Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Rejoicing Over the Repentant Luke 15:1-32 Jesus is in Galilee teaching in the villages as He heads south to Jerusalem Jesus’ teaching was often direct and offensive to those He was correcting

The Setting Luke 15:1-3 For various reasons, tax gatherers and sinners were coming to hear Jesus teach The Pharisees and scribes were grumbling that Jesus was friendly toward those they despise

The Setting Luke 15:1-3 Jewish culture was strongly set against associating with those considered unclean (Acts 10:28) Jesus tells parables where are real to life stories with a central lesson. They are not allegory

The Setting Luke 15:1-3 Jesus is specifically telling this parables to Pharisees and scribes who resent His friendliness with sinners

The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7 They would have understood the story, but not related to it since they considered shepherds of low position Sheep are quite helpless and need a shepherd to survive

The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7 Leaving the care of the sheep to others, the shepherd searches for the lost one and rejoices upon finding it There is more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over the righteous that do not need to repent

The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7 The Pharisees thought God rejoiced over the destruction of sinners - contrary to Ezekiel 18:21-23, 32; 33:11 There are no righteous, so all need to repent (Isaiah 53:6; 64:6). There is no rejoicing over the self-righteous.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-7 Repentance is the message Jesus preached (Matthew 4:17) and is part of the gospel message (Luke 24:47) Repentance is a change of mind resulting in a change of direction: from sin to righteousness Repentance is used as a synonym for salvation

The Parable of the Lost Coin Luke 15:8-10 They would have understood the story, but not related to it since they considered shepherds of low position A coin cannot find its owner, so the owner must look for it - and she makes diligent search until she finds it

The Parable of the Lost Coin Luke 15:8-10 There is joy before the angels of God when even just one sinner repents Just as there is joy in finding what has been lost, so there is joy in heaven over a sinner that repents

The Parable of Two Sons Luke 15:11-31 This parable is about a man and his two sons and is given in two sections

The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-24 Vs. 12, an unusual, but possible situation of a son demanding his inheritance early and the father granting it vs. 13, the son liquidates his wealth, travels to a foreign land and squanders it all with prodigal living

The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-24 vs. 14-16, impoverished, he is so desperate he feeds swine with their food looking appetizing to him vs. 17-19, he finally recognizes his foolishness, humbles himself and determines to go home to be a servant

The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-24 vs. 20, the father had been looking for his return and runs to meet his son vs. 21-24, the son begins his confession, but the father acts before he is done and there is a celebration When what is lost is found, what is dead is returned to life, - a sinner repents - there is reason to celebrate

The Self-Righteous Son Luke 15:25-32 vs. 25-27, the older son had been in the field and so did not know what had happened vs. 28-30, the older brother is angry making false claims and accusations against his father

The Self-Righteous Son Luke 15:25-32 vs. 31-32, the father graciously reassures his son and points out the necessity of the celebration Jesus does not give a conclusion to this story

Conclusions Jesus tells these parables specifically to the Pharisees to contrast their attitude with that of heaven How you want the story to end will reflect your own heart

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ