Then all the tax collectors and
the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the
Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats
with them.” 3 So He
spoke this parable to them, saying: 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? 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 neighbors, saying
to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 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.
Commentary (Preamble)
Clearly Jesus’ previous Words were not directed against societal outcasts and sinners who have not known, nor heard the grace of God for them. But rather to those who know and profess the truth, and yet by way of abuse or neglect of it, lose their testimony and witness for Him. And so, as Jesus previously warned us all, they’re witness and testimony is only thrown out by men. That said, the Light of the World, and thus the Light of His Gospel is always radiant, and is always shinning brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, and thus Jesus is always drawing hungering and thirsting people to Himself. And so here in Luke chapter fifteen, we see that beautiful Spiritual reality undiminished by anyone or anything once again, as the Lord Jesus Christ will both reveal and declare to us all the amazing grace, forgiveness, and love of God for us all. Something we all need to be reminded of more often than not!
Vs. 1-2 1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Truly the Lord Jesus Christ, when the Gospel is well presented and well represented by us, draws social outcasts and sinners to Himself. For such was the case when Jesus was presenting it Himself (vs. 1). That said, the Pharisees and the scribes who were observing these things were not only unmoved by them, but they also took an offense at Jesus and complained about Him, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” Vs. 2
Because for those who already consider themselves “righteous” in the sight of God, to be seen wilfully receiving, and eating with sinners was a sin unto itself! And so here in Luke chapter fifteen Jesus will give us three parables? to reveal the heart and love of God, that transcends seeing a person beyond their sin and only wanting to see them released from it, and restored to God! Now is there a time for us to be separate from sinners, yes there is, and that is when they are engaging in their sinful deeds and practices; and or in the church are practicing those things that are religiously invalid or clearly offense; thus we are to never validate, or make such practices seem acceptable to them, or others (consider 1 Cor. 5:9-11; 6:14-7:1; 10:14-11:1; Eph. 5:3-11; 1 John 1:6; Rev. 18:3-4 etc.). That said Jesus was not doing any such things, rather He was|is drawing all people to Himself, teaching them all things about the Kingdom of God, and offering everyone the opportunity to enter into it by repentance towards God with faith in His Person (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 26:16-18). And that is why He is here again receiving and eating with sinners, because to seek and save that which was lost is not only His Purpose, but also is to be ours as well.
Vs. 3-4 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 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?
Having heard the Pharisees and scribes’ complaints about Him receiving and eating with sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ now tells them a parable to reveal their own hypocrisy in finding fault with Him for doing so, while describing the great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents! And so, Jesus begins by describing a man who having a hundred sheep upon losing one of them, leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness to go after the one which He has lost until He finds it. Clearly than Jesus is the shepherd in His parable who is looking for His lost sheep (i.e. all of us who have sinned and thus have fallen short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:23). Notice to that the search by Him for us is a diligent one, and that it does not end until He finds us, because the loss of one of His sheep from His fold will never be an “acceptable” loss to Him. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ does not give up on trying to bring us back to Himself. Only if we utterly reject Him and His offer of salvation for us, does He give up on seeking and trying to save us.
Vs. 5-7 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 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.
And so it is when He finds His lost sheep, the shepherd completely filled with joy and jubilation, and so seeing his lost and wounded sheep, he now lifts it up and lays it on his own shoulders carrying it back home with himself, which again wonderfully pictures just how the Lord Jesus Christ feels about us when He finds us, and just how He lays us as broken and wounded sinners on His own shoulders, bearing all our sins on the Cross, so that He may carry us home into the Kingdom of God with Himself. Therefore, having arrived home with his once lost sheep the man now calls all his friends and neighbors together, saying: ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ vs. 6
That man’s joy then at finding his lost sheep then wonderfully represents not only our Lord and Saviors jubilation at finding us, but also the joy and jubilation in heaven over one sinner who repents, rather than the ninety-nine “just” persons who do not think they need to repent! For as Jesus’ parable reveals there are many people (inside the church and outside of it), who do not see or perceive their own sinfulness, and thus do not see their own need for Christ because they trust in what they are, or what they do, or what they have done, or belong too, and thus they never come to grips with their own alienated state from God. For the ninety nine sheep in Jesus parable are not people already reconciled back to God, thus at home with Him, they are people who are still in the wilderness, not at home with Him in heaven, but who are seemingly content within themselves to be left as they are, where they are, for they already judge themselves as being just, or righteous, or fine in the sight of God, and thus they don’t see their own need for repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in this Jesus’ first parable on the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents we see many things, not the least of which is the longing love of God pursuing that one lost sinner until they are found and are safely back home with Him. Now maybe you’re that one lost sinner whom God is seeking? If so, please don’t think yourself unworthy of His grace, mercies, or kindness, because it is for your restoration to God that He sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you, so that you might have new and everlasting life the moment you believe in Him. Therefore you don’t need to hide from Him, or run from him, nor bear that self-destroying shame and guilt anymore, all you need to do is come home to Him in grace and truth (John 1:17), and He will gladly and joyfully and wonderfully receive and restore you (John 1:12).
Commentary (Preamble)
Clearly Jesus’ previous Words were not directed against societal outcasts and sinners who have not known, nor heard the grace of God for them. But rather to those who know and profess the truth, and yet by way of abuse or neglect of it, lose their testimony and witness for Him. And so, as Jesus previously warned us all, they’re witness and testimony is only thrown out by men. That said, the Light of the World, and thus the Light of His Gospel is always radiant, and is always shinning brighter and brighter unto the perfect day, and thus Jesus is always drawing hungering and thirsting people to Himself. And so here in Luke chapter fifteen, we see that beautiful Spiritual reality undiminished by anyone or anything once again, as the Lord Jesus Christ will both reveal and declare to us all the amazing grace, forgiveness, and love of God for us all. Something we all need to be reminded of more often than not!
Vs. 1-2 1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Truly the Lord Jesus Christ, when the Gospel is well presented and well represented by us, draws social outcasts and sinners to Himself. For such was the case when Jesus was presenting it Himself (vs. 1). That said, the Pharisees and the scribes who were observing these things were not only unmoved by them, but they also took an offense at Jesus and complained about Him, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” Vs. 2
Because for those who already consider themselves “righteous” in the sight of God, to be seen wilfully receiving, and eating with sinners was a sin unto itself! And so here in Luke chapter fifteen Jesus will give us three parables? to reveal the heart and love of God, that transcends seeing a person beyond their sin and only wanting to see them released from it, and restored to God! Now is there a time for us to be separate from sinners, yes there is, and that is when they are engaging in their sinful deeds and practices; and or in the church are practicing those things that are religiously invalid or clearly offense; thus we are to never validate, or make such practices seem acceptable to them, or others (consider 1 Cor. 5:9-11; 6:14-7:1; 10:14-11:1; Eph. 5:3-11; 1 John 1:6; Rev. 18:3-4 etc.). That said Jesus was not doing any such things, rather He was|is drawing all people to Himself, teaching them all things about the Kingdom of God, and offering everyone the opportunity to enter into it by repentance towards God with faith in His Person (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 26:16-18). And that is why He is here again receiving and eating with sinners, because to seek and save that which was lost is not only His Purpose, but also is to be ours as well.
Vs. 3-4 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 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?
Having heard the Pharisees and scribes’ complaints about Him receiving and eating with sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ now tells them a parable to reveal their own hypocrisy in finding fault with Him for doing so, while describing the great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents! And so, Jesus begins by describing a man who having a hundred sheep upon losing one of them, leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness to go after the one which He has lost until He finds it. Clearly than Jesus is the shepherd in His parable who is looking for His lost sheep (i.e. all of us who have sinned and thus have fallen short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:23). Notice to that the search by Him for us is a diligent one, and that it does not end until He finds us, because the loss of one of His sheep from His fold will never be an “acceptable” loss to Him. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ does not give up on trying to bring us back to Himself. Only if we utterly reject Him and His offer of salvation for us, does He give up on seeking and trying to save us.
Vs. 5-7 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 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.
And so it is when He finds His lost sheep, the shepherd completely filled with joy and jubilation, and so seeing his lost and wounded sheep, he now lifts it up and lays it on his own shoulders carrying it back home with himself, which again wonderfully pictures just how the Lord Jesus Christ feels about us when He finds us, and just how He lays us as broken and wounded sinners on His own shoulders, bearing all our sins on the Cross, so that He may carry us home into the Kingdom of God with Himself. Therefore, having arrived home with his once lost sheep the man now calls all his friends and neighbors together, saying: ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ vs. 6
That man’s joy then at finding his lost sheep then wonderfully represents not only our Lord and Saviors jubilation at finding us, but also the joy and jubilation in heaven over one sinner who repents, rather than the ninety-nine “just” persons who do not think they need to repent! For as Jesus’ parable reveals there are many people (inside the church and outside of it), who do not see or perceive their own sinfulness, and thus do not see their own need for Christ because they trust in what they are, or what they do, or what they have done, or belong too, and thus they never come to grips with their own alienated state from God. For the ninety nine sheep in Jesus parable are not people already reconciled back to God, thus at home with Him, they are people who are still in the wilderness, not at home with Him in heaven, but who are seemingly content within themselves to be left as they are, where they are, for they already judge themselves as being just, or righteous, or fine in the sight of God, and thus they don’t see their own need for repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in this Jesus’ first parable on the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents we see many things, not the least of which is the longing love of God pursuing that one lost sinner until they are found and are safely back home with Him. Now maybe you’re that one lost sinner whom God is seeking? If so, please don’t think yourself unworthy of His grace, mercies, or kindness, because it is for your restoration to God that He sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you, so that you might have new and everlasting life the moment you believe in Him. Therefore you don’t need to hide from Him, or run from him, nor bear that self-destroying shame and guilt anymore, all you need to do is come home to Him in grace and truth (John 1:17), and He will gladly and joyfully and wonderfully receive and restore you (John 1:12).
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson
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