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- Luke Chapter 15
Good morning! ☀️
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
Read Chapter 15 before reading my notes. They’ll make more sense.
Access previous notes on Luke by signing into your account. Click 'Read Online' at the top right of this post and scroll down to find them waiting for you.
Today’s chapter is short, but don’t let that fool you. It’s beautiful.
Luke Chapter 15 is often referred to as the "Lost and Found" Chapter because it contains three parables told by Jesus, all centered around the theme of lost things being found.
I think it’s safe to say most people have a good understanding of all three parables.
They show God's relentless pursuit of those who are lost and His boundless joy when they repent and return to Him. It highlights the importance of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the kingdom of God.
But let’s look a little closer.
Luke starts Chapter 15 by using the word “receive.”
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
The English word "receive" is translated from the Greek word "prosdechomai," but its meaning means more than acceptance. "Prosdechomai" carries the sense of eagerly awaiting.
The Pharisees and scribes grumble because Jesus "eagerly awaits" sinners. He’s not passively “receiving” them.
After the accusation, Jesus spends the rest of the chapter explaining to the Pharisees and Scribes what’s really going on when He spends time with and eats with prostitutes, tax collectors, and the outcasts of the day.
It’s never sat right with me that Jesus would leave the ninety-nine to pursue the one and then when He returns label them as “ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance.”
I wonder if the ninety-nine represent the scribes and the Pharisees who consider themselves righteous and morally upright? If it does, that still holds true today. There are many who know of God, but are far from Him.
Jesus leaving the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep symbolizes his mission to seek out and help those who are marginalized, considered outcasts and lost, even if it challenges the attitudes of religious leaders.
It shows His compassion and commitment to reaching the lost, regardless of religious traditions.
Just a thought.
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At the end of the first two parables, we are given a glimpse into the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Do you see it?
It
Is
Beautiful
When ONE who was lost repents and believes… When ONE is found. When ONE returns to the Father…
There is Joy in heaven!
I love how one of my favorite pastors, John Piper, describes what Jesus might say,
“I welcome sinners because I am the incarnation of God’s love pursuing the lost. I am the shepherd seeking the sheep. I am the woman seeking her coin. And this meal that we are eating together is a little bit of what is happening in heaven right now and a foretaste of the joy that is coming. When sinners turn from their sin and accept my fellowship as the joy of their lives, they have come home to God. And God is glad.”
Notice the progression of Chapter 15, from searching for one out of a hundred, to one out of ten, to one out of one, demonstrating God's love for every individual and His personal attentiveness toward all humanity.
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, unlike the previous two parables where the owner actively seeks what is lost, the father eagerly waits for his son's return.
The younger son asks for his share of the estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would inherit (Deuteronomy 21:17).
Essentially, the younger son requested one-third of the estate, which wasn’t common and would probably have raised eyebrows. It was a loveless request that hinted at ‘wishing his father was dead’ for the sake of the inheritance.
The father in the parable is God.
The young son represents tax collectors and sinners.
But who does the older brother represent?
The older brother symbolizes the self-righteousness found in the Pharisees and teachers of the law.
Think about the attitude of the Pharisees when Jesus heals. They should be celebrating, but they’re judgemental and unbelieving.
Notice the words the older son uses,
‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
“We know your commandments, we not only follow Your law, we’ve added to it. We deserve the best seats that we might celebrate with our friends.”
What can we learn from Chapter 15?
There is immense joy in heaven when a sinner repents and returns to God. Through the three parables, Jesus illustrates God's relentless pursuit of those who are lost and His boundless love for each of us individually.
Jesus demonstrates that God's kingdom is inclusive, welcoming all who repent and turn to Him, regardless of their past mistakes or social status.
He teaches us the importance of humility, compassion, and forgiveness in the kingdom of God, urging us to examine our own hearts and attitudes toward others.
In the end, this is what I took away
God welcomes sinners.
He not only welcomes them.
He searches for them.
He eagerly waits for them.
He calls them to repentance and then…
There is joy in heaven.
When He found you.
When He found me.
There was join in heaven.
Amen.
Have an amazing day!
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
George Sisneros serves as a full-time missionary in Guatemala. He is the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 25 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family will be expanding to Cuba in 2014.