The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son

The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son

 Luke 15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 "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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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!' 7 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. 8 "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? 9 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!' 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 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. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' 20 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. 21 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.' 22 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. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. 25 Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 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.' 28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 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. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 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.' "

 

I love the parables of the lost sheep, and the prodigal son, because they show the love that the Father has for us. The self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees were berating Christ, because he received tax collectors and sinners, as well as ate with them. Therefore, Christ told them several parables, that reflect how much he cares for every single soul. Christ said, Luke 15:4 "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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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!' We all know John 3:16, that the Father so loved the world that he sent Christ so that we might have everlasting life. God left his throne in glory, and became a man, and humbled himself to the death upon the cross, so that we may be saved. Christ’s sacrifice of his own life for us, reflects how much worth each person has to God. Christ is willing to leave the ninety- nine sheep in the wilderness to search for the lost one. The same is true today, Christ will do everything it takes to restore a backslidden Christian through repentance. God’s Holy Spirit will convict a person of their sins, and the Lord will even use tragedy, as well as blessings, to teach us his ways. This brief life on earth is a school of hard knocks. We are exposed to both the kingdoms of God and Satan, therefore, it is up to us to choose good, over evil, in many of life’s difficult situations.

 The parable of the prodigal son relates to most of us. The prodigal demanded his inheritance from his father and wasted it on rebellious living. Then a severe famine came upon the land and he considered eating the pods, that were fed to swine. Then he remembered that his father’s hired servants had plenty of bread, therefore, he decided to return home, to work for his father. There is no lasting peace in rebellious living, for the wages of sin is death. God will supply all of our needs, if we will live in obedience to him. True peace and fulfillment, comes by making Christ our Lord, through keeping his commandments. Believing in Christ, or saying an acceptance prayer, as well as being baptized, will not save your soul, unless you are truly born again. To be born again, is to become a new creation in Christ, by allowing his Holy Spirit to set you apart from the sinful world. We are all called, to bear much fruit for the kingdom of God. When the prodigal son returned home, and was still a great distance from home, his father saw him and ran to him, and kissed him. The repentant son said, “'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 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. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

  This parable reflects how each of us would respond to our wayward children returning home. I love how the father ran to kiss his repentant son, and immediately put a robe and sandals on him, as well as, a ring upon his hand. The ring was a token of family membership; and reflects how our heavenly Father is willing to forgive and restore, his repentant children. There is grace, for sins that are repented of. When a person is truly sorry for their sinful lifestyle, God will blot out all of their sins, and give them a fresh start. Christ’s atonement upon the cross, applies to all sins, that are repented of, as well as sins that are committed in ignorance. Willful, habitual sins, are known as bondages, and they will lead to spiritual death, if there is no repentance. Those who keep the faith, and endure unto the end, shall inherit eternal life.

We should display the love of Christ toward those who are currently living the prodigal lifestyle. I have witnessed, self-righteous Christians, who like the Scribes and Pharisees, looked down upon those who are in a rebellious lifestyle. These modern day Pharisees, also despise those who attempt to befriend and reach out, to those who are lost, or backslidden.  We should all have the same attitude as Christ, and be willing to reach out in love, to restore those who have fallen away. If you will humble yourself before the Lord, he may send you out to recover that lost sheep. I have said many times, that we should look beyond the fault and see the need. God does not look at the outward appearance but on the heart, and we should do the same.

 It does not matter, if a person is poor, rich, or dressed in rags, we should display the love of Christ for all of mankind. We should not judge a person, based upon their race, the length of their hair, or what kind of job, or home, they may have. I greatly admire the late pastor David Wilkerson, who founded the Times Square Church in New York City. Pastor Wilkerson reached out to people of every race, and economic status, and created a truly diverse congregation that reflects his multi-cultural city. It is very beautiful, to see people of different races, and cultures, come together in unity to worship their Lord. If Christians, will get rid of their prejudices and learn to love one another, then they may see a true revival.