Luke 15: 1-32 Lost sheep, Lost coin And Lost son By pAstor deAn
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CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
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BACKGROUND
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THE SURROUNDING
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THE THEME (LOST SHEEP AND LOST COIN)
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THE KEY WORD IN GREEK
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THE SIGNIFICANT OF THE PARABLE
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The LOST COIN(LUKE 15:8-10)
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The LOST SON (Luke 15:11-32)
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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INTRODUCTION This parable of lost sheep, lost coin and lost son is very unique and meaningful for our Christian life. The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's Redemption. This is an example that even though a man who lost a sheep. He left his 99 sheep to look for another one. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, And exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. God will not leave one lost sheep and He will look for the lost sheep. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to himself, and the Savior’s joy on their return to him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation. The lost son is a represent of a sinner who comes back to a father and repents his sins. God wants all sinners to come back to Him and repent. These three parables represent the love of Jesus to all sinners. He loves us so much.
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I. Background A. The surrounding. “This passage is an addition to the first edition of the fourth gospel. It is suggested that the early exclusion from the gospels may be due to its inconsistency with the strict disciplinary treatment of adultery then customary.”1 Luke particularly addressed the needs of the poor and this parable reaffirms that God seeks the social outcasts, the lost. In this chapter starts with the Pharisees and the scribes murmured/grumbled saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them. V.2” This sentence unlocks the meaning of the parable.”2 Jesus portrays two groups of people who were in conflict: The tax collectors/other sinners verses the Pharisees/scribes. We have seen this conflict several times before in the life of Jesus. The Pharisees also grumbled when Jesus ate with Levi, the tax collector (Luke 5:30) and also when Jesus stayed at the home of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector (Luke 19:7). In chapter 15 where there are three parables on this theme. They illustrate that the goodness and mercy of God is for everyone, especially the most neglected and despised. Luke's parable is triggered by the grumbling of the Jewish religious leaders because Jesus has eaten with outcasts.”3 Crowds came to hear him (Luke 15:1). Jesus let them stay for a short time, and he taught them. But many Pharisees, who were the leaders of the Jewish religion, did not like this (Luke 15:2). They said that a good man should not be with sinners. 1
Caleb Rosado. What is God like?: A story of Luke 15. Review and Herald Pub. Association, July 1988 Darrell Bock. Luke 9:51-24:53 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Baker Academic; 3rd edition, May 1, 1996 3 Joel B. Green. The Gospel of Luke (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, October 1997 2
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B. The theme. Lost and found: this is the theme of Luke 15. A pair of short parables (of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin) builds up to the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Luke has inherited a form of the Lost Sheep; Matthew knows of it, too. Luke has paired it with the Lost Coin. Once more, he ensures that his stories give equal weight to a man (who has lost the sheep) and a woman (who has lost the coin).
C. The key word in Greek “The key word of chapter 15 is “repent”. The word translated repent in English New Testaments is the Greek word metanoeo. Repentance involves a change of mind , waking up to reality, seeing things as they really are, and recognizing the error of your ways , resulting in a change of action. Repentance includes forsaking old patterns, habits, priorities, and all things that have controlled you (gods). Repentance means accepting Jesus as Lord. To repent is to forsake all other gods and embrace Jesus Christ as your Lord and God.”4 4
Marshall I. Howard. Gasque W. Ward. Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text (New International Greek Testament Commentary). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, November 14, 1978
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II. The significant of the parable A. The parable of the lost sheep (Luke15:1-7). Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep when the Pharisees criticized Him for socializing with sinners. Through this story of compassion, Jesus revealed his rescue mission for sinners. Many Pharisees did not realize that God offers hope to sinners. The Pharisees thought that a sinner had to obey their traditions and their religion. They thought that they were the only good people. The parable begins with a straying sheep (Luke 15:3-7). A sheep apart from its shepherd is defenseless and in grave danger. Jesus views any person apart from Him as lost. “So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows� (Isaiah 59:9).
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”The parable of the lost sheep also illustrates Christ’s attitude toward the saved sinner. The parable gives no indication of the shepherd ever rebuking or chiding. Instead, he hoists the sheep upon his shoulders and takes it home. An adult sheep may weigh anywhere from 110 to 125 pounds; it would be no small effort to carry one over the shoulder. For joy over finding that which was lost, the shepherd bears the discomfort. Likewise, Jesus bore the weight of our sins upon the cross.” 5 This is the only verse in the Bible where we find a sheep on Jesus’ shoulders. We find three references to the word, “joy,” in this short parable, and two more references to joy in the next parable. There is great joy in the heart of God when anyone who is lost is found. We remember that Jesus is declared to be the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John 10:1-18. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, knows the sheep and the sheep know him. 5
William R. Williams. God's rescues. New York : A. D. F. Randolph & co., 1871
8 “Finally, the parable of the lost sheep offers an extraordinary glimpse of heavenly emotions. The shepherd calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me.” The rescue of the lost sheep was a cause for proclamation and celebration. Similarly, Heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and is restored to fellowship with God. This joy is cheerfulness; it is calm, considered delight. It is a deliberate emotion thoughtful and sustained”6 B. The lost coin (Luke 15:8-10)
The next parable is about a woman who loses a coin. She looks for it very carefully, and she finds it. She then calls to her friends to be happy with her. In the same way, said Jesus, there is great happiness in heaven when a sinner repents. “This is the only time where the word, “drachma,” occurs in the New Testament. Its value was equivalent to a denarius, which was worth a day’s wage.”7 The woman sweeps the house and searches diligently until she finds it. In this way, the woman of the house is equivalent to the good shepherd in the previous parable that searches for the lost sheep. There is a focused diligence as both the woman householder and the good shepherd search for what is precious to them and lost. The woman is joyful in her heart that she has found what was lost. Jesus is telling us how happy and joyful God is when we finally are found; when we finally come to our senses 6 Rudolf Steiner. Robert McDermott. Catherine E. Creeger. According to Luke: The Gospel of Compassion and Love Revealed. Steiner Books, July 2001 7 James W. Moore. Jesus' Parables of the Lost And Found. Dimensions for Living, 2006
9 and return to God and his ways. Again, the context unlocks the meaning of the parable. This parable was addressed to the Pharisees who did not think that they were lost but actually, they were. “The key word in both parables is “repent.” We know that these parables are an invitation to repent. We know that we need to understand what Jesus meant by us repenting and returning to God.”8 C. The lost son (Luke 15:11-32)
“This story sums the central message of the whole New Testament. If you truly
understand this story of the father, the lost son, and the older brother, you will begin to grasp the central thrust of Jesus and the main emphasis of the New Testament.”9 It is important for us to understand the context or setting because the context or setting unlocks the meaning of the parable. It isn’t very often that the key is in the context, but the key that unlocks this parable is its setting. The parable begins like this in Luke 15:1 “Jesus was eating with a group of publicans and sinners. When the Pharisees saw it, they were very upset and said, ‘Jesus, why are you eating with this kind of people? They
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Carillon Pub.God's Word Today Feb. 1998 Luke, Chapters 15-24. Carillon Pub., January 1, 1998
Henri J.M. Nouwen. The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. Image Books / Doubleday Publishing Group, March 1, 1994
10 aren’t religious enough for you.’ Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. In the parables of Jesus, it seems that we often have two sons. The two sons are symbolic of two alternative ways to live life. The two sons are symbolic of the “either-or” in life, a fork in the road, a choice between “this road” and “that road,” between “this way of life” and “that way of life.” There was man who had two sons and one son wanted his portion of the inheritance. The father complied and gave the younger son his portion of the wealth. The older son received two thirds of the inheritance and the younger son received one third. The lost son spent all his money and now he works for a citizen of that country who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. “In Biblical times, this is the lowest a Jewish person could ever fall: to eat with the pigs. He comes to his senses and goes back to his father. He asks for a father’s forgiveness. The father loves him and forgives him.”10 The father is very happy and said to the servants “…Let’s have a feast and celebrate….v.23” The older son comes back home. He got mad and his father told him that we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.' "There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who comes to his senses and returns to God and God’s ways, than over self righteous people whose hearts have become hardened to people they doesn’t like. “The Pharisees were symbolic of the older brother who erroneously thought he was morally and spiritually superior in comparison with the younger brother.”11 So, basically, we have two brothers in this parable. We have one brother who is the lost 10
Joel B. Green. The Theology of the Gospel of Luke (New Testament Theology). Cambridge University Press, May 26, 1995 11 Stephen G. Griffith. Bill Deckard. Prodigals and those who love them: study. Colorado Springs, CO : Focus on the Family, 1991
11 son of the flesh and the other is a lost son of the spirit. Both are loved. Both are loved deeply by God, the Father. The older son's attitude was like the attitude of the Pharisees. In fact, Jesus told these three parables because of their bad attitude towards Jesus. the Pharisees and scribes did not know that they themselves were lost. Even though they were in the synagogue every Friday night; even though they tithed and were financially generous to their synagogue; even though they followed the devotional rituals of their religion; the Pharisees were still lost. The Pharisees were the hypocrites, the “white washed tombs,” who looked good on the outside but inside of their hearts, they were filled with jealousy and love of money. The Pharisees could fool people around them, but they could not fool Jesus or God. Jesus uses this parable as another invitation for the Pharisees (who are symbolic of self righteous people) to repent and change their (our) ways.
The “lost’ in this parable are not those outside the synagogue but those inside the
12 synagogue. The parable does not focus as much on a person who wandered away from the church and is considered a “lost soul” but on a religiously self righteous person who is still within the religious community but who doesn’t know that he/she is lost. The “lost” are not the “outsiders” but the “insiders.”12 When a religiously self righteous person repents, there is great joy in heaven. The lost and found is connected to Luke 14:21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” Jesus comes to the sinners. People who acknowledge that they are sinners, repent and accept Jesus into their lives.
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Alfred E. Garvie. The Joy of Finding (An Exposition of Luke 15:11-32). Charles Scribner's Sons,
January 1, 1914
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What about you today, do you feel like your lost. Do you feel like you have squandered your life away and your living with a bunch of pigs? Maybe you’re the lost Son or the lost daughter that the bible is talking about. I would encourage you to turn to Jesus Christ. The bible says in Luke 15:15” So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.” Don’t’ you think it’s time to turn to Jesus Christ and repent of your wandering today? I’m praying for you and I also believe in you. Jesus is waiting for you to return home to Him. The bible says in vs. 20. So he got
14 up and went to his father. “But while he was still along way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him: he ran to his son threw His arms around him and kissed him.” The bible says when the son was so far off that our Lord Jesus Christ saw him and ran and put his arms around him. Jesus sees you where you’re at and wants to put his arms around you. The bible says that the vs21 “The son said to him,“ Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” vs 22. “But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on is feet. Bring a Fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.” You see Jesus Christ is waiting for you to repent and He is waiting to give you the best for your life. What are you waiting for today. I do pray that you have been blessed by reading this short book. I feel even though it’s short, but it’s sweet to your soul. I pray that Jesus Christ will continue to bless you. Pastor Dean.
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Bibliography Alfred E. Garvie. The Joy of Finding (An Exposition of Luke 15:11-32). Charles Scribner's Sons, January 1, 1914 Caleb Rosado. What is God like?: A story of Luke 15. Review and Herald Pub. Association, July 1988 Carillon Pub.God's Word Today Feb. 1998 Luke, Chapters 15-24. Carillon Pub., January 1, 1998 Darrell Bock. Luke 9:51-24:53 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Baker Academic; 3rd edition, May 1, 1996 Henri J.M. Nouwen. The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. Image Books / Doubleday Publishing Group, March 1, 1994 James W. Moore. Jesus' Parables of the Lost And Found. Dimensions for Living, 2006 Joel B. Green. The Gospel of Luke (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, October 1997
Joel B. Green. The Theology of the Gospel of Luke (New Testament Theology). Cambridge University Press, May 26, 1995 Marshall I. Howard. Gasque W. Ward. Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text (New International Greek Testament Commentary). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, November 14, 1978 Rudolf Steiner. Robert McDermott. Catherine E. Creeger. According to Luke: The Gospel of Compassion and Love Revealed. Steiner Books, July 2001 Stephen G. Griffith. Bill Deckard. Prodigals and those who love them: study. Colorado Springs, CO : Focus on the Family, 1991 William R. Williams. God's rescues. New York : A. D. F. Randolph & co., 1871
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Author: Pastor Dean. AA. BA. MDIV. DMIN
Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts of Biblical Studies Southern Christian University Awarded the “West Creek Award In memory of W.B and Velma West, excellent teachers of the Bible and Biblical Languages Founder and CEO of FLYHIGH MINISTRIES. Masters in Divinity at Southern Christian University Iraq Combat Veteran, OIF III, Calvary Scout Recon.