July 22, 2007 / Luke 15:1-10 [Listen]

The setting:

Luke records these two short stories, or parables, in the middle of a lengthy teaching where the religious leaders of the day were present. In fact, it might be said that these religious leaders were, in many ways, Jesus’ primary audience. Not only did Jesus talk with the common individual; he also made an effort to connect with the religious leadership of the day.

The context for today’s stories actually starts back in Luke 13:31 where Luke records Jesus’ sorrow over the nation’s perpetual unfaithfulness. Then, in chapter 14 Jesus is in the house of a prominent religious leader discussing their pride and their false idea of God’s kingdom. When we get to chapter 15 – our text, we see the religious leaders complaining about the company that Jesus is keeping. After today’s text, through chapter 16, Luke continues to show Jesus in front of the religious leaders.

So, picture the setting if you will. Here we have Jesus surrounded by two groups – those who have never been appreciated or valued by society, and those who hold the power and influence (the religious leaders).

The parable

Luke 15:1-10 – Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Observations:

• Jesus has a very real connection with the tax-collectors and “sinners”. These folks seem to be attracted by something – the hope he offers, his position against religious institutional power, his influence, etc

• In the first story God is being pictured as the one who finds the lost sheep (see the reference to Psalm 28:8-9 below) and the religious leaders are represented as the ninety-nine. In the second story God is the pictured as the women doing everything possible to find her lost coin and the religious leaders are pictured as the nine coins that are not lost.

Psalm 28:8-9 – The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

• It’s is very important that understand the irony of verse 7 (see another example of irony in Luke 5:31-32 below). The 99 sheep that the shepherd leaves in this story are the religious leaders of the day. While they are not aligned with God’s vision for the lowly, Jesus allows them to think of themselves as part of the flock. I think Jesus is giving them room to catch God’s heart – he’s not condemning them.

Luke 5:31-32 – Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

• While the religious leaders of the day were focusing on how Jesus violated the norms of the day by associating with tax-collectors and “sinners”, God was making them the priority – and was thrilled at their rescue.

• In both stories Jesus makes an effort to point out the party that is thrown in heaven when one of these “outcasts” comes to faith. This shows how the religious leaders ARE NOT of the same mindset as Jesus

This story is about God seeking and finding those who are lost. The religious climate in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago was very much about the pursuit of God through the keeping of the rules; thus producing a person aligned with God (and the religious power-brokers). Jesus rejects this outright. The reality is that it is God’s pursuit of us, God’s favor toward us through Jesus that creates those whose lives are changed to emulate God himself.

These two, opposite, visions have a huge impact on how we function. If keeping the rules produces favor with God our effort is going to be dedicated to rule-keeping. If the answer is in knowing Jesus, our effort is going to be dedicated to holding up Jesus so that many can know him. This effort, however, is in direct conflict with religious organizations that seek to flex their influence for the sake of the organization.

Jesus is speaking to both groups here – the religious leaders and the “outcasts”. To the leaders he is sending a message of reform. To the “outcasts” he is saying that NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND! Even if they are not important to the power structure of the day, they are important to God.

We have an obligation to stand in the face of wrong, destructive “Christian” teaching. Those around us are looking to see and hear the truth. Here, with a simple parable, Jesus gives hope to those that need him while, at the same time, he confronts the cultural and the religious norms of the day. To say and do nothing in the face of destructive realities is to be thrown in with the dominant thinking of the day. I would encourage you, however, to guard your attitude in this. It is easy to adopt a godless disposition when attempting to counter evil. And it is vital that your life backs up your words. – be careful.