Today's Passage: Luke 15

Jesus often spoke in parables. Sometimes they are hard to understand. In this chapter there are three parables; the parable of the lost son is probably the most familiar. There has been varying differences of opinion as to whether the parable of the lost son was a parable about a saves person straying away for a time, or a lost person receiving grace and salvation. Sermons have been preached on both sides of the aisle. But context of scripture gives us a batter understanding of the meaning. In verse 1 we have "sinners" and "tax collectors" gathering around Jesus. In verse 2 the Pharisees and religious teachers complain that Jesus "welcomes sinners to eat with him."

In response to their comments, Jesus tells these three parables. It is as if Jesus is saying: "Exactly. This is what I came here for. I came for sinners." He tells of a shepherd that has 100 sheep ,loses 1, finds it, and then celebrated with his friends that the sheep is no longer lost. 

Then he tells a story of a woman that loses a coin. Once it is found she celebrated with her neighbors.

Then he tells the parable of the lost son. A son the lives a life of sin and immediate pleasure that gives him lasting pain. The son returns to the Father and the father says in verse 24 "this sin of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

So these three parables are a lesson the who Jesus came to earth for. He came to earth for sinners (which we all are) and it is clear that when we accept God's grace with faith that there is celebrating in heaven. Jesus said in verse 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."