“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10, NIV)
What a remarkable thing it is to have the angels of God rejoicing because a sinner has repented of their sin thus far! Could it be, though, that there’s an even more remarkable thing going on in this verse that is often not noticed? Before we get there, let’s track (at least for a moment) what comes before verse 10.
In the beginning of Luke 15 “tax collectors and sinners” were all around Jesus so they could hear what he was saying. There were also Pharisees nearby who heard Jesus but “muttered” to themselves, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” This sets the stage for the two parables Jesus tells in their presence.
The first is about some sheep—one-hundred of them. Jesus asks them so suppose a shepherd has a hundred sheep but one gets away from the group and finds itself lost. He makes the point that anyone would leave the now ninety-nine sheep to get the one who wandered off and, after finding the one, he would rejoice that the one was found. Jesus then equates this with a sinner who repents compared to ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
A sheep is lost. The shepherd finds the sheep. The shepherd rejoices.
The second parable is about some coins—ten of them. Jesus asks them to suppose a woman has ten silver coins but loses one. He then makes the assumption that of course she would search all over the house until she found the coin she lost. She would then find her friends and neighbors and invite them to rejoice with her because she’s found her lost coin.
A coin is lost. The woman finds her coin. The woman rejoices.
Now, we come to verse 10 and Jesus says, “In the same way (just like the woman rejoiced over finding her coin) there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” At this point I (and perhaps you, too) have happily thought of angels in heaven rejoicing over the fact that we said yes to Jesus and repented. What a wonderful thing that angels would care that much! I ask you, though, is that what the text says?
I’ve often assumed that verse 10 was telling me that the angels in heaven rejoice but Luke wrote that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God. In Luke, Jesus doesn’t say that the angels of God rejoice; but that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God. The question then is: who’s in the presence of the angels of God?
God is in the presence of the angels of God!
Does this mean that the angels of God aren’t rejoicing when we repent? Not necessarily. What it means is that God is rejoicing when we repent. Our God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is rejoicing when we repent from sin and turn to him. It would be wonderful if the angels rejoice when we repent—and maybe they do—but it is all the more wonderful that God himself is rejoicing.
God is happy—he is filled with joy—when you repent and turn to him.