Shalom,
We should be grateful to be in God's plan through the described Word of life that we read and hear to believe and do in our daily lives.
It is important to know that we are all members of the Body of Christ who, though positioned in different places with different functions and occupations, have something in common, namely rejoicing when one member or a person repents as described in the Gospel of Luke 15. At that time, the tax collectors and the sinners came to hear Jesus, but the Pharisees and the scribes complained why He would accept and even eat with them. There were two groups in this event: the Pharisees— faithful worshipers and the scribes—experts of the law. They felt "close" to Jesus but grumbled while tax collectors and sinners who were “far” from Jesus came to Him to hear His Word. On another occasion, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes who glorified God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Matt. 15:8).
Question: Where are we now? Are we like the Pharisees and scribes who were "close" to Jesus and felt innocent and then criticized others? Or like the tax collectors and sinners who drew near to Jesus to hear His Word and repent? Do we share the joy of seeing those close to us repent?
Hearing their murmuring, Jesus then gave three parables. What do they mean for us today?
- The parable of the lost sheep (vv. 1-7) → the role of the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who finds the lost sheep.
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety- nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?... I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15: 1-7, NKJV).
Who left the 99 sheep to look for the one lost sheep? The Shepherd. Is not Jesus – the Word – the good Shepherd (John 10:11) who came to seek the lost sheep that is the sinner? The good shepherd cares about the safety of his sheep; even if one is lost, he will tirelessly look for it until it is found again. He knows his sheep and protects them from the attack of wolves that always lurk to pounce on them and make the flock scattered. He was even willing to die for his sheep (vv. 14-15).
Application: The Word of God cares for and seeks us, the lost sheep, to be saved. We may be disappointed with the bearer of the Word who speaks eloquently in the pulpit, but the Word of God contains truth and sanctification that brings a change of life and even eternal life. Do not come to church with an intention to criticize the Word of God like what the Pharisees and scribes did! It must be admitted, sheep can err and get lost, but Jesus is still looking for them, so that they will not perish but have eternal life (John 10:28).
Although the tax collectors and sinners were abused by the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus still cared for them. He even cares enough to find the sheep whose eternal salvation is questionable for they have wandered from the shepherding. Be careful, the sheep that are not shepherded will be scattered and become food for all the wild animals in the forest (Ezek. 34:5). Which animal is ready to pounce on them? The wolf, that is the false prophets, lurking with their false teaching (Matt. 7:15).
Introspection: What do we listen to these days for our spiritual benefit? Do we still love listening to the Word of shepherding that strengthens, sanctifies and transforms our lives? The shepherded sheep always listen to their shepherd’s voice and their need of food and drink will always be satisfied, just as David who confessed that he lacked nothing (Psalm 23:1-6).
When it comes to food, what do we eat? When a goat eats unsuitable grass, it will suffer from mouth ulcers. And when that happens, its shepherd will then take it to another pasture. If the food of God's Word shepherds us, our mouth and lips will speak of the word of God that fills our heart, not words that insult others.
Did you know that the Book of Psalm 119 consists of 176 verses divided into 22 parts based on the Hebrew letters? The chapter ends with the statement, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments (NKJV)". The author of this verse realized the need for a shepherd and the importance of God's commandments (God’s word). He realized that outside of His Word, he was lost.
Application: Do not get tired of listening to the Word of God; instead, we should love Him more and long to be shepherded by Him! Jesus Himself said He was the door, and the sheep went in and out to find pasture (John 10:9).
- The parable of the lost coin (Luke 15: 8-10) → the role of the woman (church) and the lamp (Holy Spirit) in finding the lost coin.
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search it carefully until she finds it? ...‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ....Likewise, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Who has ever been guilty concerning money? Whether it’s unpaid debts, tax evasion, corruption, etc., as done by Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Fortunately, he then realized his mistake and returned the money four times as much to those he extorted from (Luke 19:8). Another tax collector, Levi, left his profession and followed Jesus (Matt. 9:9).
Introspection: Have we ever been dishonest to our husbands, wives, superiors? Repent! Do not get divorced because of money problems; everything must be transparent!
This woman depicts the church. The lamp was used to give light that can help the woman find the lost coin. Jesus once advised that a servant could not serve two masters because he would hate one and love the other (Luke 16:13). Hearing this, the Pharisees mocked Him because they were slaves of money (v. 14). Nevertheless, a Pharisee, Paul, initially loved money, but after knowing Jesus, he left his old life (Phil. 3:7-8).
Application: The Lamp – the Holy Spirit – illuminates all the dark sides of our lives so that everything can be exposed, especially financial problems. Remember, the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Many churches fight and break up because of money issues and even bring the case to court.
- The parable of the lost son (Luke 15: 11-32) → the role of a merciful father (God the Father) in receiving back his prodigal son.
“….the youngest son sold his entire share and went to a faraway land. There he squandered his possessions by living extravagantly. …then he realized his situation, saying: How many of my father's hired men have plenty of food but I am here starving to death…I have sinned against heaven and against my father, I am not worthyanymore to be called as the son of father While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him and hugged him and kissed him."
When the owner sought the lost sheep and money, the lost son returned with his own initiative and admitted that he was not worthy of being called a son because his actions had hurt his father. What was his father's response? Seeing his son’s condition (probably clothed in rag) and hearing his honest remorse, he felt compassion for him. Then he gave his son the best robe, ring, shoes and slaughtered the fattest ox to eat with joy because the lost son had been found, had died and lived again (vv. 22-24). The youngest son must have been very grateful for wearing the magnificent robe – receiving grace for being made worthy (cf. 1 Tim. 1:12-17).
Both the eldest and the youngest children inherited their father’s property, and it was up to them how they managed the inheritance—it might multiply or run out. Ironically, the youngest was lost outside by wasting his wealth while the eldest was "lost" at home because he never used his inheritance while positioning himself as a servant who served his father. However, the father still loved both of them.
The father portrays the Heavenly Father who still loves his two children. The elder represents the Jews, while the younger the Gentiles. Are we not descendants of Abraham by faith (Gal. 3:7) and become children of God by believing in the name of Jesus (John 1:12)? Moreover, all whom the Holy Spirit leads are children of God that they can cry out "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:14-17). The Holy Spirit is the witness and clear proof that we are God's children as well as heirs who are entitled to receive His promise even though we are still characterized with many shortcomings. We are called children of God because we know Christ (1 John 3:3). If we unintentionally "slip" in disobedience to His commandments, we have a Mediator, that is, Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1).
In His humanity, Jesus is the son of Joseph. But when we study His genealogy, we learn that He is the son of Adam and the son of God (Luke 3:23-38). Man was created in the image and likeness of the Triune God (Gen. 1:26), and Jesus became man and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
Hearing the sound of the flute and the singing in the house, the elder son who had just returned from the field asked a servant what happened. The servant said there was a big party to welcome his brother home. He was so angry and did not want to enter the house that his father came out to explain to him. The elder, who did not know the real problem, should have asked the right person—his father, not a servant, to know the reason why his father was throwing a joyful party for his brother. It is because a servant only does what he is told to do. Therefore, listening to an incomplete story led him to his expression of displeasure with his brother.
Unfortunately, the elder positioned himself as a servant (not son) who served the father, that he never enjoyed his father's property, which also belonged to him (vv. 29,31). As a result, he grumbled because he felt he had done much work and was unhappy to see his brother joyfully welcomed.
Application: The Heavenly Father has sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we have the assurance of becoming God's children. As soon as the Father forgives us, the sinners, He forgets and throws away our transgressions as far as the east from the west (Ps. 103:12).
We are like sheep, lost and strayed, but then obtained mercy as we were found by the Good Shepherd who led us to repentance. Our repentance is welcomed with joy by the inhabitants of Heaven. Let us love the Word of shepherding! In so doing, the Holy Spirit illuminates our path so that we are kept from the snare of mammon. Our Heavenly Father has made us His children who are entitled to one day live with Him in His eternal Kingdom. Amen.