Luke 15:1-10 “The Joy of Finding a Lost Sheep” 9/15/19 As the 14th Chapter of Luke closed we read of Jesus saying, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”1 - Then Luke 15 begins, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.” It would seem like Jesus was getting His wish - He proClaims that anyone with ears should listen - And the next thing that Luke reCords is that tax collectors and sinners were gathering to do just that - These were the people who needed to hear the message - Jesus welComes them - Eats with them - And is teaChing them In spite of that looking like a good thing to you and I - The next verse says, “But the Pharisees and the teaChers of the law muttered, “This man welComes sinners and eats with them.”2 - As a sinner, I personally rejoice that my Creator sent Jesus to provide a way for me to be welComed into God’s Kingdom - But the Pharisees don’t seem pleased Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become Corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” The Pharisees and the teaChers of the law were the religious people of that day - They would have known these verses - They may even have taught these verses - Yet, somehow they did not ConneCt the truth that “all have turned away, (and) all have beCome Corrupt;” with the faCt that the Pharisees were also some of the sinners In addition, they should have been glad that tax ColleCtors and sinners were yearning for Jesus’ teaChings - And that our Lord was welComing everyone - Instead, they felt so superior to everyone that they Could not care less about their fellow human beings 1 From Luke 14:35 - Scripture quoted has been taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc., (Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI) 2 Luke 15:2 Page 1 In religious people, that attitude is often Called “Holier than thou” - In people in general, it is selfishness or self centeredness - Sadly, these are traits that are all too Common in the human race They are things we see too much of in this world around us - And they are human faults that are very unsavory - In response to this hardhearted condition - Jesus tells three parables - Parables that affirm the worth of even one lost soul - Parables that show us that God Cares for eaCh and every one of us We heard two of these three parables in our reading today - And the third is one of the best known parables that Jesus ever told - Beginning just after today’s passage ends, at verse 11, is the Parable of the Prodigal Son I only inCluded the first two parables in our reading today - Omitting the parable of the Prodigal Son not only because it would have made the Gospel passage too long for our time - But because it would overshadow the other two parables in today’s reading In spite my omitting the parable of the Prodigal son, Jesus told all three parables in the Context that Luke reCorded - All three have a similar theme - These three parables have Come to be known as the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Lost Son or the Parable the Prodigal Son In these stories, Jesus is teaching us some truths about the Kingdom of God - And not just lessons about sheep, Coins, or rebellious sons - These are stories about restoration - Parables about how God loves us dearly enough to seek us out Some feel that these three parables are the telling of three different ways that we may be separated from God The lost sheep Could be someone who drifted away - You probably know someone like that - They used to Come to ChurCh - But now it does not seem to hold a very high priority in their life Page 2 The lost Coin Could be someone who is just plain lost - They have never heard about Jesus - No one has ever invited them to ChurCh - And they laCk a Christian home and Godly friends The prodigal son Could represent someone who has rebelled against the faith - Someone who has separated from the Church on purpose - Maybe they got involved in some sin - And now they try to avoid Jesus beCause they know they are in the wrong Or on the other hand, maybe someone at Church just said something dumb, or did something dumb, and now that person does not want anything to do with the faith if “that’s what Christians are like” The common thread that runs through all three parables is the GraCe of God - In every broken relationship, God seeks restoration - The shepherd, the woman, and the Prodigal Son’s compassionate Father are all looking for what was lost In the first parable, Jesus talks about a lost sheep - AcCording to Adam Clarke, “The lost sheep is an emblem of a heedless, thoughtless sinner: one who follows the Corrupt diCtates of his own heart, without ever refleCting upon his ConduCt, or Considering what will be the issue of his unholy Course of life. No Creature strays more easily than a sheep - None is more heedless; and none so incapable of finding its way baCk to the floCk - After it has gone astray: it will cry out for the floCk, and still run in the opposite direction from where the floCk is No Creature is more defenseless than a sheep, and more exposed to be devoured by dogs and wild beasts.”3 No wonder the SCripture Compares God’s people to sheep time and time again - Prone to wander, defenseless, and easily led astray - That is the story of humankind 3 Clarke's Commentary, by Adam Clarke 1760-1832, © public domain Page 3 In the parable about the woman searChing for the Coin - She has lost one of ten Coins - The original Greek of the New Testament reCords that this coin was a draChma - WhiCh is a Greek Coin that was worth about a day’s wages - So in today’s economy, that is a hundred dollars or more - So do not be misled by it being a single Coin In addition, my Life AppliCation Bible notes that women in BibliCal times, would often reCeive ten silver coins as a wedding gift4 - It is possible that this is what Jesus is speaking of here These wedding Coins were often plaCed in a headdress the woman Could wear - Therefore, in addition to their monetary value, the coins could have held a sentimental value like that of a wedding ring - So, if you were to lose one, it would be extremely distressing Either way - A day’s wages - Or part of an expensive wedding gift - This is something well worth searChing for - All three lost items in these parables are very valuable things The sheep, the Coin, and the son are all precious indeed - Just like every human life that God has Created NotiCe what Jesus says in the closing verse of eaCh of these parables in today’s reading - Verse 7, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoiCing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” And Luke 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoiCing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Now think of the reason that Jesus shared these stories - The religious people of that day were murmuring, grumbling, Complaining, and muttering - Jesus cared for the unfortunate sinners of that day - And He even ate with them 4 Life Application Bible, © 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, (Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL) Page 4 The rejoiCing in God’s presenCe is a dramatiC Contrast to the grumbling of the religious people - These unfortunate sinners are not only valuable enough to searCh for - They are a good reason for rejoiCing onCe they have been found - There is great joy in finding a lost sheep As God’s people, we have a ChoiCe to make - We Can be part of the rejoiCing or we Can be part of the grumbling - God Calls us to genuinely care for others - So obviously we are not to be grumblers about God’s love for everyone, instead we are to be part of the rejoiCing Additionally, as the ChurCh, we should be passionate about evangelism and restoration - About sharing Jesus with the lost - And bringing reConCiliation to those who have drifted away from the floCk If someone has strayed - We might be the person to bring them baCk - If they are involved in something that might be Spiritually damaging - We might be the one to resCue them If someone has never heard the Good News about Jesus - If they do not know that God offers a free gift of Salvation - If they do not know that they can be forgiven through Jesus We might be the one to tell them - By sharing God’s Word - By inviting them to ChurCh - By sharing what Jesus means to us - And by living out a life of faith before them If someone has cut their ties with the Church - We might be the one to bring peace - To restore their relationship with the Lord - And to get them re-established in the fellowship of believers Perhaps you are here today reCognizing that you are someone whose relationship with God is not where it should be - Maybe if you were to put yourself in these parables - You would be one of the lost Coins, the lost sheep, or the prodigal son Page 5 Maybe you are the one who did something dumb, something sinful, and you are not forgiving yourself - And it is keeping you from getting Close to Jesus - Perhaps it was someone else who did something dumb - And that is hindering your walk with Christ Maybe you have never aCCepted Jesus as your Savior - You have never invited the Lord into your life - And you have never Called upon the Lord to acCept that free gift of salvation If so - Or if you fit into any of these Categories, Jesus told these parables especially for you - BeCause like the woman searched