Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 15].
15:7 {Over one sinner that repenteth} (\epi heni hamart•l•i
metanoounti\). The word sinner points to verse 1. Repenting is
what these sinners were doing, these lost sheep brought to the
fold. The joy in heaven is in contrast with the grumbling
Pharisees and scribes. {More than over} (\• epi\). There is no
comparative in the Greek. It is only implied by a common idiom
like our "rather than." {Which need no repentance} (\hoitines ou
chreian echousin metanoias\). Jesus does not mean to say that the
Pharisees and the scribes do not need repentance or are perfect.
He for the sake of argument accepts their claims about themselves
and by their own words condemns them for their criticism of his
efforts to save the lost sheep. It is the same point that he made
against them when they criticized Jesus and the disciples for
being at Levi's feast (Lu 5:31f.). They posed as "righteous."
Very well, then. That shuts their mouths on the point of Christ's
saving the publicans and sinners.
15:8 {Ten pieces of silver} (\drachmas deka\). The only instance
in the N.T. of this old word for a coin of 65.5 grains about the
value of the common \d•narius\ (about eighteen cents), a quarter
of a Jewish shekel. The double drachma (\didrachmon\) occurs in
the N.T. only in Mt 17:24. The root is from \drassomai\, to
grasp with the hand (1Co 3:19), and so a handful of coin. Ten
drachmas would be equal to nearly two dollars, but in purchasing
power much more. {Sweep} (\saroi\). A late colloquial verb
\saro•\ for the earlier \sair•\, to clear by sweeping. Three
times in the N.T. (Lu 11:25; 15:8; Mt 12:44). The house was
probably with out windows (only the door for light and hence the
lamp lit) and probably also a dirt floor. Hence Bengel says: _non
sine pulvere_. This parable is peculiar to Luke.
15:9 {Her friends and neighbours} (\tas philas kai geitonas\).
Note single article and female friends (feminine article and
\philas\). \He•s hou eur•i\ here as in verse 4, only \hou\
added after \he•s\ (until which time) as often. {Which I lost}
(\h•n ap•lesa\). First aorist active indicative of \apollumi\.
She lost the coin (note article). The shepherd did not lose the
one sheep.
15:10 {There is joy} (\ginetai chara\). More exactly, joy arises.
Futuristic present of \ginomai\ (cf. \estai\ in verse 7). {In
the presence of the angels of God} (\en•pion t•n aggel•n tou
theou\). That is to say, the joy of God himself. The angels are
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