Luke 15 - Search & Rejoice
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Introduction
Introduction
John Calvin said, “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”
The parables that Jesus gives us here in Luke 15 are about knowing God and knowing ourselves.
We must not be like the Pharisees who knew neither God nor themselves.
Look at Luke 15:1-3 once again...
[READING - Luke 15:1-3]
1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He told them this parable, saying,
[PRAYER]
In Luke 14, Jesus has just issued a call for whole-hearted discipleship, rounding out that call with the words, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” (Luke 14:35).
Now in Luke 15 the tax collectors and sinners have come to hear him while the Pharisees and scribes have come to grumble.
Tax collectors and sinners were not the kind of people that a respectable rabbi associated with. Some rabbis taught that Jewish people were not to associate with sinners (i.e., non-Jews or wayward Jews) not even to teach them God’s Law.
Jesus, however, has not come to be a respectable rabbi.
He has come to be the Savior.
These tax collectors and sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.
This was not just a physical nearing and listening but a nearing and listening with the heart. Their hearts drew near to Him, and His words spoke to their hearts.
This was so unlike the religiously prideful in Jesus’s day who were often close to Jesus in terms of physical proximity but far from Him in the heart. They often listened to His words with their ears but failed to receive His words in their hearts.
The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them,” (v. 2).
He welcomed them to forgive them, to save them, and to sanctify them.
But the scribes and Pharisees grumbled at what made Heaven rejoice.
Pride is like a fire that demands to be extinguished with gasoline.
Pride says, “I wouldn’t grumble if I got some recognition. I wouldn’t grumble if I got the proper respect.” But the size of pride’s flame only grows larger with such “recognition” and such “proper respect.”
The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled at Jesus because He ate with tax collectors and sinners. They likely would have grumbled at Jesus if He hadn’t eaten with tax collectors and sinners.
There’s only one thing that Jesus could have done that would have ended their grumbling: if Jesus had praised them for their “righteousness,” they wouldn’t have grumbled.
If He had received them and eaten with them—not as sinners—but as the heroes of godliness that they thought themselves to be, then they wouldn’t have grumbled.
If Jesus had praised them, recognized them, and shown them the proper respect they pridefully believed they deserved, they wouldn’t have grumbled.
If Jesus had celebrated them, they wouldn’t have grumbled.
But if Jesus had done that, it would have been like dumping gasoline on a fire.
The Pharisees needed to be humbled so they could see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. They needed to be humbled so they could see themselves as no better than these tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus told the next three parables to reveal the heart of God toward sinners who draw near to Him;
He told the next three parables to show the helplessness of sinners who need a Savior;
And He told the next three parables to humble the prideful who think they have no need for a Savior.
[TS] Let’s think about these three PARABLES...
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
Parable #1: The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
Parable #1: The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “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? 5 “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “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!’ 7 “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.
Every Pharisee and scribe listening to Jesus knew the value of even one sheep to a shepherd. If one went missing, they would leave the other sheep to go find it. The “found” sheep are not in need of rescue; the lost sheep is.
The Pharisees and the scribes are the “found” sheep. They should be rejoicing in a Shepherd who searches for lost sheep! They should be rejoicing in the lost sheep of Israel who are found!
The “found” sheep are probably thinking, “Well, the lost sheep shouldn’t have run off!” Or they’re thinking, “Well, he got himself into this mess, and he can get himself out.”
But the seeking shepherd just sees a sheep in need of rescue, so he searches and finds it, brings it home and rejoices! He says to his neighbors, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (v. 6).
Some believe that God is on a search and destroy mission. But God is actually on a search and rejoice mission. If you belong to Him, the Savior will find you and rejoice in saving you!
In fact, all of heaven will rejoice.
7 “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.
[TS] ...
Parable #2: The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
Parable #2: The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
8 “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? 9 “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!’ 10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Perhaps Jesus has in mind a widow here. If she loses a silver coin, though she has 9 others, she will search for that one. Her number will not be complete until she has all that belong to her. She will, in fact, turn the house upside down searching for that one lost coin.
When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!” (v. 9). She doesn’t call them together and say, “Rejoice with me, for I never lost the 9 coins which I always had!” No, she says, “…for I have found the coin which I had lost!”
In the writings of Jewish rabbis, there is reference to the idea of searching for the lost coin, but it is very different from what Jesus teaches here.
Basically they write that if a man searches for a lost coin, how much more should he search for the Law of God (i.e., how much more should he search for God).
But here Jesus is not calling on people to search for God. No, He is telling us that God is the one doing the searching.
God is not like the woman in this parable in that she loses a coin. God never loses any who are His—but He is like the woman in that He does search and find those that are His.
And He rejoices when they are found. As Jesus said in Luke 15:10...
10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
But Jesus has now used a word twice in this chapter that we must notice. The word is repent. You know that to repent of anything is to turn away from it. In v. 7, Jesus said...
7 “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.
And here in v. 10, Jesus said...
10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
When God finds a sinner, that sinner repents.
He repents of sinful unbelief.
He repents of sinful thoughts.
He repents of sinful words.
He repents of sinful actions.
He repents because God has found him, saved him, and made him new.
God has changed his heart and so he lives a changed life. He no longer walks the path of sin but the path of salvation and sanctification because he has been saved!
Have you been saved?
Perhaps you think you can’t be saved.
Perhaps you think you don’t need to be saved.
[TS] …
Parable #3: The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-35)
Parable #3: The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-35)
11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 “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. 13 “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. 14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 “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. 16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 “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! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ 20 “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. 21 “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.’ 22 “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; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 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.
Jesus has talked about a sheep and a coin, but now He gives us a parable about a son—really about two sons, but we’ll get to the older son in a moment.
For now, let’s focus on this younger son who asked for his inheritance early, which was like saying to his father, “Dad, I wish you were dead!”
Then he squandered his inheritance with sinful living. We can imagine him saying, “It’s my life, and I’ll live it any way I please!”
And then, when the money, friends, and food ran out, he hired himself out as a farmhand feeding pigs, which was about the most wretched job a Jewish man could imagine having.
But notice v. 17 says, “But when he came to his senses...” or “But when he came to himself...”
What this means is that he realized how dumb he had been.
He realized how sinful he had been.
He realized how good he had had it in his father’s house.
And He realized just how empty a life spent pursuing sin really is.
So, he had a choice to make, would he repent or not? Verses 17-19 tell us what he decided...
17 “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! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’
From his perspective and ours, this younger son came to his senses. But in reality, it was the Spirit of God that had come to him opening his eyes to see himself as a wretched sinner in a wretched situation.
And the Spirit of God moved him to confess. He would go to his father—drawing near to him—confess his sin and beg forgiveness and listen to what his father had to say.
So, he got up and came to his father, but his father had been searching for him.
I like to imagine it was a porch. The father stood there day after day searching, waiting for his lost son to crest the hill in the distance. And when his father finally saw him, the father does something unexpected—he runs to his son, throws his arms around him, and kisses him!
He receives his son!
In between sobs, the son tries to get through his rehearsed confession, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son…” (v. 21)
… but the Father interrupts, “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 min was dead had has come to life again; he was lost and has been found!” And they began ...to celebrate!
Surely the younger son realized in this moment that there was more joy in his father’s house than in the sinful world!
See that the man who repents is welcomed as a son.
Humbled by the realization of his own sinfulness, the younger son is willing to be something less than a son, but the Father won’t hear of it. His boy has repented and returned; he will be a son!
You too will be a son or daughter of God if you repent of your sins and come to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
See that the Father is ready to run to you if you turn to Him.
He looks for you! Waiting for you to walk over that hill! And if you come to him—as so many of those tax collectors and sinners did in Jesus’s day—then He will embrace you, kiss you, wrap you in robes of righteousness, and all of heaven will celebrate!
See that the older son is the epitome of sinful pride. Look at vv. 25-32…
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “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.’ 28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 “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; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 ‘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.’ ”
The older son heard the sounds of a party but could think of no good reason that anyone would be having a party—unless of course, the party was for him!
Could it be that his father had finally put together a surprise party to show his appreciation for the son that didn’t run off—the son that didn’t squander his inheritance—the son who didn’t need to be saved?
No. The party was for the younger brother—the prodigal—who had returned.
The older brother stood outside and pouted.
The father pleaded with him to come in.
But the older brother sulked in Luke 15:29-30...
29 “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; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
The older brother basically says, “I’ve always been faithful to you! I’ve always been the good son! I’ve always done what’s right!” But with his prideful tone, the older son really says, “But my heart has never been in it! ”
This was the Pharisees and scribes who looked the part and acted the part but were in reality very far from God.
They appeared to be the men closest to God, but their pride had opened up a great chasm between them and God.
The father in the parable tells the older son...
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 ‘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.’ ”
[ILLUS] Imagine having your birthday party the day after Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus.
The party is set, the invitations have gone out, and… “Yeah, sure… I mean Mary and Martha are invited so I guess Lazarus can come too… I thought he was dead… oh, Jesus raised him from the… oh, ok… no, no, I mean it’ll be fun… Sure, Lazarus can come.”
But if Lazarus—newly raised from the dead—comes to your birthday party, who do you think will get the attention? Who do you think will be celebrated?
Of course, it would be Lazarus! And rightly so, because Jesus had raised him from the dead!
The father in this parable celebrates the younger son because, in a manner of speaking, he had come back from the dead! He was lost but now was found! He was dead but now was alive!
From the father’s perspective, the older son had always been with him and owned all that father owned—but the older son couldn’t celebrate the resurrection of his brother, the younger son of the father, because he was actually dead in heart.
The dead in heart—even if they claim to be in Christ—cannot celebrate when one comes to Christ.
Instead they grumble, “We’ll see how long this lasts.”
Instead they grumble, “Well, I’ve been a Christian for decades; I wonder what took them so long.”
Instead they grumble, “We’re going to let people like that in here?”
Those who grumble when a sinner comes to Christ, grumble at what makes Heaven rejoice.
Those who grumble when Jesus welcomes sinners, reveal that they haven’t come to Jesus themselves.
[TS] …
Conclusion
Conclusion
One commentator on this passage mentioned a Jewish saying, “There is joy before God when those who provoke Him perish from the world.”
But this saying doesn’t reflect the reality of God’s heart.
God doesn’t delight in the destruction of the wicked.
He doesn’t desire that any should perish but that all should reach repentance.
God is not seeking you to destroy you.
God is seeking you so that He and all of Heaven might rejoice over you when you are saved.
Perhaps you think, “I’ve done things I can’t be forgiven for.”
There is no sin so great that the blood of Jesus cannot atone for it.
On the cross, Jesus took your sin. And in His resurrection from the dead, He offers to you His righteousness.
The wrath you deserved, He bore.
The righteousness you lack, He has provided.
Turn from you sin and trust Jesus as Christ, as Savior, as Lord!
Give your life to Him and you will be saved!
But perhaps you think, “I haven’t done anything that I need to be forgiven for.”
That’s not true.
The truth is, you are a sinner, and the wrath of God hangs over you.
Because you have lied, the wrath of God hangs over you.
Because you stolen, the wrath of God hangs over you.
Because you have worshipped self, the wrath of God hangs over you.
Because you have disrespected mom and dad, the wrath of God hangs over you.
Because you have lusted, the wrath of God hangs over you.
But you can be forgiven.
If you will humble yourself before Jesus, admitting your sin and your need for Jesus as Savior, God will pour out His grace on you! He will forgive you! He will welcome you too as a son or daughter!
Jesus is looking to forgive you and all of Heaven is looking to rejoice in your salvation.
Only your pride can stop the celebration.