Luke 15 Parable of the Lost Sheep Read Luke 15:1-7

Transcription

1 Luke 15 Parable of the Lost Sheep Read Luke 15: Who was drawing near to Jesus? Why (see v. 1)? 2. How did the Pharisees and scribes respond in regard to those who drew near to Jesus (see v. 2)? 3. In that culture, eating with a person indicated acceptance and recognition. But Jesus was not only eating with these people. What else was He doing, according to the Pharisees and scribes (see v. 2)? 4. Jesus told a parable of a man with 100 sheep. What happened to one of the man s sheep? What did the man do about that sheep (see v. 4)? 5. The parable of the lost sheep is a story that contrasts the love of God with the exclusiveness of the Pharisees. What did the shepherd do when he found his lost sheep (see vv. 5-6)? Luke 15 Page 1

2 6. God s response at the one sinner s repentance is in stark contrast to the Pharisees and scribes attitude toward tax collectors and sinners. What happens in heaven when one sinner repents (see v. 7)? 7. Jesus statement about the ninety-nine just persons was probably irony used to illustrate to the Pharisees and scribes their heart s attitude. What did the ninety-nine just persons believe they did not need (see v. 7)? Parable of the Lost Coin Read Luke 15: Jesus continued to teach in parables when He told a story of a woman who had ten valuable silver coins (drachmas). What did the woman do when she lost one of her valuable coins (see v. 8)? 9. What did the woman do when she found her coin (see v. 9)? 10. How is what the woman did (see v. 9) similar to what the shepherd who found his lost sheep did (see v. 6)? 11. What happens among the angels when one sinner repents (see v. 10)? Luke 15 Page 2

3 Parable of the Lost Son Read Luke 15: Jesus continued His parables that contrasted God's attitude with that of the scribes and Pharisees. A certain man had two sons (see v. 11). What did the younger son say to his father (see v. 12)? 13. What did the father do in response to his younger son s request (see v. 12)? 14. What percent of the father s livelihood would the younger son have received? (See Deuteronomy 21:17.) 15. What did the younger son do with his portion of his father s livelihood (see v. 13)? 16. What happened after the younger son had spent all of his inheritance (see v. 14)? Luke 15 Page 3

4 17. At that point, what did the son decide to do (see v. 15)? 18. Because of his wasteful living, the younger son found himself feeding swine. What was his attitude about what he was feeding the swine (see v. 16)? 19. When he realized his desperate condition, the younger son came to himself. What did he say (see v. 17)? 20. What did the younger son decide to do about his situation (see vv )? 21. The younger son decided to do the right thing and actually did it (see v. 20). What did the father do when he saw his younger son returning (see v. 20)? 22. The son said, I have sinned to his father (see v. 21). In Scripture, who else said, I have sinned? (See Exodus 9:27; Numbers 22:34; Joshua 7:20; 1 Samuel 15:24; 2 Samuel 12:13; Job 7:20; Matthew 27:4.) Luke 15 Page 4

5 23. What did the son say that indicated a sincere and repentant heart (see v. 21)? 24. The son was genuinely repentant as his father embraced him and kissed him (see vv ). A robe, ring, sandals, and feast are all signs of position and acceptance (see vv ). What do these items indicate about the father s attitude toward his younger son? 25. What was the father s perspective of his younger son while he was gone to a far country? What was his perspective of him when he had returned (see v. 24)? 26. In the parable of the lost son, the younger son represents the sinners and tax collectors, while the older son represents the religious leaders of the nation of Israel. What was the older brother doing when the younger brother returned (see v. 25)? What was he unwilling to do when he learned his brother had returned (see v. 28)? Luke 15 Page 5

6 27. The forgiving love of the father symbolizes the divine mercy of God; the older brother s resentment represents the Pharisees and scribes attitude toward tax collectors and sinners. The father pleaded with the older brother to come in and rejoice at the return of the son who was once dead and lost and was now alive and found. What was the older son s perspective of himself (see v. 29)? What did he imply about his father? 28. What was his perspective of his younger brother (see v. 30)? 29. What was the father s perspective of his older son (see v. 31)? 30. What perspective did the father want his older son to understand the very same perspective that Jesus wanted the Pharisees and scribes to understand (see v. 32)? Luke 15 Page 6