This lamp reminds us of the Bible, which gives light to everything (Psalm 119:105 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17). So, a lamp was needed for light, even in the daytime. The typical house in Israel at that time of Jesus had tiny windows or no windows at all. Jesus speaks of a woman who loses a coin in her house and the great lengths she goes to until she finds it. The second parable Jesus teaches is of the lost coin. Regardless of age, social, political and cultural changes, God still seeks the lost and calls them to repentance. That love brought Jesus into the world to seek and save the lost. God’s love is so great that He seeks each one (Ezekiel 34:16) and rejoices when He finds them.Ī God who forgives sinners who come to Him for mercy is undoubtedly good, but a God who tenderly seeks out sinners and joyfully forgives them shows extraordinary love. Remember, the rabbis taught that God was willing to receive sinners who sought His forgiveness persistently, but here, it is God who seeks the sinner. Here we can see God’s love and joy in seeking sinners. He then carries the sheep on his shoulders to bring it home. The shepherd’s love is so great he leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one that is lost. The lost sheep is too weak and too lost to return on its own strength in the parable. It’s also worth noting that shepherds were treated as dirty by the religious leaders. In this parable, the shepherd is Jesus, who has come to look for the sinner. While the 99 were safe within the flock, the lost sheep was in grave danger.Ī shepherd in Jesus’ time was responsible for each sheep and had an obligation before his master that none should stray, die or be seriously injured (Matthew 18:11-14). The sheep that was lost represents the sinner who has gone astray. In response, Jesus refers to the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. They stayed clear of the marginalized in fear of being contaminated. The scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus for receiving and eating with sinners. In the midst of this, Jesus shares these parables to explain something of God’s grace to sinners. Many of those in the crowd were despised and rejected by society. His miracles and teachings attracted people from all over Galilee and Judea. In Luke 14, there is a great crowd following Jesus. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time taught that God would welcome a repentant sinner, but through these parables, Jesus teaches that He seeks out sinners by the grace to lead them to repentance. The first two teach a general principle when the lost is found, a joyful celebration follows. Although Jesus tells three parables related to lost things (sheep, coin, son/brother), Luke’s Gospel presents them as a singular “story”.
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