Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 15:7

"I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, [more] than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance." — Luke 15:7 (ASV)

Likewise joy, and so forth. It is a principle of human nature that the recovery of an object in danger of being lost affords much more intense joy than the quiet possession of many that are safe. This our Savior illustrated by the case of the lost sheep and of the piece of silver. It might also be illustrated by many other things. Thus we rejoice most in our health when we recover from a dangerous disease; we rejoice over a child rescued from danger or disease more than over those who are in health or safety. We rejoice that property is saved from conflagration or the tempest more than over much more that has not been in danger. This feeling our Lord represents as existing in heaven. Likewise, in like manner, or on the same principle, there is joy.

In heaven. Among the angels of God . Heavenly beings are thus represented as rejoicing over those who repent on earth. They see the guilt and danger of people; they know what God has done for the human race, and they rejoice at the recovery of anyone from the guilt and ruins of sin.

One sinner. One rebel against God, however great their sins may be or however small. If a sinner, they must perish unless they repent; and they rejoice at their repentance because it restores them to the love of God, and because it will save them from eternal death.

That repenteth. See Barnes on Matthew 9:13.

Just persons. The word persons is not in the original. It means simply just ones, or those who have not sinned. The word may refer to angels as well as to humans. There are no just people on earth who need no repentance (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalms 14:2–3; Romans 3:10–18).

Our Savior did not mean to imply that there were any such people. He was speaking of what took place in heaven, or among angels, and of their emotions when they contemplate the creatures of God. He says that they rejoiced in the repentance of one sinner more than in the holiness of many who had not fallen.

We are not to suppose that He meant to teach that there were just ninety-nine holy angels to one sinner. He means merely that they rejoice more over the repentance of one sinner than they do over many who have not fallen. By this He vindicated His own conduct. The Jews did not deny the existence of angels.

They would not deny that their feelings were proper. If they rejoiced in this manner, it was not improper for Him to show similar joy, and especially to seek their conversion and salvation. If they rejoice also, it shows how desirable the repentance of a sinner is. They know how much value an immortal soul has.

They see what is meant by eternal death, and they do not feel too much, or have too much anxiety, about the soul that can never die. Oh, that people saw it as they see it! And oh, that they would make an effort, such as angels see to be proper, to save their own souls and the souls of others from eternal death!