THE PURSUIT: ALL HAVE VALUE TO GOD!

Luke 19:8–10 NASB95

Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

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.”

Insights into and from this parable:

Jesus tells this story from God’s perspective.

Luke 19:

a. He reveals that God positively misses each soul. (She was not satisfied with just 9).

b. He reveals that He values each person. (He used a woman as the protagonist. He marked each coin as equal value.)

1 Timothy 2:4 NASB95

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 NASB95

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1

1 Timothy 2:3 NASB95

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

2. He illustrates the Painstaking work God willingly does for one sinner.

[She instantly lighted a candle, that she might search in every dark corner of her house. She moreover swept her house, that, if it were hid under any dirt or rubbish, she might find it: nor did she relax her endeavours till they were crowned with success. What more could she have done if the lost money had been of the greatest value?]

a. She immediately SOUGHT more Light. (Lights a lamp)

b. Swept away dust and dirt.

c. Scoured every corner.

3. Jesus calls you to Persist in seeking and winning the lost.

a. Continue the godly habit of joining in the public proclamation of the Word in Worship attendance and life. (She had a small window of light, but brought more light into life. She never took a break from shining the Light, but sought to increase it.)

Psalm 119:105 NASB95

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

b. Clean out any sin or negligence that would blind you to seeing, caring about, and finding a lost person. (Avoid People Blindness)

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB95

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

c. Celebrate EVERY time a separated sinner moves closer to God and His love.

[She instantly lighted a candle, that she might search in every dark corner of her house. She moreover swept her house, that, if it were hid under any dirt or rubbish, she might find it: nor did she relax her endeavours till they were crowned with success. What more could she have done if the lost money had been of the greatest value?]

Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae: Mark-Luke, vol. 12 (London: Holdsworth and Ball, 1832), 539.

Horae Homileticae Vol. 12: Mark-Luke Discourse 1543: The Lost Piece of Silver (Luke 15:8–10)

1. How strange is it that men should have so little regard to their own souls!

[The generality of men are as careless of their souls as if they were of no value. But should we disregard that which the Son of God seeks with so much anxiety? Should we be so indifferent about our own happiness, when all the angels of heaven would shout for joy at the prospect of it? Let us never be satisfied with being immersed in darkness and wickedness———Let us rather be ambitious to have a place among the Lord’s treasures———And let us be thankful that, though lost, we are not yet gone beyond recovery.]

2. How blessed are the effects of a faithful administration of the Gospel!

[It is by the Gospel that Jesus comes to search for lost sinners. If indeed it be delivered only in a general way, it will scarcely ever prove effectual for men’s salvation: it is only the close application of the word, that will ever reach the conscience: but, when faithfully preached, and accompanied with God’s Spirit, it will find out men in their darkest recesses. O that God may now make use of it to sweep away the rubbish under which we have lain!———and that we may be found of him, ere he “sweep us away with the besom of destruction!”]

3. What reason have we to adore the condescension and grace of Christ!

[If he did not seek for us we should lie in our sins to all eternity, and when found at the last day, that word would be verified in us—What kindness then is it in him to use such means for our recovery!———Let us never forget what obligations we owe to him. Let us acknowledge ourselves his, that he may do with us as he will. He will then keep us that we may not fall from him any more, and will lodge us safely in his coffers amidst the treasures he has been collecting from the foundation of the worldn.]

How many take little account of their own soul? How many take better care of their animal’s well being than their spiritual well being? How many believers no longer believe in the Spiritual power of the preaching of the Word of God? . Light has come into the world.

John 3:18 NASB95

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:19–20 NASB95

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

John 3:21 NASB95

“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Psalm 119:11 NASB95

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Psalm 119:105 NASB95

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Neglecting to bring your