- And all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to Him, to hear Him.
- And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This one receives sinners and eats with them.
- And He spoke to them this parable, saying,
- What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety nine in the deserted place and go after the lost one until he finds it?
- And finding it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
- And coming to the house, he calls together the friends and neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that had been lost.
- I say to you that so is joy in Heaven over one sinner repenting, than over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.
- Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it?
- And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost.
- I say to you, So there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting.
- And He said, A certain man had two sons.
- And the younger of them said to the father, Father give me that part of the property falling to me. And he divided the living to them.
- And not many days after, gathering up all things, the younger son went away to a distant country. And there he wasted his property, living dissolutely.
- But having spent all his things, a severe famine came throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
- And going, he was joined to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
- And he longed to fill his stomach from the husks which the pigs ate, but no one gave to him.
- But coming to himself he said, How many servants of my father have plenty of loaves, and I am perishing with famine.
- Rising up, I will go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I sinned against Heaven and before you,
- and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.
- And rising up, he came to his father. But he yet being far away, his father saw him and was moved with pity. And running, he fell on his neck and fervently kissed him.
- And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you, and no longer am I worthy to be called your son.
- But the father said to his slaves, Bring out the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet.
- And bring the fattened calf, slaughter and let us eat and be merry;
- for this son of mine was dead, and lived again, and was lost, and was found. And they began to be merry.
- But the older son was in a field. And having come, as he drew near to the house, he heard music and dances.
- And having called one of the children, he inquired what this may be.
- And he said to him, Your brother came, and your father killed the fattened calf, because he received him back in health.
- But he was angry and did not desire to go in. Then coming out, his father begged him.
- But answering, he said to the father, Behold, so many years I serve you, and I have never transgressed a command of you. And you never gave a goatto me, so that I might be merry with my friends.
- But when this son of yours came, the one devouring your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.
- But he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours.
- But to be merry and to rejoice was right, for this brother of yours was dead, and lived again; and being lost, also he was found.
Luke 15:1-32
I suggested in Gem 1026 that you take the time to read this chapter in its entirety a number of times (seven to be exact). But I know you haven’t done that. How would I know that? Modern day surveillance systems. No, just like Jesus who knew human nature and didn’t need anyone to tell Him what man was really like, I am a disciple of Jesus. I know most of you haven’t done that. I also know there are some who have. I could almost list your names I think. Or maybe you haven’t done it yet, but you will when you get up to this Gem as you work them through one by one.
Notice with this Gem I have done something different. Normally I would dissect this chapter for you into its units. But this time I have given you the whole chapter unbroken.
If we were to divide it into units it would be as follows.
Unit One:
- Luk 15:1 And all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to Him, to hear Him.
- Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This one receives sinners and eats with them.
- Luk 15:3 And He spoke to them this parable, saying,
Unit Two:
- Luk 15:4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
- Luk 15:5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
- Luk 15:6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
- Luk 15:7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
Unit Three:
- Luk 15:8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it?
- Luk 15:9 And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost.
- Luk 15:10 I say to you, So there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Unit Four:
- Luk 15:11 And He said, A certain man had two sons.
- Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to the father, Father give me that part of the property falling to me. And he divided the living to them.
- Luk 15:13 And not many days after, gathering up all things, the younger son went away to a distant country. And there he wasted his property, living dissolutely.
- Luk 15:14 But having spent all his things, a severe famine came throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
- Luk 15:15 And going, he was joined to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
- Luk 15:16 And he longed to fill his stomach from the husks which the pigs ate, but no one gave to him.
- Luk 15:17 But coming to himself he said, How many servants of my father have plenty of loaves, and I am perishing with famine.
- Luk 15:18 Rising up, I will go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I sinned against Heaven and before you,
- Luk 15:19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.
- Luk 15:20 And rising up, he came to his father. But he yet being far away, his father saw him and was moved with pity. And running, hefell on his neck and fervently kissed him.
- Luk 15:21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you, and no longer am I worthy to be called your son.
- Luk 15:22 But the father said to his slaves, Bring out the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand and sandals for hisfeet.
- Luk 15:23 And bring the fattened calf, slaughter and let us eat and be merry;
- Luk 15:24 for this son of mine was dead, and lived again, and was lost, and was found. And they began to be merry.
- Luk 15:25 But the older son was in a field. And having come, as he drew near to the house, he heard music and dances.
- Luk 15:26 And having called one of the children, he inquired what this may be.
- Luk 15:27 And he said to him, Your brother came, and your father killed the fattened calf, because he received him back in health.
- Luk 15:28 But he was angry and did not desire to go in. Then coming out, his father begged him.
- Luk 15:29 But answering, he said to the father, Behold, so many years I serve you, and I have never transgressed a command of you. And you never gave a goat to me, so that I might be merry with my friends.
- Luk 15:30 But when this son of yours came, the one devouring your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.
- Luk 15:31 But he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours.
- Luk 15:32 But to be merry and to rejoice was right, for this brother of yours was dead, and lived again; and being lost, also he was found.
This is a remarkable passage of Scripture well worthy of our careful attention. I will leave you to read this whole chapter yet again and suggest you try to look at the big picture first. Notice how it is structured. Notice the details and notice the theme words, the repetitions, the patterns and times where expected patterns are missing. Those hints will help you get an initial feel for the passage. The other thing you need to do is find the Sense Unit. What is it that binds this chapter together in unity and makes me offer you the whole chapter rather than simply offering you the above units one by one as I usually do? This is the passage I told you was coming. One of my favourite passages of Scripture. I know it is a favourite of many of you too. There are treasures buried in it. We have to be willing to dig to find them.
We will start with Unit One and some preliminary observations in the next Gem.
Until you decide your spiritual growth is worth more than 15 minutes a day in the Word of God, you will remain a mediocre Christian.
Tim La Haye
No Bible, No Breakfast, No Exceptions.
Tim La Haye
Excellence is found in the little things you do. Have eyes for the little details.
Jeffrey Rachmat
The Bible is the only book whose author is always present when you read it. If you get stuck ask Him.
Ian Vail