Are you a lost sheep or a lost son?

Many of those who are not yet “Christians” or in Christ, realize that Jesus came not to the religious class of his day, but to the sinners; those cast out or cast off who were not living holy lives or religious lives, but living in a way contrary to God’s ways.

Jesus specifically sought out these people for his ministry.

As we read in the book of Mathew, Jesus was eating amongst sinners, and like outcast people, and the religious class or the Pharisees soon question why Jesus does this.

Read closely what Jesus answers them.

Mathew 9:10-13
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus says that those which be whole need no physician, those healthy need not a doctor, but only those who are sick need a doctor. In other words, the holy or righteous need no righteousness, but rather those who are sinners, and the unholy.

Jesus then tells them to go learn a lesson he quotes directly from the Hebrew scripture of the prophet Hosea.

Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Jesus then tells us why he came in his ministry:

“for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In the book of Luke, the encounter with Jesus and the Pharisees is told however we receive even more detail to the story as Jesus answers the scribes and Pharisees in parables.

Luke 15:1-10 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

It’s in these two parables we learn that Jesus is concerned with the lost, representing those outcast and sinners of society. Jesus tries to show how God is concerned, very concerned with those who are lost.

In both parables Jesus states how God in heaven is joyful at the repentance of one sinner rather than ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

When a sinner repents he or she has a change in mind, for the better, and turns away from that which caused the sin, or a transgression against God.

A repentant person is one who is truly sorry for his or her sins against God.

Jesus gave the Pharisees and all listening present another parable about a man and his two sons.

Luke 15:11-32
And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Let’s go line by line through to understand the fuller meaning of this parable.

Luke 15:11-32
And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

We start off with a certain man who had two sons; one son, the younger of the two, says to his father to give him his portion or inheritance of goods that he would be entitled to have.

The man divided to his two sons his living, or all his livelihood.

Next we learn what his son did with his portion of the allotted wealth.

Luke 15:13
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

The younger son took his money or goods, and went off to a far country and there wasted his portion with riotous living.

Perhaps the young man was careless and reckless or was like a “party animal” as is said today.

Whatever happened, he wasted all his substance.

Read what happened next.

Luke 15:14
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

After he had wasted all his substance, there arose a famine and he began to be in wanting of food or shelter or whatever he now lacked.

Luke 15:15-16
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

He is so poor, he joins himself with someone else of the region who sends him out to tend to the swine. The young son is so hungry, he thinks about eating the husks used to feed the swine, as no man was giving to him food.

Luke 15:17-19
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Just as he contemplates eating swine husks, the young man realizes the home he left behind and how many servants have bread and food and he is perishing with hunger.

He came to a realization that he will return to his father in sorrow, and confess to his father he has sinned against heaven (God) and before his father.

He will repent of his past riotous behaviors and beg his father to be hired as one of his servants.

He is clearly very upset, remorseful, and feels unworthy to be called his father’s son. He would rather accept the status of a hired servant if to only be fed food.

Read what happens next.

Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

His father sees his lost son approaching from a far distance and he has compassion on him. His father full of emotion runs to his son, falls upon his neck, and kisses him.

Read what happens next.

Luke 15:21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

His son, now remorseful, repents of his sins against both God (heaven) and in his fathers’ sight. He confesses he is no more worthy to be his son.

How does his father react?

Luke 15:22-24
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

His father is so happy to have his lost son back, that he puts on him a robe (his best robe) and a ring, and shoes, on his feet.

He restores honor to his son. His father then commands to bring a fatted calf, or a feast, to celebrate the return of his lost son.

For as his father says, his son was “dead” (to him) is now alive again; he was lost (lost in his way of past sinful living) and now is found (saved).

His father celebrates the salvation of his son.

What happened next?

Luke 15:25-27
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

A celebration has begun, and his second elder son comes in from the field to learn of the return of his younger brother. Notice how he reacts.

Luke 15:28-30
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

We learn that his son is now angry perhaps resentful toward his brother. He answers his father that many years he was most loyal to his father serving his father, never had he transgressed his laws yet he never received a party such as now was being celebrated for his younger brother-- who we learn was not only riotous but once lived with harlots or prostitutes, great sinful behavior indeed.

What does his father respond?

Luke 15:31-32
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

His father says to his righteous son, lovingly telling him that he is always with him and all he has is his, but it was good to be glad for his son who was once dead to him is now alive, and that which was lost is now found.

His father did not love his eldest son any less, he possibly loved him more, but now his lost son has been returned home; returned with a contrite heart a repentant mind and is alive again.

This is the way God approaches sinners.

When a person sins they are as the younger son, separated, or removed far away from his Father, our heavenly Father.

Sin separates one from God and His presence.

God is seeking all men come to repentance, they must seek, being sorrowful for their sins against God.

All men are born into sin and all men commit further sins against God.

Like the fallen destitute son, a sinner who repented of his ways, God can have compassion on a sinner who repents.

Like the father, who forgave his son, God our heavenly Father can forgive you of your sins, if only you acknowledge God and repent.

Jesus was trying to teach this lesson.

The elder son who was angry is also a lesson to those who are made righteous. If they did all God told them to do, they were righteous, then they already have a great reward.

Since most men and women are not righteous before God; all have sinned and all were born into sin, we all need God’s mercy and God’s righteousness.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We need to therefore repent of our sin before God, then and only then can God save us.

As Jesus taught they were dead (in sin) or lost and now alive (redeemed) and found.

Lastly, let’s look at the same story as recorded in the gospel book of Mark.

Mark 2:15-17
And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

As you can see the same event was recorded three times in New Testament Gospels.

It’s obvious that God wanted to impress on the reader Jesus came not for the righteous, but for the sinner.

Look at the Old Testament scriptures in the prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 18:20-23 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Read what God pleads to his people of Israel.

Ezekiel 30-32
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

God takes no pleasure in the death of sinners, who do not repent of their sins.

Here’s just a few scriptures about repenting.

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Won’t you take this time right now to repent to God of your sins, your wrongs or transgressions you have committed against God?

Won’t you call upon Jesus and ask him to forgive you of your sins now?

Right now, right where you are, you can return to the Father, you can approach to God.

Call upon Jesus and shout out aloud to God “I’m sorry Lord for my sins against you Lord, for my many transgression I’ve done in this life against you O God.”

“Have mercy! Help me Lord guide me to your Life everlasting love to forgive me and wash me clean of all my sins!”

Won’t you repent to God today!

Don’t be a lost son or lost sheep!
Don’t die in your sins!
Return to your Father!
Return to the flock!

May God bless you for reading this article and may he give you a spirit of repentance to call out to Jesus and return back to your Father in heaven.

In the precious name of Jesus I pray.

If you have just repented of your sins to God, you are on your way toward your salvation.

I encourage you read these other articles.

Do you know Jesus?

Are you washed in the Blood of the lamb?

What shall you do to be saved?