The Lord Is Patient Toward You Not Wishing That Any Should Perish
In St. Luke’s Gospel we hear two more of Jesus’ “teaching” parables. The parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. The parable of the lost sheep begins with: Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So, He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 5: 1-7)
Then Jesus went on to say: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me,for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)
The disciples wondered why Jesus began teaching in parables, so they asked him why He did so. This is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel the 13th chapter verses 10 through 13: The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables? “He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. (Matthew 13:10-13)
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus frequently used parables or stories as a means of illustrating divine truths. Stories such as these are easily remembered, and were a common form of teaching by the Jews as well as the Greeks. During his ministry, Jesus used many common things that would be familiar to everyone such as: (salt, bread, sheep, etc.) and their meaning was fairly clear in the context of His teaching.
In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, there was one sheep that was lost among the bushes. This symbolizes a sinner who has lost his way, and is separated from God. The common people and tax collectors would have had delighted in listening to Jesus as he said that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents and turns away from sin, than the ninety-nine who are already walking with the Lord. Though, as a Pharisee who teaches the law and abides by the law, they would have heard the parable and related to the ninety-nine sheep that were not lost, and when Jesus said that the lost sheep causes more joy in heaven then ninety-nine righteous, that would have been a severe blow to them, and their huge egos.
The lost coin by the widow is another simple story of loss. The Pharisees most likely would not have understood why Jesus was telling another story of loss, much less a widow who turns her whole house upside down for one coin. It may have reminded them of the little effort that they put into saving the lost themselves, and that would have not set well with them.
The Pharisees were not known for helping sinners to live a righteous life. The fact that the widow searched and searched for the lost coin, is in stark contrast to what little effort the Pharisees put into instructing the lost in the laws of God. The widow when she found the coin called her neighbors and celebrated. All the Pharisees had to say was, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
But the lost coin story, to the sinners and tax collectors would have been more good news for them. Jesus was saying no matter where you are, no matter how lost you are, I will stand at the door and knock, and when you open the door to me, there will be much celebration in Heaven. Though the coin may have had little value, and not worth the effort to search the whole house for, Jesus was saying to the sinners that it did not matter how little worth they put on themselves, that He considered them of great value to Him and to His Father.
What brings joy in the heart of God is, every lost sheep who returns to the fold.
St. Peter reminds us: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen..
The Most Rev. Dr. Rick Aaron Reid, Presiding Bishop Traditional Anglican Church of America Rector, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Newton, North Carolina 28658