Introduction
What makes God joyful is found here in Luke chapter 15. God shares that joy. We see the heart of God to come to earth to seek and save the lost. All heaven rejoices and celebrates redemption.
The pharisees and scribes did not rejoice. They were angry, not joyful. They sat in the seat of Moses and judged Christ. Because He ate with sinners and tax collectors.
Christ’s heart breaks for them.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!” Luke 13:34 NASB1995
There is not a man on earth who does not sin except for Christ. These pharisees did not think they were sinners, they did not know they were lost. In this condition they are unaware of their need for Christ. Their hearts were hard.
V8 – 10 silver coins – they could have represented a marriage. If you lost one coin would be like losing your wedding ring. The people could relate to this and understand.
V9 – she rejoices. She calls her friends to share in her joy and they do!
V10 – likewise joy over just one sinner who repents. Jesus is emphatic, & authoritative “I say to you” – as a matter of fact. And all of heaven rejoices with Him.
Repent and believe the gospel.
Luke 15:1-10 (NKJV) 1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 “And when he has found [it,] he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “And when he comes home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds [it?] 9 “And when she has found [it,] she calls [her] friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”