REJOICING OVER ONE REPENTANT SINNER

Luke 15:1-10 / Keywords 15:10

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Footnotes

a. Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages

1. Jesus’ high-level discipleship did not chase people away. On the contrary, tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. They knew he received them as they were and was working to heal them (5:31-32). Even though Jesus had explained it to them, the Pharisees still could not understand why Jesus welcomes tax collectors and eats with them. Jesus tried another angle: three parables to help them understand God’s perspective towards sinners.

 

2. Losing one sheep out of a hundred seems like a small loss. But to a shepherd each one is precious. The shepherd does anything to find the lost sheep. The joy of finding it elicits a celebration worthy of sharing with all. God’s joy for each of his righteous ones is immeasurable. Yet, his joy over one sinner who repents is ninetynine times greater!

 

3. The woman’s loss of one coin out of ten is tragic. Yet she does not despair. She overturns everything, cleaning from top to bottom until that one lost coin is found. The joy of finding it outweighs all the labor of searching and is so great that it must be shared. Likewise, God’s rejoicing overflows from heaven when we repent.

 

Prayer Father, I’m amazed at your joy at one repentant sinner. Help me to be quick to repent, and quick to share your joy when others do.

One Word Rejoice with God when the lost are found