This chapter is based on Luke 15:1-10.
Luke 15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
Luke 15:5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luke 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Before examining this marvellous parable, let’s read a similar one that was written by Matthew the former tax collector:
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
Matthew 18:13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
COMMON MESSAGE
Matthew and Luke refer to two different audiences at two different venues, places. But the parable of the lost sheep is so important that we need to hear it again and again and again.
As the “publicans and sinners” gathered about Christ, the rabbis expressed their displeasure. “This man receives sinners,” they said, “and eats with them.”
Tell me. What were they really trying to say? It is politically wrong what Jesus is doing!
Let’s look at the following two verses:
Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
What is the outstanding verb in both verses? Go
This is such a tremendously important action of God. When you and I messed up the floodgates of misery, pain, corruption, and death were opened. We were drowning.
But a loving God left the celestial 99 and came to the rescue of this one wounded and bleeding sheep. Where did He found us? On the cross of Calvary where He changed my sinful shame and mess with His love, His righteousness, holiness.
The story of God’s love does not consist in us seeking Him. It is about God seeking us. We cannot even generate remorse for our unselfish wicked behaviour. Remorse is a gift of the Holy Spirit working in us. If we reject Him, we die. If we accept the pleadings of the Holy Spirit we live for ever in a state of happiness, safety, and gratitude.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Who are these little ones? Besides literal children Jesus refers primarily to those who are yet ‘’children’’ in the kingdom of heaven. That is the immature Christians.
Little what Paul says:
1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
Jesus says something very important concerning the work of the angels concerning the little ones.
Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
Angels of glory, who always behold the face of the Father in heaven, joyfully minister to His little ones. Trembling souls, who have many objectionable traits of character, are their special charge. Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging. And in this ministry Christ’s true followers will co-operate.
Luke 15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
By this accusation they insinuated that Christ liked to associate with the sinful and vile, and was insensible to their wickedness. The rabbis had been disappointed in Jesus.
Why was it that one who claimed so lofty a character did not mingle with them and follow their methods of teaching? Why did He go about so unpretendingly, working among all classes?
If He were a true prophet, they said, He would harmonize with them, and would treat the publicans and sinners with the indifference they deserved.
It angered these guardians of society that He with whom they were continually in controversy, yet whose purity of life amazed and condemned them, should meet, in such apparent sympathy, with social outcasts.
They did not approve of His methods. They regarded themselves as educated, refined, and pre-eminently religious; but Christ’s example laid bare their selfishness.
It angered them also that those who showed only contempt for the rabbis and who were never seen in the synagogues should flock about Jesus and listen with rapt attention to His words.
The scribes and Pharisees felt only condemnation in that pure presence; how was it, then, that publicans and sinners were drawn to Jesus?
They knew not that the explanation lay in the very words they had uttered as a scornful charge, “This man receives sinners.” The souls who came to Jesus felt in His presence that even for them there was escape from the pit of sin.
The Pharisees had only scorn and condemnation for them; but Christ greeted them as children of God, estranged indeed from the Father’s house, but not forgotten by the Father’s heart.
And their very misery and sin made them only the more, the objects of His compassion. The farther they had wandered from Him, the more earnest the longing and the greater the sacrifice for their rescue.
All this the teachers of Israel might have learned from the sacred scrolls of which it was their pride to be the keepers and expounders. Had not David written—David, who had fallen into deadly sin—
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant”? Psalm 119:176.
Had not Micah revealed God’s love to the sinner, saying,
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
EDINBURH SCOTLAND
In Edinburgh Scotland I visited the famous Royal Mile and the famous Castle. But that which made the most impression on me was the statue of the most famous dog – Greyfriars Bobby. After his master, Old Jock died, he guarded his tomb for 14 years till his death.
Another famous hymn writer Clephane, St Cuthberts also lived here.
You can visit her tomb at St Cuthbert’s churchyard. Let me read to you one of her many beautiful hymns she wrote:
1 Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain (gladly) would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day.
2 Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One who suffered there for me:
and from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
3 I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place:
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss;
my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
The other famous hymn she wrote concerns the parable of the lost sheep:
There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare. Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care
2 “Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine; are they not enough for thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of mine has wandered away from me,
and although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep,
I go to the desert to find my sheep.”
3 But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed;
nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed thro’ ere he found his sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert he heard its cry —sick and helpless, and ready to die,
sick and helpless, and ready to die.
4 “Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way that mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are thy hands so rent and torn?” “They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn,
they’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
5 But all thro’ the mountains, thunder-riv’n, and up from the rocky steep,
there arose a glad cry to the gate of heav’n, “Rejoice! I have found my sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne, “Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own!”
My dear friend I don’t know about the deep wounds you suffered in your journey through life. I don’t know if you experience lostness at this very time.
I don’t even know if you are times are thinking to…
But I know this. Our Good Shepherd is seeking His lost and bleeding sheep. Please allow Him to lift you up. Please allow Him to hold you close to His heart. Once you are in His safe embrace, you will hear His heart throbs of forgiveness, love and redemption.