Title: The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Series: Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven (Pt. 9)
Host: Jason Gohl
Summary: This episode explores the Parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15, revealing God's relentless love for the lost and challenging our own attitudes towards those who have strayed. Jason Gohl unpacks the parable's meaning, drawing connections to Scripture and highlighting the joy of seeking and saving the lost.
Key Points:
- The parable illustrates God's active pursuit of the lost, like a shepherd seeking a wandering sheep.
- We are called to share this seeking love and reach out to those who have strayed.
- Great joy is found in heaven when a lost soul repents and finds its way back to God.
- Balancing separation from the world by reaching out to sinners is crucial.
- Our actions and attitudes should demonstrate the same love for the lost shown by God.
Call to Action:
- Reflect on your approach to those who have gone astray.
- Seek opportunities to share the Gospel and love of God with the lost.
- Join the Walking in His Word community and discuss the parable further.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Greetings, friends.
(00:01):
Welcome to Walking In His Word,
the podcast, where we embark on short
faith filled journeys
through the Scriptures in episodes
that are both concise and impactful.
Each week
we take an 8 to 10 minute
purposeful stroll
through the pages of God's Word,
offering insights,
wisdom and inspiration
to enhance our day.
So join us as we explore each topic,
(00:21):
uncovering the treasures
hidden within the Scriptures
and learning how
they can be applied to our lives.
So let's take this brief
but powerful journey of walking
in his word together.
Today, we're going to continue our series
on the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven
by looking at the parables of Jesus.
The parable for today
is the first of three
that demonstrate
the Father's love for the lost.
(00:42):
As with other parables, these these three
are Jesus's direct response
to a specific situation.
So let's read
Luke 15 one through to the tax collectors
and sinners were all drawing near
to him, and the Pharisees and scribes
grumbled, saying,
This man receives
sinners and eats with them.
The tax collectors or publicans,
as they are called in the King
(01:03):
James version, were considered extortion
and traitors
by the scribes and Pharisees.
They were considered extortion
because they collected
more than what was required
for personal gain,
and they were considered traitors
because they were Jews.
Collecting taxes
for the occupying Roman government.
The sinners could be anyone
of bad reputation
or various types of sin.
(01:23):
Perhaps they were even excommunicated
from the synagogues.
So the initiators of this parable
were the quote unquote,
religious leaders, the Pharisees,
who had a real problem
with Jesus
associating with these types of people
throughout his ministry.
Jesus was often seen
in the company of sinners
preaching to them,
even performing miracles with them.
He even selected a tax collector
(01:43):
to be one of his disciples, a man
by the name of Matthew or Levi,
depending on how you read it.
And he did not hesitate
to spend time with other sinners
throughout his time on Earth.
Luke. Chapter five. Luke, Chapter seven.
Many of the different Gospels.
In fact, Jesus's primary audience,
and certainly
his most receptive
audience, was to those quote
unquote, sinners
(02:04):
who the religious leaders
would not even associate with
in their anger against Jesus.
The Pharisees
raised an accusation against him
for what
was, in their eyes, a deplorable act,
associating with sinners.
So Jesus responds
with a series of three parables
that demonstrate the Father's
love for the loss and exemplify
what our actions and attitudes should be.
(02:24):
These parables
are the parable of the lost
sheep, the parable of the lost coin,
and the parable of the prodigal son.
All three directly challenge
the first vehicle
teaching to avoid associating
with the lost and teaching
that we should show love
and compassion for them
and at times even actively seek them out.
So the first parable is
the parable of the lost sheep.
We find it in Luke chapter
(02:45):
15, verses three through seven.
It says, What man of you
having a hundred sheep.
If he has lost
one of them, does not leave
the 99 in the open country
and go after the one that is lost
until he finds it.
And when he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and his neighbor
saying to them, Rejoice with me, for
I have found my sheep that was lost.
(03:05):
Just so I tell you,
there will be more joy in heaven
over one senator who repents.
Then over 99 righteous persons
who need no repentance
to illustrate their own
hypocrisy and inconsistency.
Jesus challenged the Pharisees
to consider
whether they would do any differently.
He asked, What man have you,
and stated that any of them,
if they had 100
(03:26):
sheep, would leave the 99,
then go and search one out that was lost.
And then when they found it,
they would bring it home rejoicing.
So what is that heavenly principle
that we can glean from this parable?
To understand
what Jesus was teaching,
we must realize that we are often
likened to sheep in Scripture.
Isaiah 53 over six says All we like
sheep have gone astray.
(03:47):
We have turned everyone to his own way
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Sheep
do not have a great deal of instincts
for their surroundings,
and because of their ignorance
in this area, they can easily go astray.
They have a desire to go their own way
and can easily wander off
and end up in dangerous situations.
This parable represents a sheep
that is lost to a type of ignorance.
Jesus was saying that
(04:08):
it is our responsibility
to actively seek out these sheep,
even as the Good Shepherd
actively sought out
this law sheep and teach them well,
if they go astray, we must seek the sheep
that are lost.
God's love is a seeking love.
He is not simply waiting for
those who are lost to find him,
but he has and continues
to reach out for those who are lost.
Ezekiel 3411,
(04:29):
says that he will actively search
for his sheep.
It says for thus, says the Lord.
Behold,
I even
I will both search my sheep
and seek them out.
John 316 demonstrates
the father's love for us, stating
that God so loved the world
that he gave
his only son that whoever believes in him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
Luke, 1910, also says, For
the son of man comes to seek
(04:50):
and to save the lost
God actively searches
for those who are lost.
And as his disciples,
we should be actively involved in seeking
and saving the loss,
which is the Great Commission
to go into all the world
and to preach the Gospel.
When a lost sheep is found,
there is much rejoicing.
The shepherd in this parable
throws a party and celebrates
finding his lost sheep.
(05:10):
And we are told likewise
there is tremendous joy in heaven.
Some may ask, Well,
what about the other 99?
Well, they are safe
and God is certainly pleased
that 99 are righteous.
But when a sinner repents
and is saved from hell,
there is tremendous joy, and rightly so,
in light of what might happen
if that lost sheep is never found.
The implication
here in this parable
(05:30):
is that we also
should have the same attitude of love
and joy
when it comes
to the salvation of sinners.
Now some people might ask,
what about verses like second
Corinthians 14, verses
16 through 18,
which says that we should not
be unequally yoked with sinners
and should live our lives
as separate people
from the sinners of this world.
Or you might ask about John 1716,
(05:52):
which says that the followers of Christ
are not of the world,
but rather sanctified or separate.
Well, as with most things in life,
there has to be a balance.
Separation from the world
does not mean complete
isolation from the world.
While
we should not practice the same habits
and sin the world of the world
and so forth,
we can certainly eat with and congregate
when appropriate, just as Jesus did.
(06:12):
His intention
was to minister to the lost,
and that should
certainly be our intention
as well, after all.
If no one intentionally
reaches out to the loss,
or if we keep ourselves
completely separate,
who is going to teach them?
Who is going to evangelize?
Who is going to bring them, help
guide them into the kingdom of heaven?
If Jesus would have adopted the fair
to say
attitude
towards the tax collectors and sinners,
(06:33):
how would they have ever
heard the gospel?
How would the lame have walked?
Or the lepers been healed
or the hungry fed?
If Jesus would have completely ignored
the sinners,
He would have ignored
those who needed Him. The most.
Likewise, we as His disciples
must have the same attitude.
If we do not preach to them,
or more importantly, demonstrate
Christ to them through godly living.
How else will they ever
come to know Christ?
(06:53):
The love for the lost
may sometimes mean that
we have to go into the wilderness
to find the one which is lost.
We may also have to deal
with those who murmur
because of our associating with sinners.
But if associating with sinners
is truly an effort
to seek and save the lost,
we are demonstrating
exactly the kind of love for the loss
displayed by our Father in Heaven,
and we can look forward
to the same joy
(07:13):
experienced in heaven
when one sinner repents.
So may God bless you and keep you
and provide you with many opportunities
to reach out to the lost. This week.
Thank you so much for joining us
on this enlightening journey
through the parables
of Jesus and the Walking
in His Word podcast.
We hope you find inspiration,
wisdom, and a deeper connection
to the teachings of our Savior.
(07:35):
If these stories have touched your heart
and stirred your soul, please
be sure to subscribe to our podcast.
That way
you won't miss a single parable
as we continue on our journey,
we're here to spread
the teachings of Jesus,
and you can help
share this podcast
with your loved ones, your friends,
and even your neighbors.
Let's build a community
that walks together in his word.
Your thoughts and questions
are a valuable part of our discussion,
(07:55):
so please reach out to us
through our website
or connect on social media
where Walking in His Word
podcast on Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter
as we navigate the parables,
remember, these timeless stories
offer guidance and grace,
even in the midst of life's challenges.
Keep walking in his words,
and may his light shine upon your path
until our next parables.
Let your journey be blessed.
Greetings, friends.
(00:01):
Welcome to Walking In His Word,
the podcast, where we embark on short
faith filled journeys
through the Scriptures in episodes
that are both concise and impactful.
Each week
we take an 8 to 10 minute
purposeful stroll
through the pages of God's Word,
offering insights,
wisdom and inspiration
to enhance our day.
So join us as we explore each topic,
(00:21):
uncovering the treasures
hidden within the Scriptures
and learning how
they can be applied to our lives.
So let's take this brief
but powerful journey of walking
in his word together.
Today, we're going to continue our series
on the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven
by looking at the parables of Jesus.
The parable for today
is the first of three
that demonstrate
the Father's love for the lost.
(00:42):
As with other parables, these these three
are Jesus's direct response
to a specific situation.
So let's read
Luke 15 one through to the tax collectors
and sinners were all drawing near
to him, and the Pharisees and scribes
grumbled, saying,
This man receives
sinners and eats with them.
The tax collectors or publicans,
as they are called in the King
(01:03):
James version, were considered extortion
and traitors
by the scribes and Pharisees.
They were considered extortion
because they collected
more than what was required
for personal gain,
and they were considered traitors
because they were Jews.
Collecting taxes
for the occupying Roman government.
The sinners could be anyone
of bad reputation
or various types of sin.
(01:23):
Perhaps they were even excommunicated
from the synagogues.
So the initiators of this parable
were the quote unquote,
religious leaders, the Pharisees,
who had a real problem
with Jesus
associating with these types of people
throughout his ministry.
Jesus was often seen
in the company of sinners
preaching to them,
even performing miracles with them.
He even selected a tax collector
(01:43):
to be one of his disciples, a man
by the name of Matthew or Levi,
depending on how you read it.
And he did not hesitate
to spend time with other sinners
throughout his time on Earth.
Luke. Chapter five. Luke, Chapter seven.
Many of the different Gospels.
In fact, Jesus's primary audience,
and certainly
his most receptive
audience, was to those quote
unquote, sinners
(02:04):
who the religious leaders
would not even associate with
in their anger against Jesus.
The Pharisees
raised an accusation against him
for what
was, in their eyes, a deplorable act,
associating with sinners.
So Jesus responds
with a series of three parables
that demonstrate the Father's
love for the loss and exemplify
what our actions and attitudes should be.
(02:24):
These parables
are the parable of the lost
sheep, the parable of the lost coin,
and the parable of the prodigal son.
All three directly challenge
the first vehicle
teaching to avoid associating
with the lost and teaching
that we should show love
and compassion for them
and at times even actively seek them out.
So the first parable is
the parable of the lost sheep.
We find it in Luke chapter
(02:45):
15, verses three through seven.
It says, What man of you
having a hundred sheep.
If he has lost
one of them, does not leave
the 99 in the open country
and go after the one that is lost
until he finds it.
And when he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and his neighbor
saying to them, Rejoice with me, for
I have found my sheep that was lost.
(03:05):
Just so I tell you,
there will be more joy in heaven
over one senator who repents.
Then over 99 righteous persons
who need no repentance
to illustrate their own
hypocrisy and inconsistency.
Jesus challenged the Pharisees
to consider
whether they would do any differently.
He asked, What man have you,
and stated that any of them,
if they had 100
(03:26):
sheep, would leave the 99,
then go and search one out that was lost.
And then when they found it,
they would bring it home rejoicing.
So what is that heavenly principle
that we can glean from this parable?
To understand
what Jesus was teaching,
we must realize that we are often
likened to sheep in Scripture.
Isaiah 53 over six says All we like
sheep have gone astray.
(03:47):
We have turned everyone to his own way
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Sheep
do not have a great deal of instincts
for their surroundings,
and because of their ignorance
in this area, they can easily go astray.
They have a desire to go their own way
and can easily wander off
and end up in dangerous situations.
This parable represents a sheep
that is lost to a type of ignorance.
Jesus was saying that
(04:08):
it is our responsibility
to actively seek out these sheep,
even as the Good Shepherd
actively sought out
this law sheep and teach them well,
if they go astray, we must seek the sheep
that are lost.
God's love is a seeking love.
He is not simply waiting for
those who are lost to find him,
but he has and continues
to reach out for those who are lost.
Ezekiel 3411,
(04:29):
says that he will actively search
for his sheep.
It says for thus, says the Lord.
Behold,
I even
I will both search my sheep
and seek them out.
John 316 demonstrates
the father's love for us, stating
that God so loved the world
that he gave
his only son that whoever believes in him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
Luke, 1910, also says, For
the son of man comes to seek
(04:50):
and to save the lost
God actively searches
for those who are lost.
And as his disciples,
we should be actively involved in seeking
and saving the loss,
which is the Great Commission
to go into all the world
and to preach the Gospel.
When a lost sheep is found,
there is much rejoicing.
The shepherd in this parable
throws a party and celebrates
finding his lost sheep.
(05:10):
And we are told likewise
there is tremendous joy in heaven.
Some may ask, Well,
what about the other 99?
Well, they are safe
and God is certainly pleased
that 99 are righteous.
But when a sinner repents
and is saved from hell,
there is tremendous joy, and rightly so,
in light of what might happen
if that lost sheep is never found.
The implication
here in this parable
(05:30):
is that we also
should have the same attitude of love
and joy
when it comes
to the salvation of sinners.
Now some people might ask,
what about verses like second
Corinthians 14, verses
16 through 18,
which says that we should not
be unequally yoked with sinners
and should live our lives
as separate people
from the sinners of this world.
Or you might ask about John 1716,
(05:52):
which says that the followers of Christ
are not of the world,
but rather sanctified or separate.
Well, as with most things in life,
there has to be a balance.
Separation from the world
does not mean complete
isolation from the world.
While
we should not practice the same habits
and sin the world of the world
and so forth,
we can certainly eat with and congregate
when appropriate, just as Jesus did.
(06:12):
His intention
was to minister to the lost,
and that should
certainly be our intention
as well, after all.
If no one intentionally
reaches out to the loss,
or if we keep ourselves
completely separate,
who is going to teach them?
Who is going to evangelize?
Who is going to bring them, help
guide them into the kingdom of heaven?
If Jesus would have adopted the fair
to say
attitude
towards the tax collectors and sinners,
(06:33):
how would they have ever
heard the gospel?
How would the lame have walked?
Or the lepers been healed
or the hungry fed?
If Jesus would have completely ignored
the sinners,
He would have ignored
those who needed Him. The most.
Likewise, we as His disciples
must have the same attitude.
If we do not preach to them,
or more importantly, demonstrate
Christ to them through godly living.
How else will they ever
come to know Christ?
(06:53):
The love for the lost
may sometimes mean that
we have to go into the wilderness
to find the one which is lost.
We may also have to deal
with those who murmur
because of our associating with sinners.
But if associating with sinners
is truly an effort
to seek and save the lost,
we are demonstrating
exactly the kind of love for the loss
displayed by our Father in Heaven,
and we can look forward
to the same joy
(07:13):
experienced in heaven
when one sinner repents.
So may God bless you and keep you
and provide you with many opportunities
to reach out to the lost. This week.
Thank you so much for joining us
on this enlightening journey
through the parables
of Jesus and the Walking
in His Word podcast.
We hope you find inspiration,
wisdom, and a deeper connection
to the teachings of our Savior.
(07:35):
If these stories have touched your heart
and stirred your soul, please
be sure to subscribe to our podcast.
That way
you won't miss a single parable
as we continue on our journey,
we're here to spread
the teachings of Jesus,
and you can help
share this podcast
with your loved ones, your friends,
and even your neighbors.
Let's build a community
that walks together in his word.
Your thoughts and questions
are a valuable part of our discussion,
(07:55):
so please reach out to us
through our website
or connect on social media
where Walking in His Word
podcast on Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter
as we navigate the parables,
remember, these timeless stories
offer guidance and grace,
even in the midst of life's challenges.
Keep walking in his words,
and may his light shine upon your path
until our next parables.
Let your journey be blessed.
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