial proclamation linking repentance and faith. |
| Luke 13:3 | "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." | Emphasizes the necessity and urgency of repentance. |
| Ps 51:17 | "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." | God values inner change and sorrow over sin. |
| Isa 55:7 | "Let the wicked forsake their ways and unrighteous ones their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." | Invitation to turn to God for mercy and pardon. |
| Luke 19:10 | "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." | Jesus' mission directly aligns with finding the lost. |
| Heb 1:14 | "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" | Angels involved in divine service to believers. |
| Job 38:7 | "while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" | Angels' past rejoicing at creation's dawn. |
| Rev 5:11 | "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand." | Illustrates the vast multitude of heavenly beings praising God. |
| Luke 12:8 | "I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." | Connecting acknowledgment of Christ with the presence of angels. |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus' role as the caring shepherd, mirroring the lost sheep parable. |
| Jas 4:8 | "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." | Instruction for drawing near to God through repentance. |
| Jer 24:7 | "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." | Prophecy of genuine return and God's covenant promise. |
| Rom 2:4 | "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" | God's attributes as drivers towards repentance. |
Luke 15 verses
Luke 15 10 Meaning
Luke 15:10 encapsulates the profound divine joy that erupts in the heavenly realm over the repentance of even a single sinner. It follows the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, summarizing the core truth that God actively seeks the lost and celebrates their return, mirroring the delight a shepherd feels finding his strayed sheep or a woman finding her lost coin. The verse reveals God's boundless love and mercy, emphasizing the immense value of each individual soul in His eyes.
Luke 15 10 Context
Luke Chapter 15 contains three parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (often called the Prodigal Son). These parables were delivered by Jesus in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, who were scandalized that Jesus associated with and ate with "tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). They reflect a theological conflict: the Pharisees' self-righteousness versus Jesus' inclusive compassion. Verses 7 and 10 serve as interpretative keys to the first two parables, declaring the heavenly rejoicing over repentance. The entire chapter functions as Jesus' defense and illustration of His divine mission to seek and save those considered lost by society, fundamentally shifting the focus from human judgment to divine delight in redemption.
Luke 15 10 Word analysis
- "In the same way" (οὕτως - houtōs): This Greek adverb emphasizes continuity and analogy. It directly links the previous parable of the lost coin (and implicitly the lost sheep) to a universal, divine principle. The heavenly reaction to human repentance mirrors the tangible joy experienced in the earthly parables, making God's disposition clear and concrete.
- "I tell you" (λέγω ὑμῖν - legō hymin): A strong declarative statement from Jesus, asserting divine authority and truth. This is not a suggestion or speculation but a direct revelation of a spiritual reality from the Son of God, validating the profound joy being described.
- "there is rejoicing" (χαρὰ - chara): Refers to deep-seated, profound spiritual joy and gladness. It's not fleeting happiness but an inner delight and exultation. In the heavenly context, it denotes a shared, collective celebration that acknowledges a significant event.
- "in the presence of the angels of God" (ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ θεοῦ - enōpion tōn angelōn tou theou):
- `enōpion`: "Before the face of," "in the sight of," implying a public and recognized event. It suggests that this joy occurs openly, witnessed by the angels, possibly even demonstrated by God to the angels.
- `tōn angelōn tou theou`: "The angels belonging to God." These are heavenly beings, God's divine messengers and servants, who observe and participate in the unfolding of God's plans. Their presence signifies a solemn and divinely significant event, aligning heavenly awareness with human transformation. While angels rejoice, the ultimate source of this joy is often understood to be God Himself, with the angels joining or witnessing His gladness.
- "over one sinner" (ἐπὶ ἑνὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ - epi heni hamartōlō):
- `heni`: "one," highlights the immeasurable value God places on each individual. God's joy is not reserved for mass conversions but extends to every solitary soul that turns to Him.
- `hamartōlō`: "sinner," denoting someone who misses the mark, who deviates from God's perfect standard and lives separated from Him. The term emphasizes the initial state of the person, contrasting it sharply with their redeemed state after repentance. It speaks to the outcast and those alienated from God and religious society.
- "who repents" (μετανοοῦντι - metanoounti): The critical action that sparks this heavenly celebration. The Greek metanoeō signifies a fundamental "change of mind" or "turning around." It entails much more than mere remorse; it involves a spiritual reorientation – a radical turning away from sin and toward God, encompassing a shift in thinking, will, and behavior. This genuine inner transformation is what God rejoices over.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "In the same way, I tell you": Jesus asserts the truth of this spiritual principle with divine authority, connecting the parables' earthly examples of joy to a corresponding, greater heavenly reality.
- "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God": This phrase positions the divine celebration within the very throne room of heaven, with God's celestial court bearing witness or participating. It elevates the act of human repentance to cosmic significance, illustrating that spiritual realities are far grander than earthly perspectives often perceive. It also refutes the Pharisees' grumbling by showing that heaven values what they scorned.
- "over one sinner who repents": This central clause highlights the specific object of heavenly joy: a single individual who undergoes a complete change of heart and direction. It underscores God's personal attention to, and profound valuation of, each lost soul, and clarifies the necessary human response—repentance—for such a divine celebration to occur.
Luke 15 10 Bonus section
- The emphasis on "one sinner" is a direct challenge to the mindset of the Pharisees, who were more concerned with ceremonial purity and communal standing than with the individual restoration of a marginalized person. Jesus effectively says, "What you disdain, heaven celebrates."
- The divine "scorecard" is not one of condemnation for sin but one of intense interest and celebration over genuine spiritual turnarounds. This provides immense encouragement for every believer, knowing their salvation is met with cosmic celebration.
- While angels rejoice, the underlying implication is that the primary source of this joy is God Himself, the ultimate shepherd and seeker of the lost. Angels witness and echo His joy, testifying to the universal triumph achieved by one soul's repentance.
Luke 15 10 Commentary
Luke 15:10 profoundly articulates the core of God's character: His relentless, compassionate love for the lost and His overflowing joy when they return to Him through repentance. Far from being a stern, distant judge, God is depicted as passionately invested in humanity's reconciliation, celebrating the salvation of a single individual with cosmic exuberance. The "rejoicing in the presence of the angels" is ultimately God's joy, displayed openly to His heavenly hosts, emphasizing that saving the lost is central to His heart and purpose. This verse powerfully counters any self-righteous legalism by highlighting that divine approval rests not on adherence to external rules but on an inward, transforming repentance, confirming that every soul's turning to God is an event of infinite significance in heaven.