The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Luke 15:1-10
Trinity III
1. Lk. 14 ends with Jesus saying: "Let the one who has ears
be hearing." Someone has said: "God put ears on sinners so
that they would listen." Lk. 15 begins with those who were
hearing and those not hearing.
2. The tax-collectors and sinners (likely harlots) were
outcasts in Israel. The Pharisees and scribes avoided them
and would not even eat with them. "This man welcomes and eats
with them (sinners)" is a high compliment to Jesus but it was
the cause of the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes. The
sinners were repenting and hearing. The Pharisees and scribes
refused to hear and repent. But Jesus spoke the three
Parables of this chapter because He loved His enemies too and
wanted to bring them to repentance.
3. There are three parables in this chapter: Vss. 3-7, 8-10
and 11-32. All three have two words in common: "lost" and
found". Both words describe what has already happened to the
tax-collectors and sinners. The word "lost" describes the
true condition of Pharisees and scribes but they have not yet
been found because they refuse to repent.
4. Vss. 7 and 10 tell us that the angels in heaven rejoice
when one sinner repents. Scripture mentions the rejoicing of
the angels three times: at creation, Job 38:7; when Christ
was born, Lk. 2:13-14; and when one sinner repents, Lk.
15:7.10.
5. Vs. 1 speaks about "_all_ the tax-collectors and sinners".
That very likely means that they came in large numbers. In
vs. 3 the antecedent of "them" must be the Pharisees and
scribes.
6. The expressions "what man" in vs. 4 and "what woman" in
vs. 8 naturally cause us to answer: "Every one would do
that." These parables are axioms, truths which are invariably
true. They are illustrations to which Jesus' enemies had to
say: "Everyone would do that" thereby admitting that Jesus
was true in what He said and did. It is a masterful way to
preach and teach. He loved them too.
7. The owner of the sheep was more concerned about the one
lost sheep that over the ninety-nine seemingly safe sheep,
braved the wilderness to find it, was gentle to it when he
found it and even asked his neighbors and friends to rejoice
with him. That goes far beyond what usually happens.
Likewise, the care, work and industry of the woman seeking
her lost coin and calling her friends together goes far
beyond what usually happens. But it pictures Jesus' love for
lost sinners. And our love for Him should make us realize
that we are debtors to all people, obligated to them, to
bring them to repentance and faith. That's what Paul meant at
Rom. 1:14. Jesus' love for lost mankind should be our love
for lost mankind.
8. There are two schools of thought over the meaning of the
end of vs. 7. Some commentators think that the ninety-nine
represent those who have already repented and therefore are
safe. Others think that the ninety-nine represent those, like
the Pharisees, who refuse to repent. But you can teach this
text without deciding that matter. Because the stress in both
vss. 7 and 10 is on the one sinner who repents. Keep your
eyes on that and you will teach the text correctly.
9. The first of Luther's 95 theses reads, "When our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ, said 'Repent ye' He meant that the
whole life of the Christian should be one of repentance." The
Christian's primary need is to confess his sins and receive
absolution. That is a constant need. That's why we have
confession and absolution in church services. These three
parables are necessary for me until I close my eyes in death.
10. Jesus said: "The Son of man came to seek and save the
lost." Lk. 19:10. I did not seek Him. He sought me. I did not
find Him. He found me. I did not save myself. He did that.
11. A Jewish proverb said: "There is joy before God when
those who provoke Him perish." But Jesus said: "There is joy
before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Luke 15:1-10
Trinity III
THEME: Lost, Sought And Found
INTRODUCTION
The three parables in Lk. 15 have been called one of the
loveliest chapters in the Bible because they picture the true
God Who wants all men to be saved. Jesus came to seek and
save those who are lost, all people. Some refuse Him. Some
accept Him. But He truly seeks all.
I. THE LOST ARE SOUGHT
A. _The condition of the lost._ There are three
parables in this chapter. All three have the
word "lost" in common. The sheep was lost, vs.
4. The coin was lost, vs. 8. The son was lost,
vs. 32. This is a picture of all of mankind.
Rom. 5:12 tells us that through one man, Adam,
sin entered into the world and in this way death
came upon all people.This reminds us of the
story of the fall of man. Gen. 2:17; 3:19. Rom.
3:23 tells us that all men have sinned and
therefore lack the glory and approval of God.
All of mankind is as helpless, weak and homeless
as the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost
son. All people by nature are spiritually dead
in their sins. Eph. 2:1. Until people are found
they are God's enemies as was the Apostle Paul.
Until they are found they are spiritually
ignorant like Nicodemus. Jn. 3.
B. _But the Lord eagerly seeks them._ The
shepherd zealously looked for the lost sheep,
vs. 4 of our text. The woman zealously sought
her coin, vs. 8. The father longed for his son,
vs. 20. These are pictures of the great love of
God for lost mankind. He sought Zacchaeus. Lk.
19:10. All the tax-collectors and sinners came
to hear Him, Vs. 1 of our text. Before He
ascended He told His disciples to be His
witnesses to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8. He
told all of us to baptize and teach all nations.
Mt. 28:19. Christians are obligated to seek the
lost in this world. Rom. 1:14-15. For 2000 years
Jesus' missionaries have been seeking the lost
as did the shepherd, the woman and the father.
II. THE LOST ARE FOUND UNLESS THEY REJECT THE SEEKER
A. _The lost are found._ There are many examples
in the NT: Nicodemus, Jn. 3:1; 7:50; 19:39. The
twelve disciples. The Apostle Paul, I Tim.
1:12-17. The conversions on Pentecost Day, Acts
2:41. The jailor at Philippi, Acts 16:30-34.
Many more exampIes could be cited. The story of
the church is one long account of thousands of
conversions. Think of the Reformation in
Germany 500 years ago and how this has affected
the world. Think of how the Bible has been
spread throughout the former USSR and that many
people have become Christians. Our text says
twice: "There is joy in the presence of the
heavenly angels over one sinner who repents."
There is much joy in heaven over what is
happening in the Kingdom of God on earth.
B. _But man can reject this seeking._ Vs. 2 of
our text says: "But the Pharisees and scribes
began to grumble by saying 'This man welcomes
sinners and even eats with them'." God's act of
love in seeking the sinners only caused His
enemies to complain. They did this throughout
His life on earth. They even crucified Him. The
majority of the Jews still reject Jesus and the
way of salvation. The lost sinner cannot find
Jesus himself as our text shows us but lost
sinners can reject the seeking Savior as our
text also shows us.
CONCLUSION
In the third parable of Lk. 15 the father speaks to the son
who was still lost, vss. 25-32. The lost son was jealous of
the son who was found. He resented the love of the father for
the lost son. But the father continued to plead with this
second son. And so it is today. Just as the sun shines on all
and the rain and snow fall on all so the love of God in
Christ still calls out to all men: "He who believes and is
baptized shall be saved. He who believes not shall be
damned."
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This text was converted to ascii format for Project
Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain
by permission of Dr. Buls. You may freely distribute, copy
or print this text.
Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
at Concordia Theological Seminary
E-mail: COSMITHB@ASH.PALNI.EDU
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