Luke 15:1-7 - Every soul counts

Many of those who followed Jesus were sinners and tax-collectors, the highly despised people. And more and more were following Him and His popularity kept climbing. This really irked the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. In Jesus' willingness to accept these sinners and tax-collectors, they found an excuse to malign Him. So in verse 2, we read that they were murmuring and grumbling against Him, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” This is the backdrop of the several parables that Jesus taught after that. In verses 3-7, we see the first parable on the lost sheep and the searching shepherd.

The lost sheep suggests that this was something that even the Pharisees themselves would do. When a Pharisee who has a sheep that wandered from his fold and got lost, he would also leave the rest, the ninety-nine in the care of a faithful servant and go looking for that lost sheep. Regardless of how long and tiring that search might be, the shepherd would look for the lost sheep till it was found. Once found, the sheep would be carried on his shoulder. He would not chide nor punish that sheep. In fact, he would even gently carry the sheep over his shoulder and came home rejoicing. When he had returned home he would even organize a party and invite his friends for a rejoicing meal. Joy is the response when a lost sheep is found.

Quite obviously, the lost sheep refers to a sinner. However, Jesus’ idea ran contrary to the Pharisees' belief. To them, God hates sinners and would only rejoice in their death. They refused to believe that God would restore a sinner. They believed that God would only condemn a sinner.

The truth is: God loves sinners although He hates sins. That love would constrain Him to search for sinners. And when they are found and respond to His love, He would greatly rejoice. In fact the whole of heaven would rejoice. But this was not in keeping with the Pharisees' belief.  From this parable we learned that God loves everyone. No one is beyond the help of God, and there is none too sinful or terrible that He would not love. The only criterion is for us to admit our sin and repent from it.

Taking care of the physical needs is necessary but it should not replace the importance of caring for the soul. Let us complete the mission of the Lord to seek and save the lost.

When one loses money, he has lost something,

When one loses a friend, he has lost even more.

But when one loses his soul, he has lost everything.