The International Sunday School Lessons By J. H. S. L esson IV. —April 26.— T he L ost S heep and the L ost C oin .—Luke 15:1-10. G olden T ext .— There is joy among the —Luke 15:10. Time; January, A. D. 30, three months before the crucifixion. Region: Perea,'east of the Jordan, noted for pasturage (Num. 32:1-5, 16). angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Else what would become of me? What did Christ come for? (Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15). Not that He approves, but that He loves sinners. For these reasons the Lord uttered the three parables of this heavenly chapter. II. T h e .L ost S heep and L ost C oin .
Movement: Jesus’ face is set toward Jerusalem (Isa. 50:70) to die for publicans and sinners, and for Pharisees and scribes. I. T he O ccasion of the P arables . 1. His Grace Toward the Outcasts. "Then drew near unto Him . . . publicans and sinners," attracted by the grace of 12: 20-23, and the salt of 12:25-35. A Salvation that’s free and a consecration that costs draws sinners.' “I, if I be lifted up (cruci fied) will draw” (John 12:32, 33). These have no attraction for the self-righteous, nor for the self-seeking, but are to them repellant. The same magnet attracts and repulses. 2. The Lack of Grace in His Critics. The Pharisees and scribes murmured, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." They were “dogs in the man ger” (Matt. 23:13) ; but they shut the door on themselves (Rom. 3:9-11). They thought themselves “righteous and despised others” (Luke 18:9). They blundered on both sides. The first sign of grace is the conviction of the lack and need of it. Caste, class, color, race and religious prejudice are most hateful to God; the whole Gospel is a pro test against it. There is no rational ground for pride in any sinner, or prejudice in any soul saved by grace. P. s. or p. s. where is the difference? either stands for “Pharisee and scribe,” or “publican and sinner.” When, at the communion rail, the beggar apologized *to the Duke of Wellington he said, “My good woman, we are all equal here.”
L The Titles. These stories are not aptly named. Together they might be call ed “ The Lost and Found." The mind is not to rest on the lost thing, but on the act and the fact of the finding, with the fol lowing joy on the part of the finder, so great that He summons all to joy with him. 2. Similarities, These parables have much in common:—the lost thing; the sor rowing and seeking owner; the finding and rejoicing; the repeated reference to angelic and celestial sympathy. 3. Differences. (1) A sheep; a shepherd; a shoulder. A living, stupid, straying, helpless and im perilled thing, sought, found, rescued, and borne away home, by a toiling, patient, faithful, courageous, owner, not for its ma terial value alone, but for its capacity to suffer, on the one hand, or to afford fellow ship on the other. Proprietorship, pity and companionship combine to move the shep herd. (2) A coin (of small intrinsic value, about a day’s h ire ); a woman; a light and a broom. (3) The sheep has voluntarily wandered, tempted by tuft or bramble, it seeks one after another, until far from the shepherd. Perhaps already aware of its peril, of the falling shadows, of prowling enemies. It is the sinner awake to his need of the Shepherd. This marks the difference be tween a sheep and a dog or a swine (2
“Sing it o’er, and o’er again, Christ receiveth sinful men."
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online