Luke 15:3-7 And he spoke this parable to them, saying,… 1. They rejoice because an heir of heaven has been led to claim his inheritance. Mark the words, "Joy in heaven." Heaven belongs to the penitent soul, and he belongs to heaven. For heaven is the dwelling-place of God and the home of His children. It is our home by a double title. Every member of the Church of Christ who is as the lost sheep, or as the lost piece of money, or as the younger son, is one lost out of the family of God, and when he returns, he is one restored to the place from which he was missing. 2. And the joy at his repentance finds its reason in the fact, that a man's repentance is the removal of that one obstacle which prevents his restoration to his place in the family of God. What is that obstacle? Do I need to name it? It is sin. 3. And thus we are led to notice another element in those causes from which the joy of the heavenly ones proceeds; it is the value of the soul which is thus emancipated by the mighty change which has passed upon it. "The redemption of the soul is precious." We are in danger of forgetting the intrinsic worth and dignity of the soul of man in consequence of the loss which it has sustained through the Fall and by sin.. (W. R. Clark, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he spake this parable unto them, saying, |
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