Luke 15:1

Luke 15:1 says. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.  The publicans and sinners began to draw near to Jesus to hear Him, and we are all sinners when we first come to Jesus.  Verse two adds, And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.  The scribes and Pharisees began to murmur that Jesus received and ate with sinners.  Sometimes, Christians today can be guilty of murmuring amongst themselves if someone that they feel to be too much of a sinner comes to church to hear about Jesus.  Verse three states, And he spake this parable unto them, saying,  Jesus did not address the murmuring of the scribes and Pharisees directly, but told them a parable instead.  Even if God does not address our murmuring about others directly,  His word already tells us what He expects of us.  Verse four adds, 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?  The parable asked which of them who had a hundred sheep and lost one would not leave the ninety-nine who were safe and go and look for the lost one.  At some point, we have all been that lost sheep.  Verse five continues, And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  Jesus then said that when the man found the lost sheep, he would pick it up on his shoulder and return it to the fold.  He wouldn't just locate it and leave it to get back on its own, and we cannot find salvation on our own, but must allow our faith in Jesus to get us safely home to His fold.  Verse six concludes, 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.  Jesus said when the man returned with his lost sheep, he would call his friends and neighbors together to rejoice with him because he had found it.  He was not rejoicing over the ninety-nine that were safe, but over the one that was lost and had been found.  That does not mean that the ninety-nine were unimportant, but they were already safe.  We need to rejoice more over a sinner who comes to Jesus for salvation than we do over those who are already followers of Christ.  Verse seven declares, 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.  Jesus said that there would be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who is saved than over ninety-nine who are already saved, and as just stated, it should be the same for Christians here in this old sinful world.  Verse eight adds, 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?  Jesus then told the parable of the woman losing one of ten pieces of silver and asking if she would not do all that she could to find it.  Jesus will do all that He can to find the one who is lost.  Verse nine continues, 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.  As with the lost sheep, the woman would call her friends and neighbours together to celebrate with her when she found the lost coin.  The sheep was one of a hundred and the coun was one of ten, but the rejoicing was the same.   Verse ten concludes, Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  Once more, Jesus tells us that there is joy in the presence of the angels in heaven over one sinner that is saved.  We as followers of Christ need to rejoice anytime a sinner is saved.