Jesus Concerned Over Every Lost Soul
For those of you, who doubt that Jesus is concerned over every lost soul, I tell you, he really is. Verse 10 in this scripture tells us even the angels are happy, when a sinner repents. As I studied the chapter, I loved every bit of it.
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Bible KJV www.biblegateway.com
I would like to do an in-depth study on Luke 15. It has more meaning then the surface theme of lost and found. I encourage you to read all of Luke 15 and then meditate or study on it. You will find many precious nuggets!
Luke tells us that although Jesus used parables to teach the disciples and/or the people, these particular parables were mostly for the benefit of the Pharisees. They had come against Jesus for “hanging out” with sinners and even eating with them. The Pharisees would not associate with sinners, believing unrighteous people were beneath their attention.
Christ is going to teach them by using 3 narratives. First is the parable of the lost sheep. The second is the parable of the lost coin and the third is of the lost son. They spotlights lost things that represent why Jesus is concerned over every lost soul.
Luke 15:3-7 – The Lost Sheep
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And 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. 7I 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.
Christ is saying that searching for one lost sheep is worth leaving the other ninety-nine sheep while he looks for the one. The shepherd asks his friends to rejoice with him (verse 6) because the sheep is finally found. Jesus ends this parable by showing that although there may be ninety-nine “believing” people, it’s the lost one that is important.
Luke 15:8-10 – The Lost Coin
8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Jesus continues with the parable of the lost coin. A lady has ten coins and loses one of them. The woman searches diligently for that one coin she lost. When she finds it, she calls her friends to rejoice with her (verse 9). Jesus tells us that the woman still had nine coins, but it was very important to find the missing coin .
Luke 15:10 There is joy in the presence of the angels
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Before we get to verse 10, we needed to pay attention to what was happening in verses 1 and 2. In this post, I am not delving into the area of the religious men who are consumed with God’s laws, rather than love. They obviously held a different opinion than Jesus Christ. Christ hated sin but felt love for the sinners. I will at some point, post on this verse but I encourage you to study it on your own. There is so much information packed into verses 1,2, and 10. Along with these 3 verses, you need to also study deeper into the lost son.
Luke 15:11-32 – The Lost Son
11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 1
4And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
The Lost Son heads back home
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The elder son is jealous and doesn’t understand
25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Thought dead but now alive
31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Jesus continues with the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son wants to take his inheritance and leave; so his father gives him the money and the son goes on his way. After he loses everything, the young son humbly returns to his father’s house (verse 24). Everyone is happy. The son considered dead and now found alive.
In these parables, we see the same message; Jesus is concerned over every lost soul! Jesus said that in order to save sinners, the Pharisees needed to spend time with them. They should not shun or preach at them, but befriend them.
Here’s what I found in studying…
The word “lost” does not mean only the unsaved people who will not receive life eternal. They can be Christians that have been on the narrow path leading to God and eternal life, now moved to the wide path leading to eternal death. These “lost” could also be people who have not heard about Jesus or are confused and need help understanding.
The sheep represents the person who is falling away from faith
Jesus is concerned over every lost soul. He wants everyone rescued from Satan, his demons and eternal death.
The lost coin represents a believer
The lost coin represent a believer who has fallen away from the church. It’s the church’s duty to watch out for each other and to diligently search to save souls.
The lost son
The last parable digs a quite a bit deeper. The elder brother represents the Jewish people who remained solid in their religious ways and hung onto laws and rituals. However, they became self-righteous, proud and eventually ended up far from God (like the Pharisees). This parable also shows that the father of the two sons, loved both equally. In the same way, God loves the Jews and the Gentiles equally.
Once humbled, the father took his “lost” son back immediately, just as if nothing had ever happened. God will also take back his humbled “lost” children as if they never left.
Jesus was teaching the Pharisees that every lost person is very important to God. Those people who have moved away from God are just as important as those who love and believe in God (and after the crucifixion, believe in Jesus).
Father God doesn’t have to take us back!
The Lord doesn’t have to find the lost, save people or forgive our sins. He does it because he wants to and because he loves us so much. Unfortunately, most of the Pharisee’s didn’t listen or take advantage of Jesus’ warnings to change their ways. Still today there are many Jewish people who continue to live by the law and rituals and will not recognize Jesus as the Messiah!
Jesus is concerned over every lost soul. So; the job God has given believers today, is to find the lost (regardless of who they are or what they’ve done) and tell them about Jesus. That may even mean “hanging out”, or perhaps sharing a meal with sinners, just as Jesus did.
We are all sinners, not deserving salvation. However, God loves all of us and does not want to see, even one person lost.
My Prayer for Luke 15:1-32
God, the Father of Life Eternal,
I ask you Lord, to place the lost along my path, those you know I can help. Guide me and give me the words that would touch their hearts and open their eyes to you or to hear your call.
Help me Father, to realize that not every person wants salvation. “I” am not the person to save people, you do that. My job is to pray for and seek out the lost . And then show them to the way to believe once found. Unfortunately, not all will accept that offer.
I will praise and glorify your name each and every day. Help me to continually be on the watch for the lost and tell them of the good news of Jesus Christ. Also I will pray for those who do not know you, praying they will hear your call.
Thank you Father for loving each and every person in this world and that every one of them have exactly the same option of finding Christ and receiving salvation, as I did.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, I pray. Amen