Lucas 15

Lucas 15

Ironside commented, “It was well put and tells a story that every redeemed sinner understands.” Luke 15:6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' KJV Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. his friends and his neighbors Lk 15:7,10,24; 2:13,14; Isa 66:10,11; John 3:29; 15:14; Acts 11:23; 15:3; Phil 1:4; 2:17; 4:1; 1 Th 2:19; 3:7-9 for I have found my sheep which was lost Ps 119:176; 1 Peter 2:10,25 Luke 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 15 Jesus: The Seeking Savior, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 15 The Seeking Savior - Pt 1 - John MacArthur AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. --John Newton (Play this beautiful vocal version!) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors (geiton) - This detail is lacking in Matthew's parallel (cf. Mt 18:13). Rejoice (sugchairo) with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost - "The shepherd rejoices, and this not simply because of the recovery of a physical loss. No, he loves that sheep. His shepherd's heart rejoices because the sheep was not devoured or did not perish in some other way." (Hendriksen) Sugchairo is used twice in the form of commands (aorist imperative) here of the man who rejoiced over finding his lost sheep (Luke 15:6) and of the woman who, rejoiced over finding her lost coin, both of these individual desiring that others share in their joy (Luke 15:9 also aorist imperative). Rejoice with (4796)(sugchairo from sun/syn = with, speaks of an intimate union + chairo = to rejoice, be glad) means literally to rejoice with, to take part in joy, to feel (and express) joy with, to share joy with (Lk 1:58, Php 2:17). Sugchairo describes a deep mutuality of purpose and feeling. "To express pleasure over another’s good fortune, congratulate." (BDAG) Moody Bible Commentary - The "over-the-top" reaction of the shepherd (Lk15:6) is meant to contrast with the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes toward the tax collectors and sinners who have come to hear Jesus. They should at least have been supportive—if not ecstatic—when sinners showed an interest in the things of the Lord. They were however as unmoved as this shepherd was overjoyed. Jesus made the point: heaven (a metonymy for God) is much more like the overly ecstatic shepherd when sinners come to repentance (Lk 15:7) and unlike the critical Pharisees. I have found my sheep which was lost - Notice the possessive pronoun "my." In a similar way believers who have been sought, found and bought by the Shepherd are no longer their own, but are eternally His possession. Titus 2:14+ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 1 Peter 2:9+ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Cor 6:19-20+ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. Life Application Bible Commentary - For Christians today, this parable of the lost sheep is not only an invitation to rejoice with God at the repentance of sinners but also a reminder to follow Jesus’ example in searching for the lost. Join God in his search for the lost by telling one of your acquaintances about Jesus today. (Borrow https://archive.org/details/lifeapplicationn0000unse) Neighbors (1069)(geiton from ge = earth, land) means literally one "of the same land," one living nearby and sharing ethnic and cultural similarities. Always used in plural. Synonym = plesion. Gilbrant - The adjective “neighboring” oftentimes gives this word a locative sense as in the English “neighborhood.” However, in the few times it is used in the New Testament, geitōn is more broadly used to mean “human relationships” which pass beyond the limits of geography. This is especially true in Luke 14:12 and Luke 15:6,9 where the term is used with adelphos, “brother.”(Complete Biblical Library) Geiton - 4x in NT - Lk. 14:12; Lk. 15:6; Lk. 15:9; Jn. 9:8. Lxx = Ex. 3:22; Ex. 12:4; Ru 4:17; 2 Ki. 4:3; Job 19:15; Job 26:5; Ps. 31:11; Ps. 44:13; Ps. 79:4; Ps. 79:12; Ps. 80:6; Ps. 89:41; Jer. 6:21; Jer. 12:14; Jer. 49:10 - Lxx uses frequently in context of "reproach to one's neighbors. A Heart Of Compassion Read: Luke 15:1-7 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! —Luke 15:6 Popular teacher, speaker, and author Howard Hendricks warns against “enshrining” the gospel in a church building. He once wrote, “I can’t find a verse of Scripture that commands a lost person to go to church; I know a lot of Scripture that commands believers to go into a lost world.” Hendricks then told about a Christian woman who read in the newspaper about a car that crashed into a house and killed a baby. With a compassionate heart, she grieved over the family’s loss, but she was also concerned for the driver, who was facing criminal charges. She wrote to the driver, assuring her that God cared about her situation. She included her telephone number and then waited to see if she would respond. The devastated woman called her and they agreed to meet. Because of that Christian’s witness of God’s love, that sorrowing woman trusted Christ as her Savior. She then began attending a Bible study and a church. The compassion shown to her resulted in others in her family coming to Christ. She did go to prison for her crime, but her faith strengthened her and made a great impact on other prisoners.By Joanie Yoder Seeking the lost, and pointing to Jesus, Souls that are weak and hearts that are sore; Leading them forth in ways of salvation, Showing the path to life evermore. —Ogden God's love in our heart gives us a heart for the lost. LOST AND FOUND Jim Connor's custom banjo was lost, but was recently found thanks to eBay and a friend with sharp eyes. Connor who was once a member of the Kingston Trio is now the supply pastor at brown's Presbyterian Church in Virginia. Connor had designed the instrument himself, asking the builders for a carved heel and special neck decoration. He even told them exactly what kind of tone-ring he wanted in the banjo's resonator. Connor said, "It was a one-time banjo. The company even called it the 'Jim Connor Custom banjo.'" Thieves took the banjo in 1971 when the New Kingston trio was too tired to unpack their van after a New York City performance. They left the van parked in a hotel garage with everything inside. The next morning the van was empty. Connor got over the lost of the instrument, but never forgot it. Recently, one of Connor's friends recognized the distinct markings when they saw the instrument on the Internet and told Connor about it. When eBay learned the instrument had been stolen, they stopped the sale. Connor said he considered how much he would have to spend for a lawyer and a trip to New York, and decided to pay the seller a fee to regain the instrument. The men met at a Maryland coffee shop and had a good talk. The seller said a relative of his had purchased the banjo at a used furniture store in Harlem. Since it was stolen, the seller wanted to cooperate. Connor said the instrument was either well cared for or had never been used and he was surprised to get it back. Connor added, "I had gotten over the disappointment of having it stolen. I didn't feel like saying anything ugly. I think I have a kind of spiritual feeling, like 'Thank you, Lord, but it sure took a long time!'" (Jim Wilson - Fresh Illustrations) LOST AND FOUND When Miami Florida engineer Isaac Daniel heard that his son was missing from school in 2002, he started thinking about a way to locate people in emergency situations. Though the situation with his son turned out to be a case of miscommunication, Daniel followed through on his idea, developing a sneaker with a built in Global Positioning tracking device. The GPS sneakers can be monitored around the clock and instantly locate the wearer anywhere on earth. The new GPS shoes are available, but expensive, costing more than $325 a pair, and 24 hour monitoring is an extra $20 a month. Daniel's company makes the shoes in adult sizes now and will add a children's version soon. (Jim Wilson - Fresh Illustrations) LOST/FOUND A man believed missing in the collapse of the World Trade Center has turned up alive in a New York hospital. The family of George Sims learned of his whereabouts earlier this month when the hospital called and said they believed Sims was a patient there. Family members said they believed Sims was “selling things” near the twin towers when the attacks occurred. When they did not hear from him for a few weeks, they reported him missing on Oct. 7th. Sims was listed officially as “reported missing” because there was no verification, other than missing persons report, that he was a World Trade Center victim. Sims has been diagnosed with amnesia and schizophrenia. His mother says he did not remember any of his family members. Though his health is not good, Sims’s mother is hopeful he will recover and tell the family about what happened to him. Anna Sims says, “If God brought him this far back to me, he will come back the rest of the way. It will take time. I am just grateful he is alive. God worked a miracle.” The family never applied for any financial assistance provided to victim’s survivors, and did not obtain a death certificate according a local newspaper. —Associated Press, August 27, 200. Submitted by Jim Sandell.(Jim Wilson - Fresh Illustrations) Lost And Found Read: Luke 15:1-10 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! —Luke 15:6 Until the day I was found, I didn’t know I was lost. I was going about business as usual, moving from task to task, distraction to distraction. But then I received an e-mail with the heading: “I think you’re my cousin.” As I read my cousin’s message, I learned that she and another cousin had been searching for my branch of the family for nearly 10 years. The other cousin promised her father, shortly before he died, that she would find his family. I hadn’t done anything to get lost, and I didn’t have to do anything to be found except acknowledge that I was the person they had been looking for. Learning that they had spent so much time and energy searching for our family made me feel special. The Lord has come to seek and save A world that is lost in sin; And everyone who comes to Him Will be restored and changed within. —Sper To be found, you must admit you are lost. You Matter To God Read: Luke 15:3-7 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! —Luke 15:6 American author Julia Ward Howe is remembered chiefly for her poem “Battle Hymn Of The Republic.” According to her daughter, Howe once invited her friend US Senator Charles Sumner to meet a rising young actor. But he declined her invitation, saying, “I don’t know that I should care to meet him. I have outlived my interest in individuals.” Julia later wrote in her diary, “Fortunately, God Almighty had not, by last accounts, gotten so far.” Aren’t you glad the Lord hasn’t gotten beyond caring about people? In fact, our heavenly Father is interested in every individual member of the human family. According to Jesus, the Father is like a devoted shepherd who leaves his flock of 99 sheep in the safety and shelter of the fold and sacrificially goes out to find that one lost lamb (Luke 15:4-6). Indeed, to help us understand the intensely individual nature of God’s love, Jesus declared that the very hairs of our head are numbered (Matthew 10:30). It’s amazing that this divine Shepherd even laid down His life for us, His sheep (John 10:11). I've found a Friend, O such a Friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love; And thus He bound me to Him. —Small When we find Christ, we discover we were the ones who were lost. Luke 15:7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. KJV Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents Lk 15:32; 5:32; Mt 18:13 than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Lk 15:29; 16:15; 18:9-11; Pr 30:12; Ro 7:9; Phili 3:6,7 Luke 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 15 Jesus: The Seeking Savior, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 15 The Seeking Savior - Pt 1 - John MacArthur Related Passages: Luke 5:32+ “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 15:32 (REPENTANCE IN "REAL TIME") ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’” Luke 18:9+ And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: Matthew 18:13 “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Proverbs 30:12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness. THE CONTRAST - REJOICING <> GRUMBLING! In the same way - This phrase introduces the comparison of the parable to the kingdom of heaven. Just as one rejoices with his friends and his neighbors, over one lost sheep that has been found, all heaven rejoices over one lost soul that has been found. Think about this for a moment. The day you were saved, heaven was filled with an extra "decibel" of reverberating joy (there is always a "baseline" of joy in Heaven in the presence of the Lord!) for the eyes of your soul were opened you turned "from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God." (Acts 26:18-note). And to think that this celebration of joy happens every time one lost sheep is found! O, what we have to look forward to when we get to heaven! Phrase of comparison - same way - Neh. 6:4; Est. 1:18; Est. 4:16; Ezek. 23:13; Ezek. 44:3; Ezek. 46:8; Matt. 5:12; Matt. 7:12; Matt. 18:33; Matt. 27:41; Mk. 15:31; Lk. 6:23; Lk. 6:26; Lk. 6:31; Lk. 15:7; Lk. 15:10; Lk. 20:31; Lk. 22:20; Acts 1:11; Acts 15:11; Rom. 1:27; Rom. 8:26; Rom. 11:5; 1 Co. 11:25; Phil. 2:18; Heb. 6:17; Heb. 9:21; Jas. 2:25; 1 Pet. 3:1; 1 Pet. 3:7; Jude 1:7; Jude 1:8; Rev. 2:15; Rev. 8:12