The Lost Parables Luke 15 Teachings of Jesus

The “Lost” Parables Luke 15 Teachings of Jesus (41) Parables (10)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep • Jesus is criticized for receiving sinners and eating with them. • Jesus replies with a series of parables • Luke 15: 4 -7 • What man of you…? • A shepherd who has a hundred sheep, and one of them is lost. • He leaves the 99 to find the one.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep • Luke 15: 4 -7 - He leaves the 99 to find the one • When he finds him, he brings him home on his shoulders and rejoices with his friends and neighbors. • Vs. 7, I say there is more joy in heaven over ONE sinner who repents than 99 just persons who need no repentance

The Parable of the Lost Sheep • Luke 15: 4 -7 – Lessons: • To God EVERYONE is important! Even sinners – He loves them as much as His faithfulest servants • Repentance is the key – God calls all men to repent – Acts 17: 30 -31

• • • The Parable of the Lost Coin Luke 15: 8 -10 – A woman having 10 silver coins (each one equivalent to a days wages – a denarius). She lights a lamp and sweeps the house until she finds it When she does, she rejoices with her friends and neighbors. Vs. 10 – Likewise, angels in heaven rejoice over 1 sinner who repents

The Parable of the Lost Coin • Luke 15: 8 -10 – Lessons • Again, there is a sharing of joy over the one who is found. Do we rejoice when a sinner returns? • Again, repentance is emphasized! Luke 13: 3, 5 – unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

The Parable of the Lost Son Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal Son A man has 2 sons The younger asks for his inheritance It is granted and he leaves for a far country where he engages in prodigal living and wastes his possessions • Then a severe famine arises and he has nothing! He is destitute • •

• • The Parable of the Lost Son Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal Son He is so desperate he joins himself to a farmer who sends him into the field to feed the swine (think about this with a Jew) He is so hungry even the slop looks good. Vs. 16, “No one gave him anything!” Where are his friends? He has hit “rock bottom”

• • • The Parable of the Lost Son Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal Son Rock bottom – a crucial point – he can sink no lower! Vs. 17 – “He came to himself” This is the turning point! He is humiliated and ruined. But he came to his senses (thankfully). He reasons how much better off the servants of his father’s house are. He resolves to return home

The Parable of the Lost Son • Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal Son • Vs. 18, He will admit he has sinned against both his father and heaven (God) and plead for mercy to just be a lowly servant (he’ll take anything!) • He arises and heads home!

The Parable of the Lost Son • Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal Son • Vs. 20, While still a distance away, his father sees him, runs to him, embraces and kisses him. It seems the father was looking, waiting and hoping his son would return (a father’s love) - Tie this to the 2 previous parables and rejoicing!

The Parable of the Lost Son • Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal Son • Vs. 21, His son, still humbled, confesses to his father • His father rejoices, put on him the best robe and a ring on his hand (a sign of restoration). There is a celebration, with the fatted calf slaughtered and great rejoicing. Vs. 24 – For this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.

The Parable of the Lost Son • Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal brother • But the parable does not end there • The older brother comes in from the field and hears the music. • He inquires what it means. • He is told his brother has returned and they are rejoicing • He is angry and REFUSES to go in.

The Parable of the Lost Son • Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal brother • His father comes out and pleads with him • Bitter, the older son, WITH AN UNFORGIVING HEART, complains – noting his faithfulness all this time, he never received a young goat. And when this “son of yours” who was just like the “sinners” returns, now he is being honored. He is self-righteous, bitter and unmerciful.

The Parable of the Lost Son • Luke 15: 11 -32 – the Prodigal brother • His father acknowledges his brother’s failures and rebukes the older brother saying, You will get your inheritance. BUT it is right to rejoice because your “brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found” • And thus ends the parable

The Parable of the Lost Son • Lessons to consider: • Again, the primary message is REPENTANCE! In this parable we ought to find hope, that no matter what we have done, we CAN find forgiveness if we will genuinely repent. Consider 2 Corinthians 7: 9 -11

The Parable of the Lost Son • Lessons to consider: • We find here the character of God: - He gives to us abundantly – How do we use what He gives us? Do we use it wisely, or squander it like the prodigal? There WILL be an accounting! Cf. Luke 16: 1 -13 – the parable of the unjust steward

The Parable of the Lost Son • Lessons to consider: • We find here the character of God: - He is waiting for us to repent – He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish – 2 Peter 3: 9 And He waits likes the father in our parable!

The Parable of the Lost Son • Lessons to consider: • We find here the character of God: - He is ready and willing to forgive, no matter how sinful we have been! If only we will repent! Isaiah 1: 18, Ephesians 1: 7 -8 – forgiveness according to the riches of His grace… NOTICE how sonship was restored to the prodigal son!

The Parable of the Lost Son • Lessons to consider: • Then there was the other brother! • Considering our context, this likely was the Pharisees and scribes – unwilling to forgive (ever), selfrighteous, prejudiced, unmerciful. And ready to brand anyone who dared associate “with sinners” as equally bad.

The Parable of the Lost Son • Lessons to consider: • Then there was the other brother! • This is how NOT to act when a brother returns! Are we willing to TRULY and TOTALLY forgive one who has sinned and returns? See Matthew 6: 14 -15, 18: 22, Luke 17: 4, etc.

• • The Parable of the Lost Son Lessons to consider: When a brother returns: We also need to rejoice with him and help to restore him. It is NOT the time for “the lecture”, “I told you so”, or other demands. Be merciful! Matthew 5: 7, James 2: 13 Consider 2 Corinthians 2: 6 -8 – reaffirm your love

Do you need to repent? Teachings of Jesus (41) Parables (10) The “Lost” Parables

Let us pray! Teachings of Jesus (41) Parables (10) The “Lost” Parables