The Unparalleled Love of God

Right now I want you to think of a person or a group of people that you just cannot stand...

The thought of them causes you to look down on them with disgust

Without trying you could list their faults, sins, and easily criticize them

NOW… picture them and then envision just how much God passionately loves them with an unparalleled love!!!

Keep that picture in mind as we look at the setting of our text this morning… Luke 15:1-2 .

Luke 15:1–2 NASB95

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.”

Our Setting

As Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem teaching and speaking to the crowds something is occuring… sinners are attracted to Him and His message!

They came near to listen to Him! Something Jesus has been pleading with the pharisees and scribes to do.

We see those who were UNloved, and UNdeserving welcomed by Jesus

He receives them and dines with them… associates with these sinners and desires a close relationship

This is what frustrated the Pharisees and scribes...

Wiersbe stated it well when he says: It is significant that Jesus attracted sinners while the Pharisees repelled them. (What does this say about some of our churches today?) Lost sinners came to Jesus, not because He catered to them or compromised His message, but because He cared for them. He understood their needs and tried to help them, while the Pharisees criticized them and kept their distance (see Luke 18:9–14). The Pharisees had a knowledge of the Old Testament Law and a desire for personal purity, yet they had no love for lost souls.

They were discontent, grumbling, complaining at how much Jesus cared for sinners…

Jesus tells: 2 small parables and 1 longer parable (all linked) to make His point and leave these people to a place to apply it to their life

These parables will encompass the statement Jesus makes in Luke 19:10 (His Purpose!)

Luke 19:10 NASB95

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

We will see a fourfold pattern as we go through the following parables...

1) Lost 2) search 3) found 4) celebration

God Seeks the Wandering

Luke 15:3-7 gives us a very familiar story… we love it don't we!? So heart warming a shepherd going after a lost sheep...

Luke 15:3–7 NASB95

So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

A lone sheep is in danger with no herd, no shepherd, no protection… and left to itself will wander further away rather than return

(SLIDES) This is what I have always pictured that lost sheep like… Baby Lamb

However, more accurate is this (Mean Sheep)

Not only does Jesus show God as one who seeks, but He carries this sheep back to His herd.

God seeks lost sinners… He has been doing so ever since Adam and Eve when they hid in the garden!

God rejoices over the lost when they repent… you get that pharisees and scribes!!!!

God Values the Lost

Not only does God seek… He holds the lost as valuable. Luke 15:8-10

Luke 15:8–10 NASB95

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

God will go to great extent to find what is lost, because they are valuable!!!

Even in the dark corners,

Where dust has built up and people are forgotten.

The angels join in this celebration! It is a party!

The over the top reaction of the shepherd and this woman who found what was lost is in stark contrast to the attitude of the pharisees and scribes. What is your reaction when a sinner, I mean real sinner repents???

The Father’s Unparalleled Love

The shepherd and lost sheep, the woman and lost coin… well people should understand that for sure but Jesus was now going to illustrate the heart of His Father in a powerful and beautiful way…

Most likely you have a heading titled something like “the prodigal son” when this story is really not as much about either son but the father.

Interestingly enough this would have been a familiar sounding parable to the people and religious leaders…the religious leaders would have various forms of this story to illustrate sinners and their need to repent and when they would return to the father the father would discipline the son for his wrong done and let the son know what must be done to earn his way back into the family, amends must be made and the son would have to prove himself. The son would thank his father for his strictness and work hard to be accepted back.

Isn't that a wonderful parable they would use and teach with…Is that not what man does, requires, puts on people, sinners...

Imagine as Jesus begins his parable of the “prodigal son” Luke 15:11-19 they must have been on the edge of their seats!

Luke 15:11–19 NASB95

And He said, “A man had two sons. “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’

Look at how Jesus paints this son:

Dad I wish you were dead (disrespectful)

Basically he went and lived as a gentile in sinful lifestyle

Life brings hard times, natural causes, he begins to go low

Works for a gentile, feeds pigs, starving wishing to eat what the pigs were eating

SIN… is there any better painted picture of the lostness of sinner!

Oh the depths of the mire God will allow one He loves to fall to. How far one falls depends on the hardness of their heart.

Oh that those who fall in this way, fall towards God.

The father does not chase his son or stop him (God will not force His will or desire on us)

There is a vast chasm between regret and repentance… the son is regretful but he is also ready to repent… Luke 15:20-24

Luke 15:20–24 NASB95

“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

IMAGINE the jaws drop as Jesus told this part of the parable…!!! Wait, the father did what!?!?

The father is watching!!! Embraces him oh the affection God has for lost sinners

The father cuts him off, he never finishes the speech…

The son goes from destitution to complete restoration! Oh God’s heart for the repentant sinner!

What love what grace the Heavenly Father

Sinners are dead and lost, but they can come to life and can be found if they return to the Father.

The Second Son… The Elder Brother

We see this parable in sync with the others until we come to the older brother… here lies the application for the listeners in Jesus day and our day as well. Luke 15:25-32

Luke 15:25–32 NASB95

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”

An Uncomfortable Application

Jesus here addresses the attitudes of the pharisees and scribes…

The brother states his righteousness “never neglecting a command” legalism

He served his father not out of love or relationship but reward

Wish I had gone off and lived that way, heart was the same as the younger brother (Sinful)

The brother who had been on the outside is now on the inside, while the brother who had been on the inside is now on the outside.

He would not even associate with his brother (“this son of yours” vs “this brother of yours”)

Bock states: The elder’s problem is his self-righteous, self-directed focus. There is no joy that his brother has come home. The elder is too self-consumed with issues of justice and equity to be caught up in the joy.

Jesus is trying to share the heart of the Heavenly Father and stir the hearts of the people…

You have always been my chosen people… with me…

Rather than be angry with sinners being sought and brought in, join in the rejoicing!

BUT GOD… IT’S NOT FAIR!

NO! God is sovereign… His love has never been nor will it ever be explained by mans actions! Which is a good thing for you and me because we are all sinners and there is nothing we do or could do to deserve this love He freely gives through His Son’s sacrifice on the cross.

Church when we look around at sinners, when you picture the person or group at the beginning be careful...

We can quickly in our minds and hearts feel entitled

Jesus prior to this parable was sharing the cost of following Him and being His disciple… to follow Him you better have His heart for lost sinners.