Seeking the Lost
Introduction:
Most of us are very concerned when we lose something that we
consider valuable. We will exert time and energy in an effort to
locate it. Finding it is an occasion to rejoice.
Jesus, throughout his time on earth, was concerned for the lost.
(Luke 19:10) “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save
that which was lost.”
NKJV
He knew the value of a soul and would eventually give up His life
for the souls of mankind. But not everyone possessed the compassion
for the lost that He did. This is where our story begins.
Luke 15:1-2
“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to
hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This
Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ ”
NKJV
Among those waiting to hear Jesus were tax collectors and sinners.
Tax collectors were despised by many of the Jews and were considered
“outcasts.” “Sinners” would have included even harlots. The
Pharisees [strictest sect of the Jews] and the scribes [copyists of
the Law] grumbled [complained] that Jesus welcomed these outcasts.
They were insinuating that Jesus must be a sinner, too. So Jesus
told three stories to illustrate how precious even one soul is and
that Jehovah doesn’t even want one to be lost. Today we will
look at two of them.
Text:
Luke 15:1-10
Body:
I.
The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:3-7
“So He spoke this parable to them saying: ‘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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing, And when he comes home, he calls together his
friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have
found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there
will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over
ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
NKJV
·
God’s love for people is often expressed with the figure of sheep.
(Isaiah 40:11) “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He
will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And
gently lead those who are with young.”
NKJV
·
Sheep are rather dumb animals. They will eat a little grass here,
and then without looking up, will go a little further and eat some
more. After a while, it looks up and is lost, far from the
shepherd.
·
Men are often like sheep. They don’t stop to think where they are
going and pay no attention to what direction they are headed. They
wander away from the shepherd because they stop listening to His
voice. (Hebrews 2:1) “Therefore we must give the more
earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”
NKJV
·
As seen in the parable, just as God is very concerned for the lost,
so should we be. We must seek the lost and show them the way home.
(Galatians 6:1-2) “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any
trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one
another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (James
5:19-20) “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the
truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and
cover a multitude of sins.
NKJV
·
God desires that everyone be saved. (II Peter 3:9) “The
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.”
NKJV
God rejoices when a lost sheep is found; so should we.
·
Sadly there are always those who are self-righteous, who do not
think they need to repent of anything. This only brings sadness to
the Father. (Matthew 9:13) “But go and learn what this
means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to
call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
NKJV
II.
The Lost Coin
Luke 15:8-10
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does
not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she
finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and
neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the
piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
NKJV
·
Coin – drachma, denarius That was one day’s wage for a
laborer; it was the price of a sheep. These coins were commonly
worn as ornaments by 1st Century women. That may have
been the case here.
·
Her house would have had dirt floors possible covered with reeds. A
small coin would be very difficult to find. The house would also be
dark necessitating the lighting of a lamp.
·
We note that this woman is totally absorbed in finding the coin.
She is diligent and passionate about finding it. She does not give
up!
·
The coin represents the sinner who doesn’t know it’s lost. It
doesn’t realize the danger it’s in. [Example: Like one in a canoe
that is unaware of the waterfall ahead] (I Corinthians 6:9-11)
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit
the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were
washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
NKJV
·
Just like the woman in the parable, God knows the value of each
sinner and the potential for good that he possess. He has entrusted
Christians with the responsibility of going into all the world and
preaching the gospel. (Mark 16:15) “And He said to them,
‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
NKJV
·
The joy in heaven at the repentance of one sinner contrasts with the
grumbling of the Pharisees at Jesus’ receiving of sinners.
Conclusion:
These two parables stress God’s concern for the lost and His efforts
to recover them. Heaven rejoices when even one sinner is
saved. So should we.
Bobby Stafford
January 3, 2016
The
church of Christ
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