Two Sons, Ten Coins & Ninety Nine Sheep

Luke 15 is the ‘lost’ chapter of the Bible.

It isn’t missing from the scripture but rather it consists of three parables that deal with lost things. A shepherd that has lost a sheep, a woman who has lost a treasure, a father that has lost a son. The chapter emphasizes the joy one has in finding that which was lost because of it of how dear it should be to us.

It starts however with a different attitude.

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Luke 15:1-2

The ‘holy’ people couldn’t help but look down on Jesus because of his audience. Jesus was a friend to the very people a prophet should know better than to associate with. So Jesus attempts to adjust their attitude. In each parable, the focus isn’t what you have but what is lost. Those ‘older brothers’ who think they are better and have little need for the lost, don’t understand God’s plan or Jesus mission.

So what is the lesson for us? Churches that ‘happy where they are at’ might be in need of an attitude adjustment. Rather than just condemning sin, we need to be seeking the lost. Staying put, hoarding what we have isn’t keeping us in the will of the Father. We can be ‘at home’ and still be lost. We must go with the Gospel. Jesus mission should be our mission, to seek and save the lost.

There is “more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance”. Can we really be pleasing God if we aren’t working to make that happen?

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