Luke 15:7 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Joy shall be — Solemn and festal joy, in heaven — First, in our blessed Lord himself, and then among the angels and spirits of just men, perhaps informed thereof by God himself, or by the angels who ministered to them. Over one sinner — One gross, open, notorious sinner, that repenteth — That is, thoroughly changed in heart and life; more than over ninety and nine just persons — Comparatively just, outwardly blameless: that need not such a repentance — For they need not, cannot repent of the sins which they never committed. The sum is, as a father peculiarly rejoices when an extravagant child, supposed to be utterly lost, comes to a thorough sense of his duty; or as any other person who has recovered what he had given up for gone, has a more sensible satisfaction in it, than in several other things equally valuable, but not in such danger: so do the angels in heaven peculiarly rejoice in the conversion of the most abandoned sinners. Yea, and God himself so readily forgives and receives them, that he may be represented as having part in the joy.