Luke 15:7 (WEB)
I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
Catechism · 1
“He invites them to that conversion without which one cannot enter the kingdom, but shows them in word and deed his Father's boundless mercy for them and the vast "joy in heaven over one sinner who repents".” — Catechism footnote: Lk 15:7; cf. 7:11-32.
Fathers and councils · 34
Cyril of Jerusalem
“…and a new spirit, that there may be gladness among the inhabitants of heaven: for if over one sinner that repenteth there is joy, according to the Gospel, how much more shall the salvation of so many souls move the inhabitants of heaven to gladness.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…on the Shepherd’s shoulders, while the angels rejoice, and the drachma is restored to Thy treasury, the neighhours rejoicing with the woman who found it; and the joy of the solemn service of Thy house constraineth to tears, when in Thy house it is read of Thy younger son that he “was dead, and is alive again,…” — editor's note: Luke xv. 4–10.
Read the whole comment“…a broken heart to the mercy of Him who forgives the sins of those who turn to Him, and who rejoices more over one penitent than over ninety-nine just persons.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
Read the whole comment“And when she had found it, “Rejoice with me,” she said to her neighbors, “for I have found the piece of money which I lost.”” — editor's note: Luke xv. 4–10.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“For since the Lord in His Gospel says that there is the highest “joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,” how much greater is the joy in earth, no less than in heaven, over confessors who return with their glory and with praise to the Church of God, and make a way…” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
Read the whole comment“And in the Gospel He says, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.”” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
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Gregory the Great
“Truly the same our Maker and Redeemer, speaking of the repentance of men, says, Verily I say unto you there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance (Luke xv. 7).” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Whence also it is said by the voice of the Judge, Her sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much (Luke vii. 47); and, Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance (xv. 7).” — the author cites it
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“And justly indeed; for if there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, what should there not be over the abolition of sin, and the resurrection of the dead?” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
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John Chrysostom
“But Luke saith, that He even brought it on his shoulders, and that “There was greater joy over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons.”” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
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Jerome
“No word is said of the flock as a whole, yet the angels joy in heaven over the safety of one sick ewe.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7, 10.
Read the whole comment“No wonder indeed that men should thus exult in the salvation of one at whose conversion there was joy among the angels in heaven.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7, 10.
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Basil the Great
“For “verily I say unto you,” says He, “there is joy in heaven before God over one sinner that repenteth.”” — editor's note: cf. Luke xv. 7.
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Ephrem the Syrian
“From amongst Thy fold there is the voice of sorrowfulness; O Thou that makest all rejoice, let Thy flock rejoice! as for our murmur, O my Master, in it reject us not: our mouth murmurs since it is sinful.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7.
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Tertullian
“You shall have leave to begin with the parables, where you have the lost ewe re-sought by the Lord, and carried back on His shoulders.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 3–7.
Read the whole comment“The heavens, and the angels who are there, are glad at a man’s repentance.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 7, 10.
Read the whole comment“Who sought after the lost sheep and the lost piece of silver?” — editor's note: Luke xv. 1–10.
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Hippolytus of Rome
“And for this reason (they maintain) that when an error had arisen respecting the twelfth number, the sheep skipped from the flock and wandered away; for that the apostasy took place, they say, in like manner from the decade.” — editor's note: Luke xv. 4–10.
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Clement of Alexandria
“For “great is the joy before the Father when one sinner is saved,” saith the Lord.” — editor's note: These words are not in Scripture, but the substance of them is contained in Luke xv. 7, 10.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Thou hadst learnt by what went before not to be occupied by the business of this world, not to prefer transitory things to eternal. But because the frailty of man can not keep a firm step in so slippery a world, the…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
That is, those who collect or farm the public taxes, and who make a business of following after worldly gain.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
For this was His wont, for the sake whereof He had taken upon Him the flesh, to receive sinners as the physician those that are sick. But the Pharisees, the really guilty, returned murmurs for this act of mercy, as…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
From which we may gather, that true justice feels compassion, false justice scorn, although the just are wont rightly to repel sinners. But there is one act proceeding from the swelling of pride, another from the…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
We may hence understand the extent of our Saviour’s kingdom. For He says there are a hundred sheep, bringing to a perfect sum the number of rational creatures subject to Him. For the number hundred is perfect, being…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Rich then is that Shepherd of whom we all are a hundredth part; and hence it follows, And if he lose one of them, does he not leave &c.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
One sheep then perished when man by sinning left the pastures of life. But in the wilderness the ninety and nine remained, because the number of the rational creatures, that is to say of Angels and men who were…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
But was He then angry with the rest, and moved by kindness only to one? By no means. For they are in safety, the right hand of the Most Mighty being their defence. It behoved Him rather to pity the perishing, that…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Or He spoke of those ninety and nine whom He left in the wilderness, signifying the proud, who bear solitude as it were in their mind, in that they wish to appear themselves alone, to whom unity is wanting for…
Read the whole comment - Gregory of NyssaCatena Aurea on Luke
But when the shepherd had found the sheep, he did not punish it, he did not get it to the flock by driving it, but by placing it upon his shoulder, and carrying it gently, he united it to his flock. Hence it follows,…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
He placed the sheep upon his shoulders, for taking man’s nature upon Him he bore our sins. But having found the sheep, he returns home; for our Shepherd having restored man, returns to his heavenly kingdom. And hence…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
The heavenly powers thus are called sheep, because every created nature as compared with God is as the beasts, but inasmuch as it is rational, they are called friends and neighbours.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
And we must observe that He says not, “Rejoice with the sheep that is found,” but with me, because truly our life is His joy, and when we are brought home to heaven we fill up the festivity of His joy.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Now the angels, inasmuch as they are intelligent beings, do not unreasonably rejoice at the redemption of men, as it follows, I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But he allows there is more joy in heaven over the converted sinner, than over the just who remain stedfast; for the latter for the most part, not feeling themselves oppressed by the weight of their sins, stand…
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Cross-references · 13
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.5.
Cited together in The Book of Pastoral Rule III.29.
Cited together in Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.5.