On Line Bible Study - For the Week March 14-20, 2011

Lesson 484

Luke 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.

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins 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.”

Tax collectors were shunned because of the work they did and their unholy alliance with Rome. "Sinners" is a less specific term suggesting a group of people who were separated from God because of the life style they chose to lead. (Darrell Bock's Commentary on Luke.) That these people were eating with Jesus was all the more distasteful because of the implication that their lifestyle was acceptable. One did not sit at table with those whose reputation was soiled.

We can extract at least two lessons from this passage.

First, these two simple stories point to the importance of recognizing the need for a change of status. Heaven is not inhabited by those who think of themselves as perfect; rather those who dwell there are those who know of their need for God and acknowledge it.

Second, Jesus stands as the model for evangelism. In our pursuit of righteousness it is important to remember that we don't become righteous by withdrawing from the world. Thomas Merton writes: One of the worst illusions in the life of contemplation would be to try to find God by barricading yourself inside your own soul, shutting out all external reality by sheer concentration and will-power, cutting yourself off from the world and other people by stuffing yourself inside your own mind and closing the door... (New Seeds of Contemplation.)

It seems God has a heart for those who are neither too proud, to arrogant, or too foolish to admit their need for what only God can provide.

"Evangelism," writes Darrell Bock, "is grounded in the joy of recovery." To "recover" is to repent. As anyone who faithfully attends AA meetings will tell you, "recovery" is not a once-for-all kind of thing. It is a decision we make every moment of every day.