Luke Part 51: Christ Receives Sinners

Text: Luke 15

This passage contains three parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Prodigal Son.  All three stories share common themes.  They portray the horrible condition of mankind in reality, that man is a hopeless sinner. They show that men are received when they come in repentance, and they show the great rejoicing over a redeemed sinner.

In the first two parables, note that Jesus is identifying with the despised people group: shepherds and women.

First, we have the parable of The Lost Sheep.  The sheep who is lost doesn't have the ability to find his way back home.  He's helpless.  He has no self-defense.  See how the shepherd finds him and brings him back.  We don't just need a Shepherd to save us, we need a Shepherd to keep us and carry us home.

Next, the parable of The Lost Coin.  Like the woman, the Holy Spirit will stir things up to retrieve a lost soul.  The coin is like a helpless sinner; it will lie where it is until someone puts out his hand to find it.  The woman uses a light to search for the coin, symbolizing the Spirit bringing truth to bear on a sinner's heart.

Finally, there is the Prodigal Son.  This story is detailed and clear.  The story begins with the son who is not satisfied with his father's provision.  He is greedy, not content.  He wants his portion of the inheritance now.

Like any sinner, the son is an escapist.  He want to get as far away from the father as possible.  He wants to be free from all restraint.  What is the outcome?  The son wastes all that he has and winds up broke and hungry, working in a pig sty.  For the Jew, this would have been the worst place imaginable.

What happens then?  Does the son just pray a little prayer, and all is well?  No!   He comes to himself, he assesses his sad condition accurately, and he makes a radical change, returning to his father in humility.  See how he is convinced of the goodness of the father, how he is certain that his father will receive sinners!

And he is received, with great affection!  He is given a robe, symbolizing the Robe of Righteousness, and a ring, symbolizing the sealing of the Spirit.  He is given shoes to equip him to do the work of the father.

Christ is encouraging all to turn to the Father in repentance.  Do these descriptions fit you?  Come to Him!  He will receive those whom He is encouraging to come!