The Parables of the Lost Sheep and Coin I. Base Text: Luke 15:1-10 (cf. Matthew 18:12-14 as well) II. Context A. Luke 9:51: Jesus is heading to Jerusalem to be delivered up 1. The journey to Jerusalem seems to wander a bit, but this comment focuses the events and discussions that follow 2. They are all to be seen as preparations for what is about to take place, representations of what Jesus' ministry is all about B. Throughout Luke 10 through 14, Jesus teaches and performs miracles 1. Sending out the 72: Luke 10:1-24 2. Teaching to the disciples and multitude: Luke 11:1-13, 27-36, 12:1-59, 13:1-10, 18-35, 14:25-35 3. Particular focus on the Pharisees, lawyers, etc.: Luke 10:25-37, 11:37-54, 14:1-24 4. Casting out demons: Luke 11:14-26 5. Healing in the synagogue, reaction: Luke 13:11-17 C. We see special prominence given to Jesus' teaching to His disciples and the multitudes and interactions with the Pharisees in this section, and this comes to a head in Luke 15 D. Luke 15:1-2 1. Within the crowds were "publicans and sinners" coming to hear Jesus 2. "Publicans" as tax-collectors, not only the agent of the oppressor, but one whose income was limited only by his conscience and/or what he could extort out of people, therefore, the paradigmatic sinner (cf. Luke 18:10-14, 19:1-9) 3. "Sinners" as distinct from average people, likely people whose professions and/or whose personal lives were marked by evident, public sin (cf. Matthew 21:28-32: mention of harlots or prostitutes, Luke 7:36-50) 4. To the Pharisees and scribes, this seems scandalous; would not Jesus be defiled by being present with such people, implicitly approving of them by sharing table association? 5. A theme explored earlier in Luke 5:29-32 E. The setting is established for Jesus' instruction through the parables of the lost sheep and coin to explain the logic behind His ministry III. Meaning A. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-6) 1. Jesus begins with an appeal to the men in the crowd 2. Situation: 99 sheep are accounted for, but 1 is missing in the desert 3. Which man among them would not go out and seek the missing sheep until it is found? 4. The expected answer is none 5. The parable then takes fuller shape by considering a man in such a circumstance who will carry the sheep back and then calls together his friends and neighbors to rejoice in finding that which was lost B. The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-9) 1. Jesus then suggests a different situation, one involving a woman in a house 2. She had ten pieces of silver; nine are still present, but one has gone missing 3. Each silver coin (Greek drachma) worth about a day's subsistence wage 4. Rhetorical question: will she not search and sweep everywhere in the house in order to find the missing coin? 5. Expected answer: of course! 6. When it is found, she also calls her (female) friends and neighbors in order to rejoice with her in finding what was lost C. Meaning and Purpose (Luke 15:7, 10) 1. The key to understanding these parables comes from their conclusions 2. Shepherd, woman as God in Christ 3. Sheep, coins as people 4. The 99 sheep, 9 coins as the people already in relationship with God 5. The lost sheep, lost coin as sinners 6. Friends and neighbors as the heavenly host 7. Therefore, just as the shepherd and the woman diligently seek after that which is lost, giving less concern to or even endangering that which already is in hand, Jesus seeks after and focuses upon those who are in sin 8. Both the shepherd and the woman householder are roles of stewardship, care, and protection, of sheep and of the house; thus Jesus as having the role of stewardship, care, and protection of humanity 9. Ultimately, as both shepherd and woman summon friends and neighbors to rejoice in finding what was lost, so also the heavenly host rejoices greatly when a sinner repents, even more so than over those who have already repented 10. With these two parables Jesus justifies and defends His ministry: God is quite concerned for those who are lost, in many ways more so than those who are already in a saved condition, so that is why it is not only proper but necessary for Jesus to "receive sinners" so that they can see their sin for what it is, turn from it, be restored to God, and give reason for rejoicing in heaven IV. Application A. This interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees underscores important lessons for Jesus' followers B. The Nature of Holiness 1. Jesus yet again clarifies what it means to be holy 2. Yes, holiness is as set apart, distinctive, made separate 3. Pharisees, others showed concern that presence in the midst of sinners would defile and render one unholy, either through some sort of communication of unholiness, the influence of the sinners, or just the impression of participation with or justification of sinners as sinners 4. Yet, as Jesus notes in Mark 7:17-23, it is what comes out of a man that defiles, not what is put in 5. Merely being in the presence of sinners, or even having association with sinners, is not defiling (see also 1 Corinthians 5:9-10) 6. Jesus exposes the error of these assumptions of the Pharisees et al! 7. Therefore, those who follow Jesus are to follow His example (1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 John 2:6), and therefore must associate with sinners! 8. Appeals to 1 Corinthians 15:33 are well and good and should be kept in mind, but 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 is in the same letter as well 9. Balancing act: being in, but not of, the world; associating with sinners not in order to become one but to point them toward the Lord 10. If our only association is among those who are already God's people, when will we have opportunity to give heaven an opportunity to rejoice? 11. If we do not associate with those with whom Jesus associated, how can we profess to be His followers? C. God's Priorities 1. These two parables should not be seen as an attack on the Pharisees and scribes, and we do well to take at face value the idea of the 99 and 9 are "righteous" and have no need for repentance 2. Jesus will have plenty to say directly against the Pharisees in parables to come 3. Yes, all have sinned, fallen short of the glory of God, and are in need of repentance (Luke 13:3, Romans 3:23), yet people can find justification through faith in Christ, be reconciled to Him, and be considered as "the righteous" (Romans 5:6-11, 6:3-7, James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:12, 4:18, 1 John 3:7) 4. The focus of these parables are not on those who have already been reconciled to God, but upon those who have yet to be reconciled back to God! 5. The conclusions to these parables are telling: there is more rejoicing in heaven over a repentant sinner than the continued repentance/service of God's people 6. Yes, God loves everyone, and with Him there is no partiality (John 3:16, Romans 2:11) 7. Nevertheless, God also wants all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)! 8. Such is why Jesus went among the "sinners," those often neglected by other religious teachers 9. And such should also inform the focus and priorities of the followers of Jesus as they seek to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)! 10. Put simply, we give heaven greater cause for rejoicing when we promote the Gospel among "sinners" who then repent than if we simply maintain the people who are already "saved" 11. This is the emphasis behind the need to go out and promote the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 1:16)! 12. God persistently seeks after the lost; it is His word which convicts and His work which converts (1 Corinthians 3:6-9, Hebrews 4:12), yet we are called to proclaim His word and testify to His work (Romans 10:17)! 13. Can it be said of us that we persistently seek to proclaim the Gospel of Christ among those who are sinful and not reconciled to God? 14. Can we be as heaven, finding greater joy in the enlargement of the Kingdom than the mere maintenance thereof? 15. Are we willing to take the risks necessary for that growth to happen? V. Conclusion A. One of the greatest differences between Jesus and the Pharisees involved the scope of their work and among whom they ministered and why B. This contrast is sharply highlighted frequently by Jesus C. In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus demonstrates God's great concern and persistent search for those who are sinful, separated from Him D. Jesus is to be the model for all Christians, maintaining personal holiness while associating with the sinful to point them toward repentance and reconciliation with God, recognizing the great joy in heaven over sinners who repent! E. Let us maintain the same attitude, character, and work as Jesus, promote the Gospel to those who are separated from God, so that they can learn to repent and give reason for rejoicing in heaven! F. 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