Words of Jesus Part 38

Luke 15:1 Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.
2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

So many times Jesus taught a parable to illustrate the need to care for the very ones we try to avoid. The sinner, the scum, the outcast, the prisoner, the sick and the hurting need to be saved from sin, not ignored because of their sin. As much as possible go by twos. That is how Jesus sent them out.

Luke 15:3 And he spake unto them this parable, saying,
4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.

There are actually very few of us that need no repentance but imagine repenting being so important to the salvation of the soul that the angels rejoice when just one repents.

Luke 15:8 Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

We also should rejoice every time we hear of someone who repents and inherits eternal life.

Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.

When we get in desperate situations, we usually remember someone who would actually care for us. Who more than God cares for our eternal souls.

Luke15:15 And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!

When we are desperate, the devil and his crowd do not care, God does and so should His people.

Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:
19 I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

He was willing to become one of the servants in order to go back to the place he left. What he once scorned to have a better life, was now so important to him that he would be willing to work as a servant to stay there.

Riotous living gets old after a while even if we don't hit rock bottom. It does not satisfy the soul. Boredom sets in quickly. Usually one has to hit the bottom though before he or she starts to climb out.

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

This is how God is toward one who repents and turns to Him. He is happier to see us come to Him than we are to receive Him.

Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.

This is an example of true repentance. The son was acknowledging his sin, he humbled himself and thought himself unworthy. He asked for forgiveness willing to serve in the lowest position. He repented to the point of making a change and was not half-hearted.

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

This is an example of how he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Those who forsake all to follow Christ will be exalted in the kingdom to come.

Luke 15:26 And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.

The other son should have been rejoicing along with the father at the return of his brother. It is so easy to have this attitude when we become religious but lose sight to the real meaning of compassion and winning the lost to Jesus Christ.

Luke 15:29 But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
32 But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

It sometimes is hard for those who keep the word of God and stay faithful to put up with those that waltz in and out of church never take God seriously. Yet if we remind ourselves what we are here for, we can have compassion restored to us for those who are unstable. The final goal is to see souls saved and enter into the kingdom of God without spot or wrinkle. If they are still living and breathing, there is still hope. Our eyes should be on eternal purposes and not on our own inconvenience of having to put up with the weaker brethren. We don't want them saved for our benefit but for their benefit.

Words of Jesus Part 39

Words of Jesus Index