A Lost Sheep, A Lost Coin, A Lost Son

God’s Love for the Lost

Luke 15:1-32

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

01-07-2024

I Lost My Keys Again

Have you ever lost something? I am better at it than most. I have lost coats, gloves, watches, sunglasses, my place in a song, and my heart to a girl named Maxine.

One time when I was in high school and the editor of the school newspaper, I lost the entire completed ready to go to print copy of the week’s edition!

But out of all the things I’ve lost, my mind is the thing I miss the most.

I lived in Memphis for twenty-one years and still get lost when visiting. When I was younger I lost my keys so much that my mother bought me a device that would beep when you clapped near it. I lost that too.

But now we have Apple AirTags! Just this week, I couldn’t find my wallet and I used my phone to find it!

Losing something is the most frustrating thing, especially if it is valuable. The search can be intense and involve all of our resources.

Have you ever thought about what God thinks about lost things? Does He care? This morning we will hear from God’s Word about God’s heart toward lost sheep, lost coin, and lost sons.

Turn with me to Luke Chapter 15 as I explain the context.

Prayer.

Text within the Context

Verse 1 starts:

“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.”

Jesus was doing what he did best ­ eating lunch and explaining the things of God. He was teaching the people He loved best ­ the outcasts. Jesus hung out with dishonest businessmen, crooked politicians, and brazen prostitutes who could have cared less about the religious rules of the day.

This verse specifically identifies the “tax collectors.” These were Jews who had turned against their own country and collected taxes for the Roman government that occupied Palestine. They extorted money from their fellow countrymen and got rich doing so. For this, they paid a heavy price. Tax collectors were excluded from the religious community and shunned by most respectable Jews.

Tax collecting was treasonous and deserving of death. But in Jesus, they found a friend. Jesus had chosen a tax collector whom He renamed Matthew to be part of His mentoring group of disciples.

These men, along with the dregs of Jewish society, were drawn to hear Jesus speak. Jesus went further than just teaching them, He ate with them. To associate with these people was bad enough, but to eat with them was outrageous!

The original meaning of our word “companion” means “with bread.” To eat with someone was a sign of your friendship with that person. Jesus drove the religious leaders crazy!

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Now before we are too hard on these guys, remember that they were the “good” guys. They championed the Word of God. They were interested in holiness and many had a sincere desire for pleasing God. There was just one problem. They had forgotten that lost people matter to God. They were looking for a Messiah to conquer Rome not One who could conquer lost hearts.

Can you hear them, “ You know he calls himself a rabbi and some say he is the Messiah. Doesn’t he know who he is sharing bread with? Doesn’t he know that God hates sinners?” They were grumbling and muttering and they were wrong.

Or at least, part wrong. God hates sin because it separates us from Him but he loves sinners enough to give His Son for them. The teachers needed teaching and Jesus tells three parables to drive home His point.

He doesn’t give a lecture or a sermon but tells a story of a lost sheep, lost silver, and a lost son.

A Lost Sheep

Then Jesus told them this parable:

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 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.”

Jesus starts his stories with a parable that both the outcasts around him as well as the religious rulers can understand. There were undoubtedly shepherds in the crowd and tending sheep was a big business in Palestine in Jesus’ day.