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Ordinary Time · Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year C

Luke 15:1-32 or Luke 15:1-10

The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son

September 17, 2028

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt van Rijn
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1668Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
One of Rembrandt's last paintings. The father's two hands are different, one broad and one slender, and the son's shoes are worn through. The elder brother stands to the right, not moving.It is the parable, and Rembrandt painted the part nobody asks about: the brother who stays standing.Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt (1606-1669) painted scripture as if it had happened in a room he had been in, and returned to the same stories across forty years, changing his mind about them in public.Hermitage Museum, Saint PetersburgCatherine the Great's collection grown into one of the largest museums on earth, filling the Winter Palace and the buildings beside it.Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 15:1-32Lk 15:1-32 orLuke 15:1-10Lk 15:1-10
Second Reading1 Tim. 1:12-171 Tm 1:12-17
First ReadingExod. 32:7-11, 13-14Ex 32:7-11, 13-14
Responsorial PsalmPs. 51:3-4, 12-13, 17+19 (Luke 15:18)Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17+19 (Lk 15:18)

Overview & Insights

"There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)

Answering the grumbling of Pharisees and scribes, Jesus tells three linked parables of loss and recovery culminating in the father who runs to welcome home his wayward son.

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Take it further: Luke 15:1-32 or Luke 15:1-10

Commentary

Luke 15 Commentary: The Joy of Finding the LostLk 15 Commentary: The Joy of Finding the Lost Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse walk through all three parables of chapter 15.

Commentary on Luke 15:1-10Commentary on Lk 15:1-10 Working Preacher

Lutheran scholarly reading of the lost sheep and lost coin.

Luke 15 CommentaryLk 15 Commentary Precept Austin

Extensive compiled evangelical commentary excerpts on the chapter.

Luke 15:1 CommentariesLk 15:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary entries verse by verse.

The Wrath of God, Proper 19 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

A full sermon on Jesus welcoming sinners in this chapter.

Background & Word Study

Luke 15:1 InterlinearLk 15:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for the opening verse of the passage.

Luke 1-9 OverviewLk 1-9 Overview BibleProject

Video overview covering the Gospel's structure through chapter 15's setting.

Luke 15:1-10 - The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost CoinLk 15:1-10 - The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin Enter the Bible

Luther Seminary passage study on the first two parables.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Luke 15Catena on Lk 15 Catena

Patristic comments compiled verse by verse on the chapter.

Sermons & Reflections

On Lostness Journey with Jesus

Essay on God's relentless pursuit of what is lost.

Worship & Prayers

Proper 19, Year C The Lectionary Page

Full set of readings with the day's collect for use in worship.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave Archives Working Preacher

Weekly preaching-team podcast discussing the coming Sunday's texts.

Art & Music

Year C, Proper 19 Texts and Art Vanderbilt

Curated art connected to the day's readings.

Study Hub

Luke 15 Study ResourcesLk 15 Study Resources Textweek

A broad index of further commentary and sermon links on the chapter.

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  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
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