Luke 15 - Do We Really Care About Lost People Who Matter to God?

Luke 15 - NIV

Luke 15 - Enduring Word Commentary

Verses for the Day

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Commentary

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables. The Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The three parables have three things in common. 

1. Something of value is lost. 

2. The owner does whatever it takes to get them back. 

3. There is great rejoicing when what was lost is found. 

The whole chapter is set in the context of the religous leaders finding offense that Jesus is welcoming and eating with sinners. So when you put the context together with the 3 things, those who are lost are sinners who Jesus welcomes and the Pharisees avoid. Jesus spends time with "sinners" because they are the ones who he came to save. 

To the contrary the religious leaders did not consider sinners of value. They had no desire to see them come to know God, and hence did nothing to save them. They were didn't rejoice when these sinners repented and came back to God.  

In the above parable when the owner of the one hundred sheep loses one sheep, he is so concerned about the safety of this sheep that he leaves the ninety nine to go find the one sheep. This was a risky move because something could have happened to the ninety nine while he was gone. Someone could have stolen them. Or, they could have run away. But the owner took the risk because of how much the lost sheep meant to him. 

What is Jesus trying to teach here? Lost people matter to God and they should matter to us. The ninety nine sheep could represent the people of Israel, or those who are saved because of their trust in Jesus. 

God never lost his love for the ninety nine, but his primary mission was to find the one that was lost. This is consistent with, "God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have eternal life."

Application

If this is God's heart, should it not be the heart of His church, the body of Christ. 

How much time do we spend searching for lost people who matter to God. Or, do we spend most of our  time with those who are already found?

Does the Pastor(s) lead by example in doing whatever it takes to reach lost people who matter to God? 

Do they train their parishoners how to connect with lost people and have conversations with them? Do they encourage them to invite these people to church where they will be welcomed with open arms? 

How would we know? 

What percentage of your church programs focus on reach lost people?

What percentage of the budget is devoted to reaching the lost?

Do we welcome new people at our churches and help them to feel as important as those who are found?

I.e. Will they meet 2-3 people will welcome them and try to get to know there name.  

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