The Parables of Christ no. 34
The
Lost Sheep
Rev. Brian Kocourek
Prayer…
LUKE 15:1
¶ Then drew near unto him all the
publicans (Those are the tax farmers
or what we call tax collectors) and sinners for to hear him. (Notice that right
off the bat we are told that the people who were not considered much in society
came to hear Jesus. They came with one purpose, and that is to hear the words
of Jesus. Then in verse 2 we hear of another group of people that were in the
crowd.)
2
And the Pharisees (these are the separatists, those who have separated themselves from
others to live strictly religious lives. These are the legalist who studied the
Law to find ways of making life more difficult to live. These are they who
because of their own choice to live out every jot and tittle of the law, felt
within themselves that they were much better than others. You remember the
parable Jesus tells about the Pharisee and the publican who went into the
synagogue to pray. We spoke of it in Parables number 29. And we examined
humility and how important it is in the Christian life. We found this parable in Luke 18.
LUKE 18:9
¶ And he spake this parable unto certain
which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised
others: 10 Two men went up into the
temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee
stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other
men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I
fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other:
for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.
So we see the Pharisees
showed up and were in this crowd of people, and there was another group which
we read and the scribes
(Now, the scribes were a professional
class of people, like the town clerk, or people in important positions because
of their training to read and write, and perhaps were good with math, and those
kind of things. They were a professional; people who like the Pharisees trusted
in their own selves, and their own abilities to get them ahead.
Now, I want you to remember
from our study of these kind of people in Parables 29, that the attitude is
what is important here. And so we are now viewing another scene where we have
two completely different types of people gathering into one crowd. Those that
trusted in themselves. That is the religious, (the legalist) and then those
that were educated people. These are people that trust in their education, their
ability to read and write, and their ability to know more than the next man.
These consider themselves to be a better
class of people than the others.
And I want you to notice
the motive between the two classes of people who had assembled here. The sinner
cam to hear the Words of Jesus, and the educated and religious separatists came
to murmur. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, (now before we examine
what they had to say while murmuring, I just want to point out that the
intentions of these two different groups of people were very different. The one
group, the sinners and tax collectors, came to hear what Jesus had to tell
them. They came because they were interested. In fact the very evidence that
they were interested is that they came to hear. But these others came also, but
we are told they did not come to hear. They came to murmur. And spread discord throughout
the crowd of people. ) saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Now,
I think it is interesting here to note that there were two classes of people that
are mentioned here. The Sinner is one group, and the Religious and educated
people are lumped together in another group. I believe that is because these
are those people who trust in their own abilities, rather than in God. And
notice the attitude of the sinner. He came to hear Jesus while the educated and
religious came to mock and murmur. Now the word murmur means to complain
throughout a crowd. So it is apparent that their motive was not to come and
listen, but to come and try to dissuade others from hearing. They came with one
intention and that is to cast aspiration against Jesus. In other words, they
came to sow discord, and that is the only reason they were there.
3
And he (Jesus)
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 neighbors, 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.
Now, it is very apparent
that Jesus is speaking to the sinner giving him hope, all the while aiming his
words at the educated and religious snobs who look down on the sinner.
So we se this parable has two
objectives. The first is to give hope to the sinner, and to let him know that
he is of great value though he be lost. And the second objective is to chastise
the hardened attitude of the religious and educated who look out only for their
own selves, and do not look on others with the respect that a man would look
out for mere dumb sheep.
He is telling them in
essence that they have more respect and love for one of their sheep than they
have for these poor sinners that have lost their way. That is the attitude that
Christ is desiring in each of us in this end-time. We can go all around this
world meeting people of every race and ethnic back ground, and yet we still
find these two classes of people even right here in this message.
Those that are know it alls,
and are dependant upon their ability to read the message for themselves. And
then those that are struggling to come to grips which who they are what they
are here for. Those are the people that want to listen and want to know, and
yet because they have been treated so miserably by the religious and educated
among us, they feel less than worthy, and thus rejected.
Brother Branham said in his
sermon called THE TOKEN 63-0901M 32-3
Don't just come this far, say, "I believe the message." You
obey the message. Come into Christ. You say, "Oh, I believe every word you
said, Brother Branham." That's good. but that
is just being able to read. Take the Message; take it into your heart, that you
must have the Token, the very Life that was in Christ, be in you. "When I
see that, I will pass over you."
And again in the sermon he
called THE CHURCH AND ITS CONDITION 56-0805
19 We can read It; we who are able to read can read It; but only God can
bring the context out. The text can be read, 'cause It is His Word; but then the
context has to be given by God.
So you see, it is not
whether you can read it for yourself, or whether you have the entire message
available to you. But it is the condition of your heart for that message. And It
saddens me to see men that claim to believe this message have become so
hardened against everyone that does not believe it the way they see it. And I am not speaking of just taking a stand
for what you believe because we must take a stand for what we believe. But we
are not called to look down on others who do not understand. And that is what I
believe this parable is all about.
Jesus is telling the lost
that there is hope for them, and at the same time he is telling the religious
that they treat their animals better
than they treat the lost children of God.
My heart pains me when I
hear stories of how poorly people have been treated by others who claim to believe
this message. Look, it is one thing for you to be treated by the denominations
for standing firm on your belief, but to take a stand in this message, among
the many who believe the message differently than you believe is where the real
rub comes.
I was in
In fact one of the brothers
said that his little girl had gotten very sick and had to go to the hospital
and so he asked his boss if he could take some time off from work to go to the
hospital to see his daughter, and the boss told him “No you can’t”!!! and so the
man said to his boss, “she is very
sick, what if she dies?” and the boss said, “I don’t care if she dies, in fact I don’t
care if you and your whole family die”!!! Now, you might say,
that boss was a real hardened character, probably an atheist, or some kind of
unbeliever, and yet that boss of his was the deacon in his church.
JESUS OF
Now, with these thoughts in
mind of how hard and callous we can become towards God’s Children, let’s look
at this parable from the Gospel of Matthew. Because here we see that those that
Jesus told this parable too were his own disciples, and they had just been
debating who should be the greatest among them.
MATTHEW 18:1
¶ At the same time came the disciples
unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Now, what kind of a
question is that to ask? If these men really understood sovereignty and the
solitary God they would not have even asked that question. But that is man, and
I believe that is why it was recorded in the Scriptures. So we could see how
carnal man can get. Just like those people who could stand there and watch
miracle after miracle take place in Moses ministry, how one man with a stick
could speak to the Sea and it would part, and destroy the most powerful
military force on earth at that time. And then a few days later they were ready
to stone that same man.
EXODUS
17:1 ¶
And all the congregation of the children of
So we see here the apostles
themselves were carnal and vied with one another to see who should be the
greatest in the
2 And Jesus
called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, (now, notice how Jesus
calls this little child. Probably no special little child to the apostles, but
that child was special to its mother and father. But to make an illustration,
he calls for this little child and then says to them, “You all think you are
something, but let me tell you something, if you do not become like this little
child, you will not even have a place with m in the
Now, those are pretty
strong words coming from Jesus to these men who had given up house and lands
and peoples and family to follow him. And yet He did not ay these things just
to make a point. He said them because He meant them. And He is the same
yesterday, today and forever. And Heaven and earth will pass away but not one
jot or tittle of His word will fail.
Notice He said, Except ye be
converted and that word converted means: to turn one's self from one's
course of conduct, or to change one's mind. So in other words, He was not happy
with what was going on in their ranks. And He let them know that unless they
stop thinking like they were and humble down and become like this child, they
would in no way enter into the
Now, I ask you, isn’t it
time that the people in this message begin to come to this place where they can
be kind to one another, and treat one another with respect. Is it really
necessary for the people in the churches to place a fence around their
ministers to protect them from others getting too close? Is that the Christian
way? Or is that the way of man, to put up fences to keep others out.
What ever happened to what
brother Branham taught us to make the circle bigger? What ever happened to
Christian Love and charity? What ever happened to giving your second coat to
the stranger in need? What ever happened to feeding the poor, and helping the
fatherless.
I don’t say that we need to
start a works program, but we need to humble down and begin to show respect and
appreciation for all the things God has given to us.
In verse 4, Jesus says, 4 Whosoever
therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.
The way up is down, my brother
and my sister! PRAYER.LINE 53-1121 E-23
And then those people looked to that old fisherman, and you know what
they did? If he'd have had some great degree to go by, he'd have had something
to glory in, but God took nothing and made something out of it. That's the way
God does: just takes the nothing to make something.
And when you can become nothing in your own
sight, you're becoming something in God's sight then. And always
remember this, friends, the way up is down. "He that exalts himself shall
be abased, but he that humbled himself shall be exalted." So just love Him
with all your heart and forget all you ever knowed about all other things but
Jesus Christ. Just go ahead and love Him and work for Him; serve Him. If He
wants you to be the doormat, well, you just be the doormat and that... It's
whatever He wants you to do, you do it. God bless you now.
Now, what do you suppose went
through the minds of those apostles when Jesus called for that little child to
come forth? And what about those educated and religious separatists? But when He
began to speak He let them know that they had a wrong attitude and this child
had the right attitude.
ANGEL OF THE COVENANT 54-0301 E-18 Don't expect to know God by education or
theology; you know God by being borned again, new birth. The Holy Spirit wrote
the Word of God. And He so entangled it in there; He said, "I've hid it from the eyes of the wise and prudent
and will reveal it to babes such as will learn."
So if you want to know anything, get to be a baby. Don't be too smart. The
way up is down. "He that humbles himself shall be exalted. He that exalts
himself shall be brought abase." And I think of writing the Scripture, how
the Holy Spirit hid those mysteries in there. And all the Bible schools and
seminaries will never be able to pull it out. God knows it alone and will
reveal it to who He will. Is that right?
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in
my name receiveth me. Do you realize what he is saying here? We should be of such a nature that
it means just as much to us to speak to the children as it means to speak to
the adult. We should try just as hard to teach the child as we try to teach the
adult. God hides in simplicity, and he does not manifest himself in great
welling words, but God has chosen the simple things whereby to express himelf
to us.
I CORINTHIANS
Now, in getting back to our
parable, let’s pick up in verse 6 But whoso shall offend (that means to put a stumbling
stone in their way, to entice them into
sin) whoso shall
offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him
that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea.
Then how ought we to
conduct ourselves with respect to each other and reverence towards God?
7 ¶ Woe unto the world because of offences! for
it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence
cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast
them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather
than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if
thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for
thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast
into hell fire. 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little
ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face
of my Father which is in heaven.
And remember, Jesus was
despised and rejected of man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And
so he warns us to never despise any of the least of the Father’s children.
Now, the word despise means: To regard with contempt
or scorn: 2. To dislike intensely; to loathe: 3. To regard as
unworthy of one's interest or concern: and so by your lack of interest in one
another you are despising one another. And we must be careful to never assume
that attitude. For our whole purpose of being is to look out on one another
with interest to save, and to heal and the help. For Jesus tells us …
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was
lost. He did
not come to save those who don’t need saving. He did not come to find those
that were not lost. But He came for the sole purpose of saving the lost, and
healing the sick, and opening the eyes of the blind, and setting those in
prison free.
ISAIAH 42:5
¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that
created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth,
and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it,
and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in
righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for
a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind
eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness
out of the prison house. 8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I
not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former
things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth
I tell you of them.
PSALMS 146:5 ¶ Happy [is he] that [hath] the God of Jacob
for his help, whose hope [is] in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and
earth, the sea, and all that therein [is]: which keepeth truth for ever: 7
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry.
The LORD looseth the prisoners: 8 The LORD openeth [the eyes of] the blind: the
LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: 9 The
LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the
way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10 The LORD shall reign for ever, [even]
thy God, O
And now after all this
build up concerning humility and having the proper respect towards one another,
Jesus speaks the parable to them…12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of
them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the
mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find
it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety
and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father
which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Let’s just bow our hearts
and our headfs in a word of prayer.