“Lost and Found and Celestial Parities”
Luke 15:1-32
Introduction
When thoughts become a pattern of thinking they sprout attitudes. Attitudes blossom into behavior. Behavior becomes habit. Habit becomes character.
Transformed living cannot take place without transformed thinking.
We are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Jesus used parables, illustrations from the world of men to illustrate the principles of kingdom living. Most of the parables have a context that triggered the parable and a practical point to address the issue encountered in the context.
What do we do when someone around us is in rebellion? How should we think and act toward sinners? What responsibility do we have to those who reject God’s ways? What about our attitude toward unbelievers? What thinking absorbs our mind when we encounter street people, rebellions teenagers, delinquents, drug addicts, alcoholics, and others whose sins become externally obvious? What about those in the church who stop coming? Those who leave? Those struggling with sin? Jesus told three stories to emphasize the proper attitude and actions toward such people that would be a good measuring rod against our own thinking and attitudes.
I. The Particular perspective
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2
A. Circumstance
Spiritually hungry tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to him. These were people considered by the ‘spiritually elite’ Pharisees and scribes to be rejected and avoided. Yet Jesus responded much differently. He continually received them and continually ate with them. He received them, welcomed them, accepted them and even sought to connect with them. To receive was to draw someone into your circle, cherish, accept, or anxiously wait. In order to respond in this way required a certain thinking and corresponding attitude. Jesus not only received them but went even deeper by eating with them. Eating a meal together in that culture was a sign of acceptance, hospitality and fellowship. Jesus not only accepted them but connected with these people because he saw and ascribed value to them. They were all image bearers of His father and in need of the truth. The response of the religious leaders was not what we might expect from godly men.
Those who had come to point people to God purposely blocked the way. They fancied themselves as the holy gatekeepers commissioned to protect the kingdom from all undesirables and sinners. When they noticed Jesus receiving and connecting to the very people they were sworn to despise, they verbalized their disapproval.
The verb tense used here indicates that anytime they noticed Jesus reaching out to the “unacceptable” class of people they would complain even more. “Grumbled” mutter complain, murmur stemming from a strong personal attitude. Their negative attitude toward Jesus here is obvious by their designation “this man.” Jesus not only welcomes them but eats with them like they were His friends.
What was the attitude of the religious guys? Sinners aren’t worthy of God’s attention.
Reject them. Avoid them. These were “hungry sinners’. They were there to hear what Jesus had to say about God. The Pharisees and Scribes had a man-made perception of sin.
In their mind there were two categories of people. Religious people. Sinners. They failed to realize that all have sinned. Everyone is a sinner because everyone sins. This designation describing ones sinful bent in life applies to everyone. Everyone sins. There are sinners who are well aware of their sinfulness. There are sinners who deny their sinfulness.
Jesus told these parables to address the wrong attitude and actions of the religious leaders toward sinful people. In doing so, He teaches a most powerful lesson concerning how God feels about sinners and how we also should respond to those who sin (including ourselves).
II. The Pertinent Parables
Common elements in each parable
•Each story focused on someone or something “lost” that was once connected.
•Each parable highlighted the action of the owner toward the lost.
•Each parable made application to the eventual repentance and return of the lost.
•Each parable emphasized the jubilant response to the repentance of the sinner.
Each story highlights a slightly different aspect of the owners “search” which we will cover in the story.
The term “sinner” should be explored just a bit before diving into the stories. Every word in any language has a “range of usage” that must be considered. The term used here conveys the basic idea of “missing the mark”. A trespass indicates the act of proceeding where we should not be going. Sinners, in this context, refers to any who fail to reach God’s standard. A sinner is one who continues to “miss the mark”. Scripture emphatically declares that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Paul insisted that he was the foremost of sinners.
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 1 Tim. 1:15-16
James calls on sinning believers to repent. James talks about turning sinning believers from the error of their way. This term may be applied to sinning believers. It is also used to describe those who have not yet received Christ. These parables are generally applied to the finding of lost unbelieving sinners.
I agree that that is a possible application and seems to fit the immediate context of tax gatherers and sinners. After further contemplation and observation of these parables I am inclined to also at least give attention to applying these principles to our attitude toward sinning believers. Each lost item was once in the possession of the owners and then lost or unavailable. The finding is of something precious that was lost.
A. The Lost Sheep 15:3-7
So He told them this parable, saying, "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. "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 which was lost!
This parable emphasizes the PRIORITY of restoration. He left the ones that were doing ok to search for the one who was lost.
•Lost to usefulness to the owner.
•Lost to connection and fellowship with the shepherd and the flock.
•Lost to protection of the sheepfold.
When we walk off of God’s path we are lost to usefulness in ministry. We are lost to fellowship with God or other believers. We walk out of the protection and covering of the body. The tendency of sheep is to wander off. All we like sheep have gone astray.
Jesus explains to the Pharisees that we must be about the business of finding and returning wandering sheep to the fold. This shepherd went after the sheep until he found it. This shepherd carried the sheep back to the rest of the fold. This sheep called others to rejoice in the return and restoration of the sheep to the fold.
We prefer to spend our time with those who appear to have it together. Those who don’t have struggles. The healthy sheep make life easier. Yet Jesus causes us to think about where our priority as a church should be. In this case it is on the lost sheep.
There is a powerful passage in Zechariah that continually convicts me concerning the true mission of the church. God rebukes the sin of Israel and informs them that He will send faithless shepherds who will not do what he called shepherds to do. In this description of faithless shepherds we learn something powerful about faithful ones.
"For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs. Zech. 11:16
Four tasks jump out of this passage.
•Care for the perishing
•Seek the scattered
•Heal the broken
•Sustain the standing
Three of these have to do with those who are struggling in some way. The perishing are perhaps those without Christ. The scattered are those who have lost connection with the body. The broken are those who are suffering the wounds of sin in their life. We are to seek them out and bring them back. We cannot pass them by. As in the parable of the Good Samaritan it is often the religious who pass by the wounded. A prophecy concerning Jesus the Good Shepherd is found in Ezek 34 where these elements are reinforced and also point to him as the Good Shepherd.
What was the response to the return of the lost sheep?
I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
God calls his neighbors (angels) to rejoice over repentant sinners.
“Repentance” means to change one’s mind or purpose or direction.
We all know that when someone comes to Christ there is great rejoicing in heaven as well as on earth. I also firmly believe that any time a believer renounces sin and turns back to God’s way there is an angelic party. There is no delight in heaven over those who think they do not need repentance. Probably there is sorrow for God resists the proud. But anytime we recognize that we have been going the wrong direction or thinking the wrong way and turn around and change our thinking, all heaven parties. We also ought to celebrate here on earth what God celebrates in heaven. This rejoicing of the shepherd and his friends is in direct to the “grumbling” of those who had no concern for the lost. The sheep was lost and the shepherd made it a priority to search out and return the sheep to the fold.
B. The Lost Coins
"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ’Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:8-10
Some of the same elements are in this story.
•The owner lost something important and valuable.
•The owner searched for the lost item.
•The owner found the item.
•The owner invited others to share in the joy of finding what was lost.
•The parable is tied to the angel’s jubilance over repenting sinners.
The slight difference is an emphasis on the passion of the search. She lit a lamp, swept the house and searched carefully until she found it. The first parable focused on the priority of the search in leaving the 99 sheep. This emphasized the passion of the search, the energy expended the perseverance. In these two parables the lost item was returned (repented) by the diligent effort of the owner making the search a priority and pursing it with passion.
C. The Lost Son
In June we sent time reviewing this parable so I will only briefly summarize the points.
The common elements are there. The father lost something valuable to him
The lost was found.
The owner/Father invited the community to celebrate the repentance of the son.
In all of these stories the lost is…
•Restored to the owner
•Restored to usefulness
•Restored to protection
•Restored to the community (100 sheep, 10 coins, family)
There are some different elements as well.
•In this parable circumstances brought about the return of the wayward son.
•The story emphasizes the value of the father’s patient love not diligent search.
People involvement still plays a part in the process. The father watched and anticipated the return, he receive the son, demonstrated unconditional love, reminded the son of his true place in the family and called the community to celebrate the son’s return. He called for all the elements of a freeman to be returned to his son.
The royal robe (best in the closet)
The family signet ring.
The sandals which were a sign of a freeman as opposed to a slave
The celebratory feast
The father called them to celebrate the fact that the son who had been in a perpetual state of lostness to him is now at this moment found both in body and soul. The father empathically told the other brother we just HAD to celebrate!
It is dangerous to push the individual elements of a parable too far. The common elements of this parable clearly stand out and should be considered. Perhaps there is something to the difference in the causes for being lost.
The sheep wandered off from the rest due to foolishness of the sheep not the owner.
The coin was lost due to the carelessness of the owner.
The son was lost due to his intentional rebellion.
Not a bad summary of the cause of lostness among the people of the world. Perhaps it also provides some insight into dealing with rebellion. Those who wander due to foolishness need diligent pursuit. Those who get lost because of the carelessness of or callousness of the church need diligent pursuit. Those lost because of rebellion need patient prayer and powerful circumstances. The story dealing with a moral lapse requires a moral response from the lost son.
•“He was far from himself” not thinking properly.
•“He came to his senses” reasoned with proper thinking.
•“He said to himself I will arise and go.” He followed his change of thinking with a change in direction.
III. The practical Point
Jesus wanted the self-righteous religious rulers to realize that Jesus came to seek and save those realizing they needed repentance not those who felt righteous by their own works. Jesus wanted them to realize that God considers all people valuable and worth seeking.
One sentence point…
All people have value and are worth the effort to bring to repentance.
The graphic nature of these parables powerfully silenced the Pharisees public grumbling toward the lost. Jesus exposed their callousness hearts by a stark contrast to the love of God for sinners.
IV.Some practical lessons
A.All people are important to God
B.All people stray from God’s path (get lost)
C.All people need repentance (need to be found)
D.God uses people and circumstances to bring about repentance
E.Repenting sinners are a cause for earthly and angelic rejoicing
V.Some personal applications to the Chico family
A.Make it our priority to seek and restore the lost
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Tim. 2:24-26
Brethren, even if anyone is caught (trapped) in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
Prevention
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11
Prescription
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ Ephes. 4:15
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
Restoration should be our priority.
Restoration should be our passion.
Restoration should be the result of patient unconditional love.
We are called to:
•Care for the perishing
•Seek the scattered
•Heal the wounded
•Sustain the standing
We recently investigated some Biblical responses to those who sin.
•Pray and mourn
•Encourage daily
•Confront, correct, reprove, exhort with the truth in love
•Forgive and Forebear
•Bear burdens
•Restore
•Accept
•Have mercy
•Warn
•Remove, refuse and avoid
Will you ask God to give you opportunity to join His search and rescue team?
Hymn “Rescue the Perishing”
B.Stop wandering from God’s path and repent (change direction)
Are you wandering away from God’s path?
Are you doing what He has called you to do?
Are doing what you know would displease Him?
Are you missing the mark?
1.Stop what you are doing
2.Look at your circumstances
3.Listen to those God sends your way
4.Repent -- Turn around before you get hit by the train.
Humble repentance is the key to dynamic relationship with God.
"But they have not become contrite even to this day, nor have they feared nor walked in My law or My statutes, which I have set before you and before your fathers." ’ Jeremiah 44:10
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
Thus says the Lord,
"Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest? "For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the Lord. "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1-2
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
"I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
We must continually come to the throne of grace in order to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
For God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Until we are willing to be transparent before others and enlist the help of the body we have not yet come to the point of humility.
We are still trying to figure it out on our own.
We are too proud to ask for help.
Jesus told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ’God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ’I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ’God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:7-10
Is anyone among you without strength? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is weak, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:14-16
Are you willing to cry out for God’s help and admit you can no longer deal with things on your own?
C.Rejoice in the community over every repentant member
We need more “return” stories. That is what sparks celestial parties. We need to share when God does a work in your life. We need to share the results of repentance.
Repentance is severely underrated. It is the core of the Gospel. It is the core of spiritual growth. It is the sign of a soft heart toward God.
It is the sign of a healthy church.
