~ 4 Images of Sinners in
Luke 15 ~
Straying Sinner ~ The
parable of the wandering sheep! “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners
drew near to Him to hear Him [Jesus Christ]. And the Pharisees and scribes
complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke
this parable to them, saying: ‘What man
of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine
in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his
friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my
sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need
no repentance’” (15:1-7). This is an account of an individual sinner
straying—and a God who cares for him/her individually.
Helpless Sinner ~ The
parable of the lost coin! Jesus continued with the following: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light
a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when
she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice
with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”
(15:8-10). This account represents an
individual sinner who is spiritually dead and helpless—and a God who cares
about him/her as an individual.
Repentant Sinner ~ The
account of the returning son! “Then He [Jesus Christ] said: ‘A certain man had
two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the
portion of goods that falls to me.” So he divided to them his livelihood. And
not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far
country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had
spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in
want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent
him into his fields to feed swine. And
he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and
no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my
father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with
hunger! I will arise and go to my father,
and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired
servants’ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great
way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck
and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven
and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the
father said to his servants, “Bring out
the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his
feet. And bring the fatted calf here and
kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry’” (15:11-24). This account shows an individual sinner who
is repentant—and the grace and mercy of our great God.
Despising Sinner ~ The
account of the self-righteous son! Jesus Christ continues with this account:
“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house,
he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what
these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he
has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ But
he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded
with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have
been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet
you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who
has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead
and is alive again, and was lost and is found’” (15:25-32). In this account we find a sinner who is
jealous of the grace of God manifested to another—obviously not understanding
the unlimited amount of God’s riches available to all.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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