Luke 15:7

Luke 15:7. I say unto you. He could tell of ‘heavenly things' on his own authority (John 3:11-12). Joy in heaven. In all such cases. The persons who rejoice are mentioned in Luke 15:10.

Ninety and nine just persons, righteous men, who (who are of such a kind as) have no need of repentance. This is the main point of the parable. The ‘ninety and nine' represent those who think themselves righteous. It was the opposition of this class which occasioned the parable. In Matthew the inhabitants of other unfallen worlds may be meant, but that application is less apt here. The ‘ninety and nine' were part of the flock, for the original application was to the Jews. The parable may therefore be applied to those who have already repented, and in this view is specially instructive for the under shepherds.