Luke 15:1–10 The God Who Comes Looking

September 4, 2026  

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY

Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

As Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem, large crowds followed him. As we saw last time, some were following him for the wrong reasons. But others followed Jesus because he was the only religious leader who would accept them (of course, Jesus was much more than a religious leader). Luke says that “the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to [Jesus]” (Luke 15:1). 

Tax collectors were viewed as traitors, so they had their own category. They worked for the Roman government and, with the loose policies of the day, became very wealthy by overcharging people. “Sinners” included a large group of people. Some were openly immoral, those who lived to satisfy their sinful ways. Prostitutes and their clients would fit into this category. Some “sinners” were such because of their occupation. Shepherds were seen as sinners because they were unable to keep all the rabbinical rules due to their work with sheep. Another group of “sinners” were common villagers who were unable to follow all the oral traditions established by the religious leaders. 

Luke says that because of all the tax collectors and “sinners” surrounding Jesus, “the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:2). The self-righteousness of the Pharisees had led them to believe in salvation by separation. They didn’t associate with those whom they determined to be “lesser than.” But so did the other religious groups. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots all believed that each of the others was not a part of God’s family.

This is no different than today. Different schools of theology believe they are right. After my father died, someone from a charismatic background told me my dad could not be in heaven because he didn’t speak in tongues. I have experienced the same exclusivity from those who strongly hold to Reformed theology and Arminianism. One person who believed in Reformed theology told me I was a heretic because I was not “reformed” enough. Certainly, we should hold firmly to biblical theology. But self-righteousness is not a trait that wears well on believers. And all of us, regardless of our theological persuasion, can be infected by self-righteousness and exclusivity.

The Pharisees couldn’t believe that Jesus spoke with all the outcasts, and it was unthinkable that he would share the intimacy of a meal with them. The Pharisees did send money to the poor and those sick, but would never be caught eating with the “lesser-thans.”

So Jesus told three parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. Let’s consider the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin today. The Lost Son calls for its own separate focus. 

The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3–7)

 So [Jesus]told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep [a medium-sized flock], 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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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.’ 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.”

When a shepherd gathered his flock into a pen or brought them in for the night, he took special care to make sure all were accounted for. In this case, one sheep was missing from the flock. Because being alone and lost leaves the sheep in a vulnerable position, the shepherd must act with focus and urgency. He leaves the ninety-nine in the care of other shepherds working with him and goes out looking for the missing one. When he finds the sheep, he returns to rejoice with friends and neighbors. 

The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8–9)

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? 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.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

The poor usually lived in houses without windows. Even during the daytime, a lamp was needed to search for something hidden. The lost coin is seen as highly valuable by this woman. 

The point of both parables is the same: God rejoices when lost people are found—even if it is only the one who has been found. But the self-righteous Pharisees could not accept that God allowed those they considered “less than” to be part of the kingdom. Jesus’ acceptance of tax collectors and sinners was more than they could accept. 

One more thing before we wrap up. In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus said, “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.” Jesus was not saying that the Pharisees were righteous people who did not need to repent. He was saying that they were self-righteous people who did not think they needed to repent. It was a statement of irony. Self-righteousness was and is a sin, no less than the fraudulent acts of tax collectors and the immorality associated with prostitutes and their clients. 

Furthermore, self-righteousness is blinding: we are not who we think we are, nor who we pretend to be. It leads us to see ourselves as impervious to sin. But we are all dangerously lost and need to be found. We are all sinners in need of a Savior, and there is only One who can save us. When Jesus finds us, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep takes us in his arms and carries us home - all the way home. And there is great rejoicing in heaven! 

Read and reflect on Luke 15:1–10: Where might self-righteousness be showing up in your life? Who are you tempted to view as “less than,” and how might Jesus be challenging your attitude toward that person?

Talking to God: Ask God to show you where you need to extend grace to those who are lost. 

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