Knowing The Word in Luke 15:1-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Comments

People saw the tax collectors as collaborators with Rome and enemies of the Jews. Sinners were the immoral lawbreakers. As Jesus drew these people on the fringes of society into his company, the religious Pharisees and scribes took exception. The Pharisees knew that God welcomed penitent sinners, but something new was happening in the ministry of Jesus. In the person of Jesus, God took the initiation to seek out and find the lost.

Upon hearing the Parable of the Lost Sheep, people would have wondered why the shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep who were safe to save one lost sheep. It would take time to do this, putting the safe sheep at risk. When found, the shepherd mounted the sheep on his shoulders. The burden did not bother the shepherd at all. When Jesus applied the parable to the repentance of sinners, he explained the joy in heaven, meaning the joy of the Father, in the work Jesus was doing and in the people he attracted to himself. He was slowly building a case against the grumblers in the crowd.

Application

What does this parable tell you about God and his love for you? One thing to note is that God is a seeking God who goes after you when you are lost. He does not wait around for you to come to him. He is in the rescue business, not sitting on the sidelines.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that you come to me to save me from myself and from the world. Thank you that no burden is too great for you and that your saving work not only brings joy to me but joy to you. Help me to live joyfully for you today.