The beloved physician Luke wrote about Jesus, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them. And he spoke this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost”, and in chapter fifteen and verse seven of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said, “likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents” where we read:
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The verse reads, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, ...” Luke began with the words, “I say unto you” or “I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to the crowd who was listening to Him”, “that likewise joy” which means “that in the same manner and way gladness, delight and exceeding joy” “shall be in heaven” or “will be in the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “over one sinner that repents” which means “upon a single especially wicked, heathen and sinful person who changes their mind for better and heartily amends with abhorrence their past sins”. Luke shared how Jesus said there would be “joy in heaven” when “one sinful person” turns from their wicked ways.
The verse goes on to say, “... more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke continued with the words, “more than over ninety and nine just persons” or “over and above and compared to ninety nine righteous, observing divine laws, upright and virtuous people whether male or female”, “which need no repentance” which means “who do not own, possess or adhere to any turning from their wicked ways, changing their minds for the better or heartily amending with abhorrence their past sins”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “celebration” in Heaven would be greater over the one person who “repents” rather than for “ninety nine” others who think they do not “need” to turn from their wicked ways.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus thought of people who “truly repent” of their ways. God is looking throughout the world to discover people who will believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and when they yield their lives to Him, a celebration begins in Heaven. People who do not think they should amend their ways or do not “repent” of their sins shall have no such celebration, and they shall live eternally separated from God because of their stubbornness to submit.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus talks about a woman who loses, “a piece of silver”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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