521. LUK 15:3, LUK 15:7. PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP

Luk_15:3, Luk_15:7. Parable of the Lost Sheep

"And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?" &c.’97Luk_15:3, Luk_15:7.

The scribes and Pharisees were exceedingly indignant with Christ, because he ate and drank with publicans and sinners. As the professed Messiah, they expected to have engaged all his attention, and they desired that he would treat the profane and irreligious with the contempt and scorn which they ever displayed towards them. Instead of this, Christ mingled among them, addressed them in his gracious discourses, and received with open arms all who came in penitence and faith to him. To justify this course was the design of the parable which he now delivered to them. Observe, the endangered wanderer’97the kindly shepherd’97and the joyous exultation. Observe,

I. The endangered wanderer. The parable supposes a sheep of the fold to have wandered and been lost, a striking and fit description of man’s natural condition. This is most forcibly expressed by the evangelical prophet who says, "all we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way," Isa_53:6. This is a great doctrinal truth,’97the fall of man, and the ruin and depravity of the whole species. Prophets, the Lord Jesus, and apostles, all teach and insist on this truth. Man has wandered,

1. From the authority of God. Thrown off divine control’97said to the Most High, "Depart from us," &c. He is described as despising and contemning Jehovah. Acting as a traitor and rebel against the sovereign authority of God. He would not have the Lord even in his thoughts. He has wandered,

2. From the family of God. He was once in league with holy angels. Most probably they were his companions, we know they were his friends. How holy, and happy, the family of man in innocency. But by apostasy man lost his birthright. Became an outcast, &c. His being driven out of Eden was the visible sign of his having wandered from the family of God. Observe,

3. He has wandered in the way of peril and death. The tendency of sin is towards death. It is the way of death. Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. The threatened sentence was, "dying thou shalt die." The wandering sinner is seeking death in the error of his ways. The end of his course is inevitably death. Observe,

4. The sinner would wander endlessly but for the intervention of divine grace. This can easily be accounted for, if you remember, there are no desires after God, no holiness in the heart of man by nature. His tendencies are all downward and towards perdition. Satan, who exercises dominion over him, would beguile him, and seduce him away from God and safety. The habit of sinning would greatly increase his love of evil, and his dislike of holy things. Observe then,

II. The kindly shepherd. He pities. He seeks. He restores the wanderer. How applicable this to the Saviour.

1. He compassionated man in his fallen and ruined condition. Hence the scheme of redemption is ever attributed to the pure compassion of God.

"He saw us ruined by the fall,

And loved us notwithstanding all."

"When we were without strength," &c. See Tit_3:3, Tit_3:7. Compassion moved his heart, and induced him to undertake our recovery and salvation.

2. He actually came to seek the wanderer. Jesus left heaven, and laid aside his glory, and became a man,’97the subject of poverty, and reproach, and suffering, that he might find the wanderer. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation," &c. "The Son of man came to seek and to save that which is lost." For this he lived, and suffered, and died.

"Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God,

He to rescue me from danger,

Interposed his precious blood."

3. He finds and restores the wanderer. He did so in the days of his flesh. He does so now by the ministry of the gospel. All the saved and happy spirits received into heaven from our world,’97were the sought and found of the Saviour. Are not many of you among the number who can sing, "He restoreth my soul?" We hope most of you have been found by Christ. Among the wanderers found by Christ are sinners of all descriptions, and of all grades of guilt. Some he found in the polluted haunts of profligacy. Others in the mazes of worldliness. Others it the deceitful paths of pleasure. But they were all in the way which leadeth to death. All would have perished had they not been Bought out and found by him. Observe,

III. The joyous results. "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing," &c.

1. The shepherd rejoices in the attainment of his gracious purposes. He highly values the straying sheep. His best feelings are now gratified. Jesus is represented as seeing of the travail of his soul and being satisfied. This was the end of his sorrows and griefs’97the joy set before him. In the rescue and elevation of his fallen creatures, his benevolent spirit overflows with rapturous delight.

2. Angels also rejoice: Luk_15:7. They are deeply interested in the destiny of man. They have often been messengers of mercy to our world. They hailed the advent of the Saviour with great joy. They exult in the sinner’s conversion, and they bear the souls of the rescued to the habitations of the blessed. Their love to God, their love of holiness, and their love to man, induce them to rejoice in the sinner’s salvation.

3. The restored wanderer also rejoices. He sings, "I will praise thee," &c. He invites others to hear what God has done for his soul. He goes on his spiritual way rejoicing. He rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

4. All spiritual persons acquainted with the sinner’s restoration rejoice. The minister. The parent. The friend. The church. None but the self-righteous and pharisaic envy and repine. And in proportion to the danger and hopelessness of the sinner’s state, is the exultation in his being found by Christ. We ask in conclusion,

1. Are you still wandering? If so, oh stop! Reflect, and hear the voice of the seeking Saviour.

2. Are you found and restored? Give God the praise, and glorify him with your bodies and souls, which are his.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS