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Thursday, October 4, 2018

“Found and Forgiven” (Luke 15-16 )



In previous chapters we read about Jesus being surrounded by people who were in need of healing and others who were also eager to learn from him. In today’s chapter we read:  

Now all the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (15:1-2)

People found in Jesus what they couldn’t find in their religious leaders: love, compassion and acceptance. To the Pharisees and rabbis Jesus’ attitude was offensive, since they divided men in two classes: the unclean and the righteous. The rabbis were so concerned about this that they even refused to teach the word of God, to those they considered ungodly.

But Jesus responds to the accusation of the religious leaders by speaking to them the “Parable of the lost Sheep”.

“In this passage, Jesus reveals the heart of a Father who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyously forgives them. His love sent his Son to not only search for the lost, but to also endure the cross for their sake. God has the same extraordinary love for us today. He is still in the business of seeking and saving- and he calls us to join him” (iWorship Bible)

Yes, He is calling us to join Him! This really struck me, for how many times I’ve been guilty of that same attitude the Pharisees had dividing people in two classes -the godly and the ungodly:

 For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another].” (Romans 2:11 AMP)

In this parable Jesus also teaches that God seeks out for the lost.  Contrary to what the rabbis believed that God received the lost, instead Jesus taught that He searches for them to bring them to repentance and to his kingdom:

I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness].” (Luke 5:32)

This same He taught as he mentioned the shepherd searching for the lost sheep in this parable:

 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’I tell you in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.  ” (15:5-7, 10) 



We don't often think of God as rejoicing, but this passage tells us that He does, because He loves us so! (Is. 62:5; Zeph. 3:17, John 3:16)


"The truth here taught is just this: that mercy stretches forth her hand to misery, that grace receives men as sinners, that it deals with demerit, unworthiness and worthlessness; that those who think themselves righteous are not the objects of divine compassion, but the unrighteous, the guilty and the undeserving, are the proper subjects for the infinite mercy of God; in a word, that salvation is not of merit but of grace." (Spurgeon)

But what about us who have already received His saving grace: Do we feel the same about the lost? “So what are we willing to endure, how far are we willing to search, how much will we allow our “households” to be turned upside down in order to bring the lost to God?” (iWorship Bible)

May our hearts be filled with the same love and compassion Jesus has for the lost.

Mari