The Lost Sheep

The Sinners

the parable of the lost sheep

familiar and loved about a lost sheep

who needs to be rescued

sometimes we look at the story of the parable and assume that we know the meaning

we will automatically go to verse 3 and read

and loose the context of the reason for the parable

miss what Jesus is telling them and us

V 1-2

the Scribes and Pharisees were very indignant with Jesus

because He associated with the sinners

Hampton Keathley IV helps set the context for why the Pharisees and scribes were so upset with Jesus eating with sinners - The Talmud said, “All the prophets prophesied only for repentant sinners, but as for the perfectly righteous, who had never sinned at all, the eye has not seen, what God has prepared for him.” The Talmud taught that a person could live a sinless life. The Pharisees believed that they were perfectly righteous, that they had not sinned. Therefore, they really despised the sinners and the tax-gatherers.

these men assumed that Jesus was not from God because he associated with sinners

so what does these three parables teach?

it shows us God’s heart toward sinners

in the 1st we have 1 of 100

in the second 1 of 10

in the 3rd we have 1 of 2

we are going to look at 1 and 2 this morning

The Lost Sheep

V 3-7

here we have a lost sheep

its only one out of a hundred

we don’t need to bother with one who keeps trying to run away

this sheep is lost away from safety of the shepherd

a sheep is totally dependent on the shepherd

this sheep unless it is rescued it will die

a sheep in the wilderness is like a fish out of water

this sheep is not one of us nor do we want to associate ith it.

but God does, God is the one seeking this lost sheep.

and when this sheep comes home there is great rejoicing in Heaven over the fact that this sheep is saved

Is this sheep a sheep returning to the fold?

are the rest of the 100 sheep saved?

how many of the sheep are saved?

this parable is showing the love of God for the sinner

not the one who does not think that he needs a savior

over and over Jesus has told the Scribes and Pharisees that they are not coming into the kingdom unless they repent

since the Garden humans have been sewing fig leaves together to make themselves acceptable to God

Luke 19:10 LSB

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

someone who does not need a savior is not lost

someone who sews is not lost

this sheep was in danger

he was hungry and thirsty

he wanted to hear the shepherds voice

feel the shepherds arms around him

to know that he was secure in the protection of the Good Shepherd

and there was great joy in Heaven

in the knowledge that another sheep has come home

there is no rejoicing over the 99 who are good enough in their opinion to please God.

The Lost Coin

one in ten coins are found

V 8-10

a lost coin is worthless

the whole house was turned upside down to find it

all effort was put into finding this lost coin

this coin worth about a days wage

again what is the context?

the lost are the ones who realize they are lost

they have come to Jesus to to learn from Him

the ones who are self righteous are despising the the teachings of Jesus

unless someone is lost they cant be found

unless God looks for you. you wont be found

V 10

unless there is repentance there is no salvation

sinner in the NT is someone who is not saved

a saved person is never called a sinner

a sinner is the Identity of someone not saved

always a saint, sanctified, or the church, the ones set apart

so again this is not a saved person who has come back to the fold

this is God in His sovereignty finding the lost and giving them worth Giving them new wants and desires

causing them to repent

to see their sin and realize their need of a savior

to put their trust in Jesus to save them from their destiny

what is your destiny?

do you realize that you are lost?

are you in need of repenting

turning from your way of salvation to Jesus?

for His forgiveness?

for His salvation?