Luke 15

Jesus encourages us to rejoice rejoice rejoice.

Don't think that you're better than others who are not living Christian lives.

15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

While each following parable given afterwards could serve as its own analogy or sermon, Jesus is driving home a larger point that we should celebrate those sinners who once were lost but now are found.

How did we get to this scene?

Luke 13 - 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Jesus was with the Pharisees and scribes and he taught them about the Sabbath after he healed a woman.

Luke 14 - 14 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

Jesus was then invited to the home of a chief Pharisee even though there were those there who were still ready to accuse Him.

Jesus heals a man and teaches the Pharisees again about the Sabbath.

Jesus attracted a crowd but even though he was popular he was still hard on sin:

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Jesus has always been hard on sin.

Some people falsely teach that if Jesus were physically with us today that he would be in the bars and the night spots with sinners but that would conflict with what Jesus said in Luke 14:33

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Jesus expects everyone to forsake all and follow Him. This is why he told the woman who was caught in adultery (John 8:11) "go, and sin no more." She had to forsake her sin. This is why Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8 told Jesus that he would restore those that he had stolen from. True repentance involves forsaking your previous lifestyle. A lot of people miss that and think that they can be filled with the Holy Spirit and with liquor. The two don't mix.

Some of these in the multitudes were probably publicans and sinners which leads to the first verse of Luke 15.

Jesus Used Examples of People that the Pharisees Didn't Like:

First Parable: a shepherd - considered the lowest of occupations
Second Parable: a woman - considered chattle or property
Third Parable: dysfunctional family with a rebellious son

SoulWinning
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Three Types of Lost People We Witness To

“What 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?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Some grew up in the church (the sheepfold) but strayed away and we have to go get them back into the fold.

“Either 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?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Some did not lose themselves but were mishandled (verbally, physically, or sexually abused). So we have to shine a light everywhere (Jesus at your job, Jesus at your school, etc) and seek them out and then celebrate them with others when they are restored.

“and 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.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Some become rebellious and they have to “come to themselves.” We must be as the prodigal son’s father and be ever ready to receive them and confirm to them they they are still loved even though they were once rebellious.