The Lost Sheep
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Do You See What I See
Do You See What I See
Jesus used parables in the Bible to paint pictures.
Parables are narrative in form but figurative in meaning.
A parable may be briefly defined as a figurative narrative that is true to life and is designed to convey through analogy some specific spiritual truth(s) usually relative to God’s kingdom program.
Today let’s see if you see what I see.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
Tax collectors -
There are a few reasons for the low view of tax collectors in the New Testament era. First, no one likes to pay money to the government, especially when the government is an oppressive regime like the Roman Empire of the 1st century. Those who collected the taxes for such a government bore the brunt of much public displeasure.
Second, the tax collectors in the Bible were Jews who were working for the hated Romans. These individuals were seen as turncoats, traitors to their own countrymen. Rather than fighting the Roman oppressors, the publicans were helping them—and enriching themselves at the expense of their fellow Jews.
Third, it was common knowledge that the tax collectors cheated the people they collected from. By hook or by crook, they would collect more than required and keep the extra for themselves. Everyone just understood that was how it worked. The tax collector Zacchaeus, in his confession to the Lord, mentioned his past dishonesty (Luke 19:8).
Fourth, because of their skimming off the top, the tax collectors were well-to-do. This further separated them from the lower classes, who resented the injustice of their having to support the publicans’ lavish lifestyle. The tax collectors, ostracized as they were from society, formed their own clique, further separating themselves from the rest of society.
Sinners -
open sinner’ [Lns], ‘notorious sinner’ [NLT], ‘outcast’ [LN; TEV]. This is a person who customarily sins and here it may refer to anyone who was not concerned about obeying the religious laws [LN].
“We all drawing near to Him”
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Tax collectors and Sinners
Pharisees and Scribes (Scribes: Scribes in ancient Israel were learned men whose business was to study the Law, transcribe it, and write commentaries on it.)
“Grumbled” - This probably took place in Jesus’ presence [TH]. They complained among themselves [NIVS]. They probably spoke aloud to each other and pointed at Jesus
“This man receives sinners and eats with them”
Not only does he receives sinners but he take out time to eat with them.
Receives - To be friendly with
Jesus can hear this statement -
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
“So he told them this parable”
Them: Tax collectors / Sinners / Pharisees / Scribes
“What man of you” He was addressing men
And 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 that was lost.’
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Do you see what I see?
Jesus paints a picture of a shepherd and a lost sheep.
A lost sheep - Not the black sheep / not the dogmatic jargon connected to what we may think about the lost sheep.
He wants us to see the importance that even though the sheep was lost it was still a sheep.
The shepherd is willing to leave the ninety-nine in the open country
Go after the one that is lost!
Until he finds it.....
Do you see what I see....
A Shepherd that is concerned about the one!
“When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders”
This is an act of affection…
Not condemnation
damnation
disapproval
judgement
reprobation
doom
but affection that turns into an outward emotion
“Rejoicing”
“And when he comes home” - He calls to his friends to rejoice with him.
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who “REPENTS”
This statement is very important.
Remember who Jesus was talking to - Pharisees / Scribes / Tax Collectors / Sinners
They were all Jews
Do you see what I see....
According to the Talmud (Tal-mood) the book of Jewish law
Parents are required to teach their children Torah (the five books of Moses), a trade, and to swim.
“Torah” is more than a series of biblical books, it refers to the whole of moral and ethical learning available to parents as presented in Jewish text, history, and community.
Teaching Torah is about teaching right behavior. It includes self care, the care of others, care of the planet, care of our historical stories and struggles, and care of future generations.
It’s amazing to see how Jesus incorporates the word “Repent”
Repentance in the Bible involves a complete and irreversible change of mind, heart, and actions. Repentance recognizes that our sin is offensive to God. To repent means to make an about-face, heart-directed turn away from self to God.
The lost sheep was a Jew who knew what was right....
They had a basic understanding of the Bible
They grew up in the church…
They were just lost…
We don’t know what caused it but we can relate..
Could you be that lost sheep… I can relate
Maybe during this time you have been straying away:
Not spiritual in the right place
drifting in your prayer life
Lost in your own feelings
Lost in your lust
Maybe I feel far away from God…
I feel like I have done to much in life…
Jesus wanted for those he was talking to, to see the big picture.
I’m engaging with the sinner and the tax collector because I am the good Shepherd ready to receive them.
Yet he is talking to those who maybe self-righteous and judgmental.
Pharisees and Scribes should’ve been rejoicing.
I want you to see… Jesus is saying to the who has drifted or in a spiritual dry place....
Just repent… Change the way you think
Turn your heart towards God
Think about how God loves you so much…
Jesus eating with them, was he creative way to reach them!!!