1. Parables are very effective teaching tools, and afford some specific advantages: 1.They allow ease of understanding because of their simple nature; they are earthly stories with heavenly/spiritual meanings. 2.They provide an opportunity for the object to see themselves from a different or outside perspective by comparison, cf. 2Sam.12:1-14; the word comes from para (beside or alongside) + balleo (to cast or lay) = to lay alongside 3.They usually have one primary point for the specific audience to whom they were given. *This does not mean they have no application to anyone else, but it does mean that the audience to whom they are given must be considered to correctly interpret the point, and thus to correctly apply them.

2. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 This trio of parables need to be taken together for a simple reason: they were all given to the same audience at the same time to make variations of the same point. And it is a pertinent and valuable point to us as well. Let’s read the 3 “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 together: 1.The Lost Sheep, vv.4-6; 2.The Lost Coin, vv.8-10; and 3.The Lost Sons, vv.11-32.

3. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 Before we start examining the parables themselves, we must know the audience, since these parables were given primarily to them:  v.1 says, “tax-gatherers and the sinners” were listening;  v.2 adds, “Pharisees and scribes began to grumble…”  v.3 concludes, “He told them…” Jesus’ audience included sinners in general, as well as Pharisees and scribes specifically. He was thus addressing irreligious sinners and the religiously elite (self-righteous) with these parables.

4. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 The Lost Sheep The owner of one hundred sheep lost one, v.4a He left the ninety-nine to seek the one, v.4b Finding the one, he returns it to safety and rejoices with his neighbors over its return, vv.5-6 Jesus interprets the parable for us in v.7: The parable illustrates what should be the relative joy over one who repents rather than ninety-nine who need no repentance. (The one was more much more important to the owner than to the other sheep!) This had obvious implications to His audience of v.2 with regard to their attitude toward those of v.1.

5. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 The Lost Coin A women who had ten silver coins lost one, v.8a She expends all necessary effort to find and retrieve the one lost coin, v.8b Finding the one, she rejoices with her neighbors over its return, v.9 Jesus again interprets the parable for us in v.10: This time, the point is only relative to the joy over one who repents, and is thus found, without reference to the nine who were never lost. This parable also had obvious implications to His audience of v.1 with regard to God’s joy over their repentance.

6. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 The Lost Sons A certain man had two sons and lost one, vv.12-13 This time the lost had to search and find its own way back- the owner did not seek, find, and return it, vv.14-20a,21 Such does not change the owner’s love and desire for the return of the lost, v.20b Nor does it change the owner’s acceptance and rejoicing over the return of the lost, vv.22-24 (as in the previous parables) But such really is not the point of this parable…

7. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 The Lost Sons The real point of this parable is found in vv.25-32 The older brother (comparable to 99 sheep and 9 coins) was angry and viewed with contempt the lost and found brother (comparable to 1 sheep and 1 coin), vv.25-28 Despite the father’s (owner’s) love and rejoicing, the older brother was self-righteously concerned only with himself, vv.29-32 Having been sufficiently set up with the two previous parables which illustrated the owner’s attitude toward the lost, this parable now demonstrates what should have been the attitude of the never lost to the lost and found. Such really drove the point home to Jesus’ primary audience, cf. vv.2 > 1!

8. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 Since these three parables are given together, they should probably be studied together to get the most good from them. With that in mind…  Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin seem to be very similar with regard to the point being made: They illustrate God’s love, compassion, and desire in seeking and saving man. They seem to be aimed perhaps primarily to those of v.1.  Whereas the parable of the Lost Sons seems to be illustrating Man seeking and finding God; and his subsequent rejection by the self-righteous. This one is unmistakably aimed at those of v.2.

9. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 Take-Home Lessons For Us?  Never doubt, and always emulate God’s love of, desire for, and efforts toward the lost.  Always emulate God’s attitude and acceptance of the lost who return, and never imitate the contempt, jealousy, and self-righteousness of the older brother who was found but became lost. Additional/Secondary Points: Never doubt God’s love and desire for you to be saved; nor that of brethren who are what they should be, cf. Gal.6:1-2. True love has to allow freedom to choose, even if you know the wrong choice will probably be made. Just keep lovingly looking a long way off for the return, and rejoice with great joy when/if it occurs.

10. The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15 Final Thought:  It seems almost as if Jesus leaves the story unfinished. What was the “final verdict” or ultimate response of the older brother?  Since he represented the self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes of v.2, I suppose that remained to be seen. The end of the story would thus be determined by them!  Perhaps this is why Jesus left the story open- ended.