1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-24
vs. 20, the father had been looking for his return and runs to meet his son
vs , 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

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

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

18. 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

19. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ