In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
- KJV Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
- NKJV Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
- NASB In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
- NLT In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus declares that the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents, revealing heaven's joy at conversion.
Overview
The phrase 'in the presence of the angels' points to God's own joy, shared by the heavenly host. This verse interprets both parables and confronts those who despise repentant sinners. The cross of Christ makes such repentance and restoration possible, and heaven celebrates each one.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Luke 15:7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
- Ezek 33:11Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
- 2 Cor 7:10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- Ezek 18:23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
- Luke 13:5No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
- Matt 18:14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
- Ezek 18:32For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!
- Acts 11:18When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- Luke 7:47Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
- Heb 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- 2 Chr 33:13–19And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
- Rev 5:11–14Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
- Matt 18:10See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
- Acts 10:3–5One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
- Matt 28:5–7But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
- Phlm 1:15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
- Luke 2:1–14Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
- Acts 5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 15:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.