Seeking the Lost
Introduction:
Most of us are very concerned when we lose something that we consider valuable. We will exert time and energy in an effort to locate it. Finding it is an occasion to rejoice.
Jesus, throughout his time on earth, was concerned for the lost. (Luke 19:10) “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” NKJV He knew the value of a soul and would eventually give up His life for the souls of mankind. But not everyone possessed the compassion for the lost that He did. This is where our story begins. Luke 15:1-2 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ ” NKJV
Among those waiting to hear Jesus were tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were despised by many of the Jews and were considered “outcasts.” “Sinners” would have included even harlots. The Pharisees [strictest sect of the Jews] and the scribes [copyists of the Law] grumbled [complained] that Jesus welcomed these outcasts. They were insinuating that Jesus must be a sinner, too. So Jesus told three stories to illustrate how precious even one soul is and that Jehovah doesn’t even want one to be lost. Today we will look at two of them.
Text: Luke 15:1-10
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