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Lost & Found

The Lost Sheep

Too long, please open your Bible Luke 15: 1-7

Same parable as in Matthew?

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 18: 10-14
Matthew
Luke
Audience
Disciples
Pharisees & scribes
Narrative context
Disciples asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of God
Pharisees complaining about Jesus eating with sinners & tax collectors
The sheep’s circumstance
The sheep went astray (planethe)
The sheep was lost (polesas)
Location of the sheep
The sheep are left on the hillside
The sheep are left in the open field
Emphasis
The shepherd’s care
The shepherd’s joy
The success of the search
The shepherd may (not) find the sheep
The shepherd looks until he finds
Parable length
The parable is briefer
Expands on the shepherd’s joy -sheep on shoulder, rejoicing with community
Arrangement of material
Moves on to church discipline
Follows with two more parables of “lost” themes
Final lesson
God does not want little ones (children) to perish
Joy in heaven when a sinner repents

One thing that this shows us is that the Gospels are not to be read like a security camera footage replay of events. Each author arranged their material to make a theological point, and not just a historical one.

Too long, please open your Bible Luke 1: 1-4
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20: 30-31
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written. John 21: 24-25

Another example is the difference in how Matthew and Mark narrate Jesus’ walking on water.

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 14: 22-33
Too long, please open your Bible Mark 6: 45-52
Matthew
Mark
Narrative emphasis
Emphasizes Peter's role and his attempt to walk on water towards Jesus. It highlights Peter's initial faith, his momentary doubt, and Jesus rescuing him.
Focuses more on the disciples' astonishment and lack of understanding. It doesn't specifically highlight Peter's attempt to walk on water.
Theological emphasis
Emphasizes the theme of faith and doubt. It showcases Peter's attempt to step out in faith, yet his doubt causes him to sink, illustrating the importance of unwavering faith in Jesus.
Highlights the disciples' lack of understanding despite witnessing Jesus' miracles. He emphasizes their hardened hearts and lack of insight into who Jesus truly is.

Exaggerated celebration?

Just like in the parable of the lost coin, the celebration seems exaggerated in the calling of the community to celebrate what was lost. The goal of this is to emphasize the theme of rejoicing.

What does this parable say about God & His Kingdom?

Presenting God as a shepherd isn’t an imagery that was foreign to Jesus’ audience.

Too long, please open your Bible Ezekiel 34

Just like in Ezekiel 34, Jesus was putting out a complaint against Israel’s leaders. Also, Jesus must have seen Himself as fulfilling the role of the Davidic shepherd in v. 23.

Conclusion

The parable functions as a “how much more” parable - if a shepherd will go after and rejoice over a sheep that was once lost, how much more would God do for a person?

While the statement on repentance is important, the parable emphasizes God’s action and attitude. By eating with sinners and tax collectors, Jesus was showing that the kingdom is truly here, and salvation is available to all.

The Lost Coin

“Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15: 8-10

While this parable is similar to the parable of the lost sheep, it has a slightly different emphasis. It emphasizes the diligence and persistent effort to find what was lost. The woman’s search is an analogy of God’s initiative and diligence to seek and recover the lost.

This of course does not rule out the joy which she experiences after she finds the coin.

Conclusion

The parable functions as another “how much more” parable - a woman who has only 10 coins will search very diligently if she loses one; how much more will God do for a lost person and rejoice over that person?

The Compassionate Father & His Lost Sons

Too long, please open your Bible Luke 15: 11-32