Daily Bible Reading 5th November 2026 // Luke 15:1-24
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
What in fact we are given in the threefold parable is a picture of how the gospel works, and what it accomplishes in men. Here is the real answer to the question why there is no mention of 'sacrifice for sin' in the 'prodigal' story. The latter certainly portrays 'a waiting Father', but God is a waiting Father only because He did not always wait, but once went into action for us men and for our salvation. The threefold parable is a parable of the activity of the Triune God on behalf of men. The suffering of the Son is first spoken of. The Shepherd passed through the dark night of sin and through deep waters to find the sheep that was lost. 'Christ suffered ... to bring us to God' (1 Peter 3:18). The good news of the gospel is that the good Shepherd has come - a long, long way, leaving the glory of heaven, humbling Himself, becoming obedient unto death - to seek and to save that which was lost. Then, in the second story, it is the activity of the Holy Spirit that is delineated. God the Spirit broods on the darkness of the life of sin. Christ by the Spirit, working in the Church, seeks out the lost. The candle in the story is the word of God, held by the Church, in its proclamation of the good news. Then, there is the love of the Father - and what a picture it is! Never a day passed that he did not watch the road, and look at him now: He ran, he kissed - kissed the dirty, ragged prodigal. That is how God loves!