Day 74

Luke 15:1–10 (NIV)

¹ Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Helpful info

To understand a little about the reply that John gives to the toll collectors, one must examine the background of the office. Taxes in the Roman Empire were a complex affair. There were different ranks of collectors, and there were different taxes to collect. The system of collection was known as tax (or toll) farming. City rulers leased the right to collect taxes to an individual or group, who had bid for this right and had paid for it in advance. Thus, the collector would not only have to collect the tax that Rome had stipulated, but he also would have to add a surcharge to meet his expenses, an additional charge over which he had total control. In most of the empire this job of collection went to wealthy Romans who were designated “publicans.” They in turn would hire others to do the actual collection, the “tax collectors” proper. And at times these tax collectors would hire subordinates, becoming “head tax collectors.” The collector would not only have to collect the tax that Rome had stipulated, but he also would have to add a surcharge to meet his expenses, an additional charge over which he had total control.

Judaism reacted with extreme distaste to those who took up this vocation. One of the reasons was that people whose business required them to travel might be taxed at each locale throughout a region, and they regarded these surcharges as robbery. Of all the taxes, the indirect taxes were the least liked. Lucian, a second-century non-Christian writer, in describing people who “only stir up great confusion,” referred to “adulterers, pimps, tax collectors, yes-men, and informers.” Even non-Jews disliked them. Jews excommunicated toll collectors because they were regarded as robbers. Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke Volume 2: 9:51-24:53. Baker exegetical commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Would Jesus agree with the claim in verse 2? Why does he welcome them?

What does it mean for us when we see the rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents?

Notes

Settings change- (see 5:30-32, 7:29-30 for how Pharisees and sinners mixed) The Pharisees thought Jesus was not keeping himself pure by allowing and even "welcoming" sinners and tax collectors. These "sinners" did not by their lifestyle deserve religious consideration. Eating with them was as if you were condoning how they lived! On the other hand Jesus' message of forgiveness attracts "sinners” to him. This forgiveness is clearly offered with great rejoicing when accepted in the parables but also the need to repent (ask forgiveness and change life as in previous sections)

Jesus is not changing his standards he is simply offering forgiveness to anyone who will accept it and live by it!

Pharisees would say you have to clean up your life then think about being accepted. Jesus doesn't put you on probation he accepts where you are as you come for forgiveness and then works with you to change. Remember one of his disciples was a tax collector

The 3 parables of Luke 15 obliviously tell much the same point: lost sheep/coin/son - looking with great care for what is lost - Public Rejoicing over what is found. All are said to prove God's grace is open and the love of God for any who comes back. There is also within the parables a warning of not responding to the offer of grace.

vs 4-6 (see Isaiah 53:6, the people would relate this parable to this prophetic statement) The owner because of the small operation looks after the sheep himself- would count them when put up for the night. He leaves the 99 (assumed under care of son or neighbor) to find the lost one.

Great rejoicing is not done alone but in a very open celebration.

vs 7- the meaning would be clear both to the "sinners" and the self called "saints" (Pharisees) The indictment against the Pharisee continues. It is harsh in the first parable. In the third parable Jesus does more to try to help the Pharisees understand the error of their ways and that forgiveness is also offered to them.

vs 8- one silver coin would equal the daily wage of a average worker. So one lost coin not a horrendous loss but enough to look for it with great interest.

9-10 Again public rejoicing over what is found.

While one lost sheep or one lost coin would not cause major harm, there is great interest on behalf of the owners of each.

What is more amazing is thinking about the number of people who have lived on this earth. Yet we serve a God who rejoices at each one coming to Him! And this rejoicing flows throughout heaven. How treasured we are!

As one of the so called "sinners" think what an awesome statement of God's love this is for them. They have not been abandoned by God (as the Pharisees have abandoned them) but God is in actually pursuit of them, to bring them back. Therefore the charge of the Pharisees in vs 2 is true. Jesus does welcome "sinners" and Jesus is saying two things to the Pharisees. First what is wrong with welcoming sinners. And secondly when are you going to realize you are as big a sinner as there is? (see 5:31-32)

Do I play the role of Pharisee or of sinner in my attitude?