Introduction
One must count the cost of following Christ.
V1 – All the tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were usually Jews who collected money for Rome. They were hated for this and always connected to sinners. This category of sinners would have included the sick and the lame or outcasts.
V2 – The pharisees complain. They would never receive these people. They call Jesus “this man” such disdain for Jesus. Jesus didn’t eat with sinners to join in with them or condone their sin but to save them. These sinners came to hear Him. The point is for them to repent and be brought closer to God.
It is joyful to Jesus to save sinners. When God finds His lost sheep He greatly rejoices. But the pharisees didn’t. Grumbling is a terrible sin. Israel grumbles in the wilderness. These pharisees are grumbling.
Luke 5:31 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Seek the lost, find the lost, rejoice that they were found, and that they repented. Jesus is even speaking to the pharisees need to repent.
Mention of the wilderness indicating the difficulties.
V5-6 – the Shepard rejoices and celebrates.
In V4 – Jesus says what man among you not what Shepherd among you. Everyone knows this. And everyone would rejoice.
V7 – Likewise or “in the same way” – it wasn’t about sheep but lost people. Be glad with Christ. Rejoice with Him instead of grumbling against Him. Heaven means God here. Isaiah 53:6 – all mankind are lost like sheep gone astray from the Shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:11 (NKJV) ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
When you come to Christ He will receive you, will forgive you and He will rejoice. Don’t be prideful and not look down on other sinners. God forgives sinners. Lets have the same mindset and eagerness to seek the lost and preach the good news of Jesus Christ.
Luke 15:1-7 (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.