Luke 15:1-32
In Luke 15, the Pharisees criticize Jesus after “all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him” (Luke 15:1).
In response, Jesus tells one big parable comprised of three stories: the lost sheep, the lost silver, and the lost son.
Through these stories, two primary themes emerge: the sinful nature of Man and the saving nature of God. We also see an abbreviated explanation of God’s character and wise instruction for fathers everywhere.
First, we notice the sinful nature of Man:
The three "lost" items in Luke 15 illustrate different aspects of humanity apart from God.
Weakness (The Lost Sheep, v. 4-7): Like sheep, humans are prone to stray; they are completely dependent on a shepherd for survival, and defenseless against spiritual predators.
Worthlessness (The Lost Coin, v. 8-10): A person without God is compared to a lost coin, which is unprofitable and out of circulation. The coin was lost in darkness, dirtiness, and disgrace, just as sin renders a life unusable to its Master.
Wretchedness (The Lost Son, v. 11-32): The story of the prodigal son illustrates the depression, degradation, and dissatisfaction of a life spent in reckless living away from the Father.
But in each of these stories, we see the saving nature of God, specifically, the Trinity’s roles in seeking and receiving the lost:
The Rescuing Son: Pictured as the shepherd, Jesus Christ left Heaven to seek and to save that which is lost.
The Revealing Holy Spirit: Pictured as the woman seeking the coin, the Holy Spirit performs a ministry of enlightenment (lighting the lamp) and disturbance (sweeping the floor) to stir the hearts of sinners.
The Receiving Father: Pictured as the father of the prodigal son, God is shown as eagerly waiting—even running—to welcome home anyone who repents.
We are all weak like lost sheep, worthless like lost coins, and wretched like lost sons. But praise God, He is the one who rescues, reveals, and receives sinners, and He eats with them.
Adrian Rogers said, "I am so grateful that He receives sinners... because if He didn't, He wouldn't have anything to do with me."
Life Application
God’s heart is one of compassion and joy over restoration. His arms are wide open, ready to receive any sinner who recognizes his lost state. The only time God is in a hurry is when He is running toward a child coming home.
