Daily Bible Reading 3rd 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.
In the next story, the figure changes, and there is now a different emphasis. Here is a coin bearing the image and superscription of the king, yet failing in the very purpose for which it was minted, for it is out of circulation, and therefore useless. It is good for nothing and fulfilling no kind of useful purpose. Being lost, it has lost its purchasing power. This is what it means to be a sinner: life's purpose is wasted: there was a plan for that life, but...'. It is the inertness of the coin that is underlined here. A sheep can bleat, to reveal its whereabouts, but a coin is inert. This is meant to teach us that to be a sinner means to be dead and therefore unable to do anything for oneself. The coin cannot bring itself back into circulation, it must be brought back by another hand. Some outside power needs to break in if its predicament is to be remedied.
In the third picture, that of the prodigal, the characteristics of the first two pictures are graphically blended in a human life. It is as if Jesus were saying, 'This is what I mean when I speak of a lost sheep wandered from the fold, and of a lost coin, failing in the function for which it was brought into existence'. But the prodigal story adds still further insights into the nature of sin, in particular two: firstly, the element of rebellion and revolt in his attitude. The boy was determined to go, and nothing would budge him, even if it meant (as it did) a broken heart for his father. As the prophet says, 'We have turned everyone to his own way' (Isaiah 53:6). And, secondly, the heart and essence of sin, expressed in the prodigal's words, 'Give me'. All sin flows from this evil root, a self inverted and perverted against God.