The Parables of the Lost · Day 1
Luke 15:1-10 — a devotion
Luke 15
- 1모든 세리와 죄인들이 말씀을 들으러 가까이 나아오니Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
- 2바리새인과 서기관들이 원망하여 가로되 이 사람이 죄인을 영접하고 음식을 같이 먹는다 하더라And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
- 3예수께서 저희에게 이 비유로 이르시되And he spake this parable unto them, saying,He told them this parable:
- 4너희 중에 어느 사람이 양 일백 마리가 있는데 그 중에 하나를 잃으면 아흔아홉 마리를 들에 두고 그 잃은 것을 찾도록 찾아 다니지 아니하느냐What 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?“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
- 5또 찾은즉 즐거워 어깨에 메고And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
- 6집에 와서 그 벗과 이웃을 불러 모으고 말하되 나와 함께 즐기자 나의 잃은 양을 찾았노라 하리라And 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.When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
- 7내가 너희에게 이르노니 이와 같이 죄인 하나가 회개하면 하늘에서는 회개할 것 없는 의인 아흔아홉을 인하여 기뻐하는 것보다 더하리라I 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.I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
- 8어느 여자가 열 드라크마가 있는데 하나를 잃으면 등불을 켜고 집을 쓸며 찾도록 부지런히 찾지 아니하겠느냐Either 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?“Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
- 9또 찾은즉 벗과 이웃을 불러 모으고 말하되 나와 함께 즐기자 잃은 드라크마를 찾았노라 하리라And 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.When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost!’
- 10내가 너희에게 이르노니 이와 같이 죄인 하나가 회개하면 하나님의 사자들 앞에 기쁨이 되느니라Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
Luke 15 is the chapter that holds Jesus' three parables of lost things. The background for these parables appears in verses 1-2: as tax collectors and sinners gathered around Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes criticized Him, saying that this man receives sinners and eats with them. Jesus told these three parables one after another in response to that criticism. Luke, the Gospel writer with a special concern for Gentiles and the marginalized, wrote his Gospel to a man named Theophilus. Within the whole of Luke's Gospel, chapter 15 stands as the high point of the theme of God's mercy and His love for the lost. The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin serve as an introduction to the parable of the prodigal son that follows.
Reflection questions: 1. If there was a time when God came searching for you, call that moment to mind. 2. If there is someone around me who feels far from God's love, how could I reach out to them? 3. When I consider God's joy over a single person, what does that tell me about my own worth?
Today's reflection
Through the parables of the one lost sheep and the one lost coin, Jesus shows how earnestly God searches for a single lost person. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine in the open field and goes after the one that is lost. The woman lights a lamp and sweeps every corner of the house until she finds her one coin. In both parables, once the lost is found, the finder calls together friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me.' Theologically, this passage reveals the grace of God that takes the initiative.
The key is that the lost sheep did not come back on its own — the shepherd went out first to find it. Salvation does not begin with human effort or merit. God drawing near to us first is the starting point. The joy after the finding is also emphasized: verse 7 says there is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. This means God deals with us not as a judge but as a loving Father.
Simply put, God is the One who does not give up on us when we lose our way. We may think that out of so many people, one like me could hardly matter — but to God, each and every person is irreplaceable. If you feel you have drifted far from God right now, He is already out searching for you. Please remember that when you return, a great feast of joy breaks out in heaven.
In the app
Reading is where it starts, not where it stops.
Today's passage and devotional are yours to read here on the web. The app takes it from there — a place to write what stayed with you, receive a reflection on top of it, and watch the days add up.
A reflection arrives on what you wrote
Write what stayed with you, and a paragraph comes back — read against the passage you just finished. It does not lecture, and it does not grade you.
Your devotions gather into a record
What you write and what comes back stay on the calendar. Your streak is counted for you, and any past devotion opens again whenever you want it.
Today's verse on your lock screen
The widget puts the day's passage up each morning, so you read it once more in passing without opening anything.
160 topical series and a reading plan
Start wherever you are — 'weakness', 'waiting'. The one-year Bible reading plan, a Proverb a day, and the anonymous prayer box are all in there too.