The Ninety-Nine
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
2The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
3He told them this parable.
Luke 15 presents three very well known Parables and the intent of this path is to set you up to read it for yourself, but maybe from a new perspective. You see in vs. 3 it becomes clear Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and Scribes. So let's see where they stand in the parables.
4"Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
5When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
The audience... You maybe... Are in the Ninety Nine, place yourself in their tiny hoofs. Let's look at the next one.
8Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma, wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
9When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.'
You, the audience of this story, are among the nine coins. You are watching your owner search frantically, but not for you...
11He said, "A certain man had two sons.
12The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his living to them.
The next one is a long one, you'll have to read it yourself, you've probably read it before. But you are not the young son, you are this one...
25Now his elder son was in the field. As he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
27He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'
28But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.
Read the eldest son's complaint, put yourself in his shoes. Maybe they are comfortable even familiar shoes. Now read the fathers response to you...
31He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'"
Jesus is teaching from the perspective of this command, one we so easily forget.
18You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh.