THOSE WHO ARE LOST

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LUKE 15:1-32
Lesson #42

THOSE WHO ARE LOST

• Memory Verse: Luk19:10
• The entire chapter of Luke 15 is one parable having 3 separate illustrations: #1 The sheep, #2 The coin, and #3 The son.
  • Why is the parable given in three illustrations?
    • The number, 3, in the Bible represents the Holy Trinity of God, the Father; Jesus Christ, the Son; and the Holy Spirit.
    • Unfortunately when studied and discussed, the three are often separated into three separate and distinct parables, losing the broad perspective of the Holy Trinity.
  • Therefore, this parable will give us an illustration of the heart and actions of each member of the Holy Trinity as we discuss them together and in context.
• Read Luk 15:1-32 The Parable of the Lost Possessions
  • To whom is the parable spoken?
    • Jesus spoke this parable to a mixed multitude including tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and Scribes.
    • The parable was prompted by the statement in verse 2, “this man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” In other words, the questions in the minds of Jesus’ enemies are these: Who are the lost? and What does God do about their condition?
  • Some general observations:
    • Notice that the lost sheep represents 1% loss (1 out of a 100).
    • Notice that the lost coin represents 10% loss (1 out of 10).
    • Notice that the lost son represents 50% loss (1 out of 2).
      • The sentimental value of the lost object increases with each illustration.
      • The lost son then is the most valuable.
    • The search varies:
      • With the lost sheep, the shepherd actively searches with divine tenderness using the love qualities of courage and endurance.
      • With the lost coin, the woman actively searches with diligence using the love qualities of patience and observation.
      • With the lost son, the father waits. There is no active search. He waits for the return of the son with divine patience using the love qualities of longsuffering endurance and forgiveness.
  • Illustration #1: The Lost Sheep
    • Who does the man with 100 sheep represent? The man represents Jesus Christ.
      • How do we know that he represents Jesus Christ?
      • Read Joh 10:11, 14-15
      • In the Old Testament prophecies, the Messiah is referred to as a shepherd. For example:
        • Psa 22 The suffering Shepherd
        • Psa 23 The good Shepherd
        • Psa 24 The chief Shepherd
    • Who do the 99 sheep represent?
      • The 99 sheep represent those who do not need redemption.
      • In this world of God’s creation, the only ones who do not need redemption are the angels.
        • Angels were created as separate beings before Genesis 1.
        • One third of the angels sinned and fell with Lucifer (Satan’s name before his fall from grace.)
        • These sinful angels were cast out of heaven having made their choice to follow God’s enemy, Satan.
        • However, angels are not redeemed, neither can they contemplate or understand God’s redemption as redemption was not offered to them. (1Pet 1:12 Jude 1:6) Why?

The angels knew God face to face.

Those that fell with Satan were not deceived. They knew the truth.

Such is not the case with man. Satan was the deceiver in the Garden of Eden.

Therefore, God offers redemption to man but not to the fallen angels which are represented by the 99 sheep in the parable.

• • • • Why do the 99 sheep not represent the already saved believers?
        • Many teach that the 99 are the already saved believers.
        • However, notice the description the parable gives of them in verse 4.

“…if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,…”

The Lord never leaves believers “in the wilderness”: a place of dryness and desolation. He is always with believers “in green pastures, beside the still waters”. (Psa 23)

• • • Who does the one lost sheep represent?
      • The one lost sheep represents all sinful human beings, and more specifically the foolish, unthinking sinner who wanders away from God. (Of course, that is all of us.)
      • Notice that the man, Jesus Christ, endures physical discomfort to go out in search of the lost sheep.
        • Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Mat 18:11 Luk 19:10)
        • “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Col 1:14)
      • Who do the rejoicing friends and neighbors represent (6,9)?
        • The rejoicing friends and neighbors represent those who are already saved and the faithful angels who rejoice when a person comes to Christ. The rejoicing is over the one human who becomes saved rather than over the faithful angels who do not need salvation. (Luk 15:10)
        • The reason for the rejoicing is because of the price Jesus paid on the cross for redemption, and that He did not pay the price in vain. One sheep has taken advantage of that price.
      • The central truth of the lost sheep:
        • We see in this part of the parable, God’s courage and endurance in the person of Jesus Christ who came to this earth in human form to seek all those people that are lost in sin.
        • He suffered on the cross for us all with the possibility that maybe some people would take advantage of His sacrifice to gain forgiveness and eternal life.
    • Illustration #2: The Lost Coin
      • Who does the woman represent (8)? The woman represents the Holy Spirit.
      • What do the 10 pieces of silver represent?
        • The ten pieces of silver have the value of a quarter today. That is not much value!
        • Then, of what is the value? We must look at something in the culture of that day to determine the value of the lost coin.

Women of that time often wore on their brow a frontlet that was called, semedi. It was made up of coins, in themselves often valueless. However, it had stamped on it the image of authority.

The frontlet of coins signified the symbol of a betrothal or a marriage relationship, a woman’s identity.

It was of priceless value to the woman who wore it.

• • • • What does the one lost coin represent?
        • The lost coin represents all sinners.
        • It specifically represents the sinner who is ignorant of his value to God and was passive in the hands into which he falls.
      • What does the lamp (candle, light) represent (8)?
        • The lamp represents the Word of God that the Holy Spirit uses to convince and convict.
        • Read Psa 119:105
        • Read Joh 16:7-15
      • Notice the action of the woman (the Holy Spirit) who lights the lamp (the Word of God) and sweeps the house (the world) looking in every corner.
      • The central truth of the lost coin:
        • The Holy Spirit of God uses the qualities of patience and observation looking for the souls of people that have a desire to know God.
        • The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God so that a person can understand his need of salvation, his need of the Savior Jesus Christ, and convicts a person of sin. (Joh 1:26 Joh 15:26 Joh 16:8, 13-14)
        • The Holy Spirit causes a person to be born again for He is the Spirit of Life. (Rom 8:10)
        • It is the believers in Christ that make up the bride of Christ giving each believer his identity as a child of God. (Rom 8:16)
    • Illustration #3: The Lost Son
      • Who does the father with two sons represent (11)? The father represents God, the Father.
      • Who does the younger son represent? The younger son represents the sinner who deliberately goes astray and is perishing.
      • What does the younger son’s inheritance represent (12)?
        • Remember that the Jewish Law of inheritance was such that if a man had two sons, the oldest son would receive two portions of the estate while the youngest son would receive one portion.
        • A man could dispose of his property by gift before his death if he chose. The younger son was entitled by law to his share, though he had no right to claim it before his father died. However, in the parable, the father granted the son’s early request.
        • The inheritance is the spiritual treasures of God.
      • What does the far country represent?
        • The rejection of home signifies the fall into worldly sin and the forgetfulness of things spiritual.
        • Remember that the born-again Christian belongs to the family of God. This world is not his home.
      • What does the pig pen represent?
        • The pig pen represents the depths of sin in which men fall.
        • Notice that the son is living in the pig pen eating pig’s food. He comes to himself recognizing that he is not a pig. He is a son.
        • When he realizes that he is a son, he knows he can return home even if it is to live in his father’s house as a servant.
      • Who does the “citizen of that country” represent (15)?
        • “the citizen of that country” represents Satan.
        • Read 2Cor 4:3-4
        • This scripture tells us that Satan is the god of this worldly system in control of all the pig pens in the world that trap people into thinking they are pigs and can’t help but live the way they are living.
      • Notice the father’s reaction in the parable:
        • He allows his son’s early request even though he knows this son will abuse it.
        • The father goes more than half way to greet his returning son, though he did not go out into the world to seek the lost son. (This is why the other two aspects of this parable, the lost sheep and the lost coin give us the complete picture.)
        • There is no recrimination or condemnation of the sons’ past actions. He is readily accepted back into the family.
      • What do each of the following objects represent (22)?
        • The robe:

The robe represents the righteousness of Christ.

The believer in Jesus Christ puts on the righteousness of Christ when he is born again.

The best robe indicated that the son was reinstated in his original position as a child of his father.

He did not return to his home as a second-class citizen.

• • • • • The ring:

The ring represents the symbol of the union of father and son.

Also it is a signet ring which is a symbol of authority. The son bears the authority of his father.

• • • • • The shoes:

The shoes represent the son’s position as a son. He will continue to walk as a son of his father. He does not become a slave or a servant.

Slaves and servants did not wear shoes.

• • • • • The feast:

The feast represents joyful communion with the father.

In other words, it is the Lord’s Supper in Holy Communion.

• • • • Who does the elder son represent (25)?
        • The elder son is often misunderstood in this parable.
        • The elder son represents the religious sinner such as the Scribes and Pharisees who thought they were right in their relationship with God. They thought they deserved more of God’s wealth than they had. (But remember the eldest son already stood to inherit more than the younger son.)
        • Spiritually speaking, the older son was as much of a prodigal as his younger brother.

Verse 28 tells us that the older brother did not go into the feast. He rejected God’s fellowship and companionship.

He was content with his self-satisfaction and his resentment. He rebelled against God’s order of things.

This represents the rebellion of the Jews and their rejection of Jesus Christ by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.

Notice that in the parable the father came out to encourage him to repent of his attitude, but he persisted in his rebellion.

• • • • The central truth of the lost son:
        • God deals in justice and longsuffering mercy with all people equally.
        • God desires that all come to the feast of fellowship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
        • Those people that take advantage of a personal relationship with God through Christ will enjoy eternity as a child of God, enjoying the riches of God’s kingdom forever.
  • What is the central truth of the parable as whole?
    • The three members of the Holy Trinity do their part to go to great lengths to seek out, to search for, to convict, and to forgive all sinners who are lost and separated from God.
    • They use all the qualities of love such as tenderness, endurance, diligence, patience, longsuffering, and forgiveness to persuade the lost to turn to God.
    • We see in this parable the unfathomable love of Almighty God in all of its marvelous aspects for all humans lost in sin.

Homework
Luke 16:1-13

• Application of Luk 15:1-32
  • How well do you respond to the love of God represented in Luke 15:1-32? In what ways do you respond to God’s love?
  • In the part that refers to the lost son, to which of the two sons do you relate yourself? Why?
• Preparation for Luk 16:1-13
  • Read Luk 16:1-13
    • What do you think is the most important lesson in the parable of the unrighteous steward?
• Memory Verse: Luk 16:10