Luke 15:1-10 :
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
He told them this parable. “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? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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!’ 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. 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? 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.’ Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
If you were wondering if people ever have fun in Heaven, this is a good place to learn about that. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God” when someone comes to Jesus. It is clear that Jesus, and all of the Jews for that matter, are not against having feasts and parties. The reason for the party is the subject of this parable.
It’s easy for the self-righteous to separate themselves from those that they consider worse sinners than themselves. It is true that we shouldn’t be in the company of sinners in order to “party” with them. We know that those who are companions of sinners become sinners themselves. Jesus was not becoming a companion of sinners. As we read here, He spoke just as harshly to the “sinners” as He did to the “righteous people.” After all, Jesus is telling the “sinners” that they are indeed sinners and that they need to repent!
The real difference is that the “sinners” are aware of their sin and that they are choosing to stop doing whatever they were doing and deciding to come and listen to Jesus. The “righteous people” that Jesus is dealing with here seemed to have forgotten their own sin. I believe that this is why Jesus has to keep reminding them of it.
It’s a great thing that Heaven parties when someone turns from their evil way and starts doing what is right. I fell like having a party when this happens too and if the Pharisees were in tune with God they would be very happy as well. It is important that we don’t think too highly of ourselves; we all need to turn from our sin and listen to Jesus because there really aren’t any “righteous people.” Only Jesus.