Luke 15:1-10 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man…

…welcomes sinners and eats with them …welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the…

…open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it …open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors…

…together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep …together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 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 …righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully…

…until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you,

…there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

JOY The of Heaven Luke 15:1-10

One of our Lord’s distinctive truths is that God threw a wider net than the people of the day believed!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, etc. Two Classes of People The Religious Class Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, etc.

The ‘People of the Land’ Two Classes of People The ‘People of the Land’ Am ha’aretz

“When a man is one of the People of the Land, entrust no money to him, take no testimony from him, trust him with no secret, do not…

…appoint him guardian of an orphan, do not make him the custodian of charitable funds, do not accompany…

…him on a journey.” (from The Pharisaic Regulations)

“We will understand these parables more fully if we remember that the strict religious people said, not ‘There is joy in heaven over one…

“…sinner who repents,’ but, ‘There is joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God.’” William Barclay

All are separated from the One that Loves them! Something Lost Two Great Images All are separated from the One that Loves them!

Something Lost Two Great Images A Lost Sheep A Lost Coin

The Flock was often a Communal Flock Something Lost Two Great Images A Lost Sheep The Flock was often a Communal Flock

The Flock Was often a Communal Flock

Ten coins made up the Bridal Veil Something Lost Two Great Images A Lost Coin Ten coins made up the Bridal Veil

Ten coins made up the Bridal Veil

Something Sought The Shepherd and the Women Initiated the Search We do not Find God; God finds us!

Something Sought “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10

The End Result is Celebration! Something Found The End Result is Celebration!

Something Found “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” Acts 11:18

So…. Will you let God find you!

Will you let God find you! Will you Surrender? Will You Yield? Will You Repent?

JOY The of Heaven Luke 15:1-10