LUKE 15:1-71Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:1‑7).
“Then drew near unto Him all the publicans [tax-gatherers] and sinners for to hear Him, and the Pharisees and scribes murmured [were murmuring], saying, ' This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.' And He spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, and if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home [into the house] he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.”
IN this chapter we have the Trinity of Grace—the Grace of the SON (verses 1-7); the Grace of the SPIRIT in the Church (verses 8-10), and the Grace of the FATHER (verses 11-32). But it is the Grace of the One True God in its 'threefold character of manifestation. First, the Grace of the Son, for it was His Grace in receiving sinners, and having fellowship with them, that was found fault with.
In this parable there are five particulars: 1st, the possession; 2nd, the losing; 3rd, the seeking; 4th, the finding; fifth, the homecoming and rejoicing; for it is the joy of Grace which is the keynote of the chapter.
Each of these three parables may be looked at in a threefold point of view: 1st, as considered by the Evangelist; 2nd, by the Pastor; 3rd, by the Teacher.
First, the EVANGELIST'S view. The hundred sheep may be regarded as the elect of God, given by the Father to the Son before the foundation of the world. And the lost sheep as a sinner yet unsaved, and still in the world. Then, as to the seeking, the Son of God came into the world to save sinners. He came forth from the Father, and came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. The lost sinner finding a Savior is one view of the case; it is in reality the seeking Shepherd finding the lost sheep; and when once found, He will never leave him nor forsake him. And just as the good Samaritan came where the wounded man was, and first brought him to the inn, and took care of him, so the Good Shepherd brings the saved sinner into the fellowship of the saints on earth, that they may share with Him His joy in the salvation of the lost-a joy in which heaven has fellowship, and which joy will ultimately be universal and everlasting. In this solicitude of the Good Shepherd over the lost sinner—in His patient, persevering efforts for his salvation, and joy in the finding—the evangelist has full fellowship.
Secondly, the PASTOR'S apprehension of the parable. The lost sheep may be regarded as one belonging to the flock, but having "gone astray," according to the corresponding parable (Matt. 18:12-1412How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12‑14)), is in this sense lost, and needs to be reclaimed to the fellowship of the saints; and the pastor is in full sympathy with the Chief Shepherd for the recovery of such. And when restored to full communion there is joy on earth and joy in heaven, for the sheep that was going astray has now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls.
Thirdly, the TEACHER'S application. The sinner may be saved, and the saved sinner may be in the full enjoyment of Church privileges, and yet the soul may come far short of the full realization of his standing, privileges, and blessings. Like Job before the happy result of his discipline (Job 3:2626I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. (Job 3:26)), or like the cleansed leper (Lev. 14:88And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. (Leviticus 14:8)), who, though he be clean and allowed to come into the camp, yet is required to "tarry abroad out of his tent seven days," he is not yet in possession of perfect rest. Further instruction may be needed before the believer is able to say with Paul, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). It has been aptly said that at the first there were six footprints on the sand, on the mud, or the snow—four of the sheep going astray, and two of the shepherd going after him; but when the sheep has been found, there will be but two footprints on the return journey, for the shepherd having put the sheep on both his shoulders the four feet will be firmly clasped in the hands of the shepherd. The Lord Jesus having full control of all the ways of him who truly abides in Christ, his life on earth will be the living out of that life which, as one Spirit with the Lord in glory, he draws down from above in fellowship with Him; and this will lead to the fullest and highest joy in time and for eternity.
1st. The lost sinner brought into the fellowship of God's saints rejoices in the sense of his privileges and security.
2nd. The restored backslider is brought into a fuller realization of his indebtedness to Divine Grace and of his safety, so that none can pluck him from the hand of the Great and Good Shepherd, while the Father who gave Him to the Son is greater than all, and none can pluck him from the Father's hand.
3rd. The believer, led into a higher and fuller acquaintance with Grace Divine, realizes his position as borne upon the shoulders of the Almighty Shepherd and Great High Priest, who has entire control over his walk and ways, and by whom he is being safely carried onward to his heavenly and everlasting home.