Thu, Apr 30, 2009
Hide and Seek
Luke 15:1-7
Independent Research
In Luke 15:1-7, Jesus tells a story in response to the reaction of some Pharisees when they see him associating so intimately with tax collectors and “sinners”. The story is about a shepherd who loses one of his sheep. Although he still has ninety-nine remaining, he leaves all of them behind in order to find the one missing. Once the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he gathers it up, puts it over his shoulders, and carries it back home. After arriving at home, he immediately calls together his friends and family with the intention of celebrating over finding the lost sheep. Jesus closes this parable by saying, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7, NASB).
At the end of the passage, Jesus clearly describes who each of the characters are meant to represent. The shepherd is representative of God. A shepherd is the master over his sheep. When they hear his voice, they immediately recognize it and are aware of the power and authority that it possesses. The shepherd also knows what is best for the sheep. Similarly, God knows what is most beneficial for His children and His children know and respect His voice. I think it is important to notice the significance of what the shepherd does when he finds the sheep. He does not scare the sheep back toward the herd using harsh words and threatening gestures; neither does he merely lead the sheep back to the herd with a rope, or coax the sheep with food. The shepherd picks up the sheep and carries it on his shoulders. This, in my view, is a beautiful parallel to the love of God. He cares for those that have lost their way enough to not only turn them around and point them in the right direction, but to take their weight upon His shoulders.
The lost sheep depicts a sinner who has wandered away on his own and is far away from the plans and the boundaries God has prepared for him. After being sought out by God, he realizes that he cannot survive under his own strength, so he surrenders and allows God to carry him back to the place in which he was created to be.
In my opinion, the other ninety-nine sheep that are not lost represent those who think they are neither in need of a savior nor of repentance. I think Jesus is being facetious in reference to the Pharisees when he refers to the other ninety-nine as “righteous” and in no need of repentance. The Pharisees think that they are above those that have to repent, but in reality they are in just as big of a need as the tax collectors, on whom they are casting their condemning judgment. He seems to be pointing directly at them to get across the fact that they are no better than the tax collectors or than those they call sinners. The passage begins with the Pharisees passing judgment on not only the tax collectors themselves, but also on Jesus for eating and associating with them. However, by the end of the passage, Jesus turns the blame around on the Pharisees.
I think another one of Jesus’ main goals in telling this parable is to set the record straight concerning who God really is. He is more concerned with one individual person who turns from sin than several others who live a so-called “perfect life”. The passage says that there is joy in heaven over just one person who comes to know God on a personal level. It is my belief that those who continually gain ground in the way that they live out their desire to serve God are closer to God’s will than those who are stagnant in their faith and in their beliefs.
In doing deeper research, the main theme that I came away with is that of God seeking and saving what is lost. In his book All the Parables of Jesus, Robert L. Cargill sums it up like this: “God seeks sinners and wants to forgive them.” This parable really does show God’s priorities. He cares for those who are helpless. As I have learned from Professor George Bogaski of Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, OK, the gospel of Luke in particular shows that God is a God of the disenfranchised. Those in need are receptive to His compassion, while the franchised are neither in need nor receptive. Those who are lost are without help and without hope. God provides both help and hope to those in need. “This is our hope—not that we are at work, but that God is at work. He is seeking, and what He seeks he finds.” (James Montgomery Boice, The Parables of Jesus).
Independent Research
In Luke 15:1-7, Jesus tells a story in response to the reaction of some Pharisees when they see him associating so intimately with tax collectors and “sinners”. The story is about a shepherd who loses one of his sheep. Although he still has ninety-nine remaining, he leaves all of them behind in order to find the one missing. Once the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he gathers it up, puts it over his shoulders, and carries it back home. After arriving at home, he immediately calls together his friends and family with the intention of celebrating over finding the lost sheep. Jesus closes this parable by saying, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7, NASB).
At the end of the passage, Jesus clearly describes who each of the characters are meant to represent. The shepherd is representative of God. A shepherd is the master over his sheep. When they hear his voice, they immediately recognize it and are aware of the power and authority that it possesses. The shepherd also knows what is best for the sheep. Similarly, God knows what is most beneficial for His children and His children know and respect His voice. I think it is important to notice the significance of what the shepherd does when he finds the sheep. He does not scare the sheep back toward the herd using harsh words and threatening gestures; neither does he merely lead the sheep back to the herd with a rope, or coax the sheep with food. The shepherd picks up the sheep and carries it on his shoulders. This, in my view, is a beautiful parallel to the love of God. He cares for those that have lost their way enough to not only turn them around and point them in the right direction, but to take their weight upon His shoulders.
The lost sheep depicts a sinner who has wandered away on his own and is far away from the plans and the boundaries God has prepared for him. After being sought out by God, he realizes that he cannot survive under his own strength, so he surrenders and allows God to carry him back to the place in which he was created to be.
In my opinion, the other ninety-nine sheep that are not lost represent those who think they are neither in need of a savior nor of repentance. I think Jesus is being facetious in reference to the Pharisees when he refers to the other ninety-nine as “righteous” and in no need of repentance. The Pharisees think that they are above those that have to repent, but in reality they are in just as big of a need as the tax collectors, on whom they are casting their condemning judgment. He seems to be pointing directly at them to get across the fact that they are no better than the tax collectors or than those they call sinners. The passage begins with the Pharisees passing judgment on not only the tax collectors themselves, but also on Jesus for eating and associating with them. However, by the end of the passage, Jesus turns the blame around on the Pharisees.
I think another one of Jesus’ main goals in telling this parable is to set the record straight concerning who God really is. He is more concerned with one individual person who turns from sin than several others who live a so-called “perfect life”. The passage says that there is joy in heaven over just one person who comes to know God on a personal level. It is my belief that those who continually gain ground in the way that they live out their desire to serve God are closer to God’s will than those who are stagnant in their faith and in their beliefs.
In doing deeper research, the main theme that I came away with is that of God seeking and saving what is lost. In his book All the Parables of Jesus, Robert L. Cargill sums it up like this: “God seeks sinners and wants to forgive them.” This parable really does show God’s priorities. He cares for those who are helpless. As I have learned from Professor George Bogaski of Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, OK, the gospel of Luke in particular shows that God is a God of the disenfranchised. Those in need are receptive to His compassion, while the franchised are neither in need nor receptive. Those who are lost are without help and without hope. God provides both help and hope to those in need. “This is our hope—not that we are at work, but that God is at work. He is seeking, and what He seeks he finds.” (James Montgomery Boice, The Parables of Jesus).
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