In Luke 15:2, Pharisees and scribes
complain that Jesus is receiving sinners and eating with them. Strong’s
Concordance shows that the word translated sinners, G268, comes from another
word, G264, meaning simply “to miss the mark.” Jesus then tells three stories which
show the great value He attributes to those who have missed the mark (Lk 15:3-32).
Jesus says that whenever a change
of heart occurs (repentance) in a“sinners”, heaven celebrates. He speaks of
them as beloved treasures that are lost. There is no rest until each treasure is
found; then celebration is required. Jesus ends each of the three stories with an
invitation to friends and neighbors to celebrate also.
Jesus continues in Luke 16 to tell
stories chastising the religious leaders for their greed and lack of concern
for the people. That which God considers treasure is not at all what they
consider treasure.
I cried the day I realized I would
have made the perfect Pharisee, full of judgment and scorn. The Pharisees had
no idea they were the ones truly lost, truly missing the mark. I had been
equally clueless. However, when a Pharisee has a change of heart (repentance)
heaven celebrates. That is the love of God.
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was
lost.” (Lk 19:10 NASB)
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
