Welcome to Week 2 of He Gave Us Stories, our series on the Parables of Jesus. This week it’s a three-for-one deal as we will study three parables found in Luke chapter 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
There’s so much great content to mine from these stories! We could spend a month on the Prodigal Son alone. But for this week we’re going to focus on a big idea that unites these three parables. God seeks the lost, rejoices when they are found, and wants us to join him.
Our regular prayer guides will return in three weeks. This week, and for the next two weeks, we’re inviting you to join in the Pray First initiative. There’s a link in the prayer section of each day’s meditation to the page on our website explaining what this is all about. You can also find the YouVersion link at that page.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Observe
Jesus defends his engagement with the tax collectors and sinners with the example of a man seeking his lost sheep.
Luke 15:1-7
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Matthew 9:11-13
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The chapter opens with Jesus attracting a crowd. Not just any group, but “tax collectors and sinners.” As Pastor Tom explained in his message this past Sunday, tax collectors were a unique brand of sinner in the eyes of the Jews. Traitors to their people, extorting money backed by the military power of Rome, their countrymen hated them on a whole other level. It’s worth pondering at this point that when Jesus was here on the earth, these were the kinds of people most drawn to him. When Jesus opens with “What man of you…”; he is speaking directly to the religious leaders who criticized him. After the lost sheep is found, the owner calls together his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. This first parable then concludes with the fact that heaven rejoices more for the one who repents than the ninety-nine righteous who don’t.
Perhaps it’s been unintentional, but over time, how some Christians behave toward those outside the walls of the church has altered the perception many such people have of Jesus; they now often have the impression Jesus likes people who do things his way and is judgmental toward those who don’t. However, he is today exactly who he was back then; a friend of sinners.
- Do you agree with the premise that the behavior of some Christians toward people outside the church has altered how some of those people regard Jesus? If not, what part of that idea is wrong? If you agree with it, what can Christians do to correct any wrong impression unbelievers might have of Jesus?
- From our text, it’s clear the religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees) have no interest in pursuing these tax collectors and sinners or welcoming them into their midst. Where does that kind of disinterest come from and what can we do to avoid it happening in us?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 2
The Parable of the Lost Coin
Observe
Jesus tells a second story, closely connected with the first. There is one subtle difference, however.
Luke 15:8-10
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The first illustration would have been easy for his audience to identify with, since such circumstances would happen often among these men who owned flocks of sheep. Now Jesus switches to another image, a woman of modest means (the mention of ten coins suggests that was all she had) in a modest dwelling (a single lamp lit the house). A drachma is a Greek term similar to the Roman denarius (you may remember from last week that one servant owed another servant one hundred denarii). It represents about one day’s average wage. Losing a drachma would’ve been a more significant loss to the woman than losing one of a hundred sheep was in the prior story. When she finds the coin, again, she calls together her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. The lost coin representing a tenth of her money suggests that what is lost has great value.
- Most of us have misplaced something important inside our homes at least once in our lives (some of us do it every Sunday morning when trying to get out the door to church!). We search everywhere for it, growing increasingly anxious, and when we find it we experience a certain euphoria. How does an experience like that, and remembering those feelings, help inform your understanding of God seeking the lost?
- In each story, friends and neighbors were called to rejoice when that which was lost is found. What does that tell you about being a friend of God?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 3
The Prodigal Son Departs
Observe
Jesus tells the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son. It’s really the story of two sons, both of whom want the same thing from their father, but have different strategies to get it. Today we look at the departure of the younger son.
Luke 15:11-16
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
The younger son stands in this story for tax collectors and sinners; his share of the estate would have been one third, as the firstborn son would receive a “double portion.” (Deuteronomy 21:17) It would have been disrespectful but not unheard of for the son to request his inheritance before the father died. The younger son, having grown weary of his father’s house, collects up what his father gave him and leaves. The phrase “journey into a far country” lets us know the son has gone outside Jewish territory, and there he spends all that he has in pursuit of worldly pleasures (the language here implies satisfying the appetites of the flesh). Then the money’s gone and the son hits absolute rock bottom. One thing that’s typically true about “tax collectors and sinners” when we encounter them in the Bible is they have no illusions about themselves and their spiritual condition.
- Is there anything about the story of the younger son so far that reminds you of yourself in any way? If so, what’s the connection?
- Before someone can seek forgiveness from Jesus, what do they have to understand about themselves? Why do you think so many people struggle to accept it?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 4
The Prodigal Son Returns
Observe
Jesus describes the father’s reaction when the younger son returns.
Luke 15:17-24
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:1-5
By Grace Through Faith
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
To his first century Jewish audience, this portion of Jesus’ parable would have produced strong emotions. The phrase “came to himself” comes from language suggesting the Semitic idea of repentance. The younger son knew what he had done and where he found himself. Although hunger motivated him, it was to his father he wished to return. He acknowledges both the judicial (“I have sinned against heaven”) and the personal (“and you”) nature of his offense. He had no right to return as a son, having squandered his inheritance, and planned to earn his room and board. But the father shows incredible compassion. For a father to tie up his garment (which you needed to do before running or you’d go sprawling) and run to meet the son would have been undignified. The father is showing endless joy at the return of his son, caring nothing for appearances. This is a dramatic contrast to what is coming next with the older son.
- The father gave the returning son gifts: The robe of an honored guest, a ring signifying authority, and sandals as only a free man would wear. What did the father mean by giving such gifts?
- What do you think Jesus is teaching by the parallel between “dead” and “alive” and “lost” and “found?” Can you think of anywhere else in the Bible where this descriptive language is found?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.
Day 5
The Older Son Weighs In
Observe
The older son sours at the celebration of the younger son’s return.
Luke 15:25-32
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Here Jesus introduces the character of the older son, who stands in for the religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees) in this story. The older son being indignant about the celebration surrounding the younger son’s return lays bare how he really wants the same thing from his father (his inheritance) but just picked a different strategy to get it. The older son doesn’t really love his father, at least no more than the younger son did at his departure. In that sense, he is no better, despite working in his father’s field. The father’s rebuke doesn’t address what the younger son did at all. He’s calling the older son, and by extension those religious leaders (and maybe us, today?) to seek the lost as he does and rejoice over them being found as he does.
- On Day Three, at the departure of the younger son, we asked if there was anything about him that reminded you of yourself in any way. Today we ask, is there anything about the older son that reminds you of yourself in any way? If so, what’s the connection?
- How do you respond to the father’s call, to seek and rejoice as he does over the lost who are found?
In place of our usual prayer guides, we urge everyone to participate in the 21-day Pray First initiative. You can learn more about it and find the link to the online resources on our website at the link below.