April 04, 2022 – Monday
Luke 15:7 & 10 NIV
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Comment.
The above are the conclusions to the first two parables Jesus told from verse 3 to verse 10, before telling a third parable from verse 11 to 32 about two brothers. The first parable is about a lost sheep. The second about a lost coin.
When a shepherd lost one of one hundred sheep, he went looking for it and when he finds it (v5b-6), he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. Then Jesus compares this to what will happen in heaven when one sinner repents, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. A sinner who repents is like a lost sheep that is found! This had to thrill the sinners and tax collectors who were gathered around Jesus, there was such hope for them (15:1)!
Many may now ask, what about the ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Along with the sinners and tax collectors there around Jesus, there were also Pharisees and teachers of the law who disagreed with Jesus teaching and eating with sinners (15:2). The ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent in this parable were the self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law who believed they did not have to repent nor have a need to repent. But as John the Baptist and Jesus both made clear, everyone needs to repent. There is no rejoicing in heaven over those who do not repent.
Our second verse of the day concerns a woman who lost one of 10 coins in her home. What does she do when she loses it? Verse 8b tells us, Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? Yes she does in this parable. It was common for married women to wear 10 coins around their forehead and hair signifying they were married, thus the 10 coins were important. In verse 9 we find, And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ Indeed! But what does this have to do with repenting? Each coin would have an image on it, just as each of us in made in the image of God. When she finds it – most likely dirty from being on the floor – she cleans it (it is as if a sinner repented) and wears it with the other nine. That’s when we read, In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Once again, the sinners are given hope while the Pharisees remain silent.
Bottom Line: Repenting, changing one’s direction in life can lead to rejoicing in the presence of angels, which implies God is rejoicing as well. God truly loves each and every sinner if they will only repent and turn to Him. Additionally a message on these parables may be found here.
Prayer: Almighty God, Your mercy and then Your joy at the repentance of sinners who turn to You is beyond our understanding. Your forgiveness so that we may become part of Your family in Heaven is something we can only be grateful for. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek