Verse of the Day 2/5
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
Our Monday men's Bible Study reviewed the first two parables in Luke 15 this morning and today's verses (above) layed the groundwork for the chapter which also contains the parable of the prodigal son. You can picture the Pharisees standing in the background mumbling and grumbling about all the attention given to the tax collectors and sinners. I doubt that they were doing it quietly, they were letting it be known that they disapproved.
The three parables are not repetitions, but all declare the main truth that Jesus came to save sinners, but they differer slightly. The sheep have a tendency to wander off. It is not a wilflull leaving the fold, nevertheless it happened. The lost coin is not responsible for itself, it is not alive but is dropped and lost. The prodigal son leaves the father intentionally, desires his freedom and to "live his own life" (with the financial backing of the father).
Many translations say that Jesus "receives" sinners. The word is literally means "eagerly await or expect and look for". It conveys a similar message found elswhere in scripture as in Psalm 23 where the Shepherd "pursues" us with His love and in Isaiah 53 where the sheep has gone astray and the shepherd (Jesus) took the punishment for our sins.
Read the passage or perhaps the whole chapter. One more thing that they have in common is a party. The lost sheep is found and there is a party. The lost coin is found and there is a party. The prodigal son is found (comes back) and there is a party. Heaven rejoices whenever a sinner is pursued by God and found.
Blessings,
Mike
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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 that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
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