All, I suppose, are familiar with the beautiful old hymn that bears the
same name. Without doubt it has been a blessing to multitudes over the years.
It is unfortunate, however, that the author and we as believers have been
apparently unable to more fully apprehend the scope in which the scripture is
presented. Unfortunate again, that we are prone to accept both preaching and
song without question. It is indeed a sad commentary that most Christians are
not able to compare what they hear and read against scripture with any degree
of accuracy; and the reason for that being that we do little if any serious
studying. Admittedly, however, this is a difficult passage: much thought and
meditation is needed in order to discern the sense in which it is presented. And
even that may prove futile without the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
A careful analogy and comparison of Luke 15: 1-7 should prove
enlightening.
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners,
and eateth with them.”
First, we identify the Lord as the one doing the speaking.
Second, we identify the parties in attendance: He is addressing publicans
and sinners; also present are Pharisees and scribes.
Third, we find the publicans and sinners “drawing near unto him:” the
purpose of their coming; “for to hear him.”
Fourth, Religion is represented, in the persons of the Pharisee and the
scribe. The purpose of their coming: to find fault in the Personified Word of
Truth.
Fifth, the occasion and circumstances that prompted the parable of the
“ninety and nine:” “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man
receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” Glorious Truth! “Christ receiveth
sinful men;” and with that, he who has been received finds communion and
fellowship in His Presence! To the publicans and sinners would he now make
known the Grace of God and of His abundant Mercies; in tender fashion would
he now present the Father’s Love and of his willingness to forgive and reconcile!
But the Pharisees and scribes would he reprimand: for their hypocritical self-righteousness; for their pride and conceit; for their arrogant contempt for the
sinner; for their self confidence, thinking themselves worthy to obtain the
Heavenly Inheritance through their “good works.”
The foundation having been laid, let us proceed to build upon it.
“And he spake this parable unto them,”
One may find lengthy and involved definitions of what constitutes a
parable, but for us, here is a very simple, practical comparison:
| Comparison |
|
|
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Parable Parabole Gr.
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Comforter Parakletos Gr.
|
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To lay along side
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One called along side
|
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It is the laying of the earthly along side of the heavenly, that the eternal which is not seen, might be made known by the temporal which is known.
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The Holy Spirit is He who is called along side: the Heavenly to make known the earthly in order to make known the heavenly.
|
In this case, I propose to “lay along side” yet another parable: the
purpose for doing so should become quite evident by the conclusion of this
article. Starting in verse eleven of the same chapter we are given the parable
of the Lost Son. This we shall compare with the Lost Sheep; following that, the Pharisee with the Elder Son.
| Comparison |
| The Lost Son |
The Lost Sheep |
|
Identified with his father
|
Identified with the shepherd
|
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Gone astray - a far country
|
Gone astray
|
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“I have sinned”
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“joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth”
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The father fell (on the back of) his neck and kissed him
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The shepherd layeth it upon his shoulders (around the back of his neck) rejoicing
|
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They came home together
|
home with his sheep
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Not only is there a distinct comparison between the two; there is also an
area of contrast; and this we would never see without “laying them along side.”
| Comparison |
| The Son |
The Sheep |
|
As a “Son” we see the responsibility of man
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As a “sheep” we see the depravity of man
|
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the exercise of his will
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his lack of direction
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"I will arise and go to my father."
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he cannot find his way home
|
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He must "come" to the father.
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he cannot save himself
|
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He falls at the father's feet.
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the shepherd must go to him
|
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he must choose to return
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The shepherd lifts him up
|
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again, he is responsible; he must come
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the shepherd carries him home
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“And when he cometh home he calleth together. . .Rejoice with me.”
How shall we read these words without recalling those prophetic sayings
of the Lord: “I go to prepare a place for you. . .I will come again. . .receive you
unto myself, that where I AM, there ye may he also.” John 14:2,3. “The Lord
Himself shall descend from heaven. . .then we. . .shall be caught up. . .to meet
the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord” I Thes. 4:16 17.
There is one other area of comparison of which we must carefully study:
because it may prove contrary to traditional teaching we will devote a little
more time and scripture toward its exposition.
| Comparison |
| The Elder Son |
The Pharisee |
|
Angry because the father received the wayward son.
|
Murmured. “He receiveth sinners."
|
|
“Thou hast killed for him the fatted calf”
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“And eateth with them.”
|
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“These many years do I serve thee”
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These “sheep” are left and remain while the shepherd finds the “one that was lost”
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“Neither transgressed I at any time thy commandments"
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“Ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance."
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Notice: the scribes and Pharisees have only contempt for the lowly sinner;
they are indignant that Jesus should receive and eat which such as they.
Through means of the parable he communicates His love for the straying
“sinner.” He likewise exposes the error of the self-righteous Pharisee.
In the parable of the Prodigal, the “elder son” sums up the attitude of the
Pharisee: “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any
time thy commandment;” In light of that, Jesus speaks of them in a retaliatory
way: if they have indeed served the Father; if they of a truth have not
transgressed His Law at any time; then are they “just persons which need no
repentance!”
Ought they not to have known from their own studies in Isaiah 53: “All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way?
Should they not have discerned that “there is none righteous, no not one;” that
“they are all gone out of the way;” “Therefore by the deeds of the law there
shall no flesh be justified in His sight!” Rom.3:l0,12,23. Cf. Gal. 2:16.
In the next chapter (Luke 16) Jesus plainly and conclusively sums up
what we have seen regarding the scribes and Pharisees: “Ye are they which
justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
Further observe; the shepherd left the ninety and nine in the wilderness.
Need we be reminded of the forty years that unbelieving Israel spent wandering
in the wilderness because of unbelief?
“When they had heard. . .did provoke. . .with whom was he grieved forty
years. . .them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?” Heb.
3:16,17.
A discerning eye may also see that the shepherd did not return to the
wilderness with the sheep he had found. No indeed! He “cometh Home” with it!
The ninety and nine are yet, left in the wilderness of unbelief!
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