Luke 15: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son
Have you ever felt that God is finished with you? That you have sinned too much, gone too far?
And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2).
Jesus answered the criticizing, self-righteous Pharisees with a parable in three parts.
The Parable of 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?” (Luke 15:4).
People without Christ are spiritually like a sheep. (See also Isaiah 53:6.) That is not a compliment.
Sheep are not very intelligent—and that pictures us. Sheep will keep wandering and wandering. You have no defense against the devil without Christ—none! Sooner or later, the devil’s wolves will find you.
That is why the shepherd counts the sheep, and leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. When he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders and brings it home. (See Luke 15:5-6.)
The Parable of 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 carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8).
In Bible times, when a woman married, her husband would give her ten pieces of silver to wear on her forehead. But if she were unfaithful, one of those pieces would be taken away. She would be disgraced.
The devil wants to make your life a disgrace to Almighty God.
The Parable of the Lost Son
“A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living” (Luke 15:11-13).
This son was saying to his father, “Don’t give me yourself. Give me what you have.”
The world is full of people who do not want God—but they want God’s green earth, God’s fresh air, the food that God gives, etc.
How God Saves Sinners
In this three-part parable, there were three who went out after that which is lost. They represent the Holy Trinity working together to bring people to salvation.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Jesus suffered, bled, and died on the cross to bring you back in repentance to God. (See Luke 19:10.)
Like the woman with the broom and the lamp, God the Holy Spirit stirs up the dirt in your heart and shines light so that you might see and understand Jesus Christ.
God’s Love for Us
Where we left the parable of the lost son above, the young man is away from home.
His father still loves him, no matter what he has done. One day, the old man looks down the long road and sees someone walking. He may be dressed in rags and emaciated by sin, but the father recognizes him.
Luke 15:20
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).
This is why Jesus keep company with sinners. The Holy Spirit works with Him. And God the Father will receive those who come to Him.
To read more on this topic, click here.
