The One Percenters

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety-nine just persons, which need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

This passage has always puzzled me.  It is from the parable that Jesus told about the lost sheep.  If a man has 100 sheep and one of them wanders off, he will leave the 99 to go find the missing sheep, and, when he finds it, he will bring it home and call for his friends to celebrate with him.  Jesus then said that is how it is when a sinner repents.  Everyone rejoices over that one person and not over the 99 who “need no repentance”.  That last part has always puzzled me because the Bible teaches that all people need to repent and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some Bible scholars view the 99 as Pharisees because, in the minds of these religious leaders of Jesus’ day, they saw themselves as righteous before God, and perhaps Jesus said this to them “tongue-in-cheek”.  In other words, they considered themselves in no need of repentance because they claimed to follow the law.  They trusted in their works to make them righteous before God, and Jesus’ statement was one of satire used to expose the folly of believing one is without the need of repentance.  They were “proud” of their righteousness, yet pride is a sin.  Other Bible commentators see the 99 as the Jewish common folks who, like the religious leaders, also believed they were in right standing before God because they adhered to the law and made the required sacrifices.  However, the law and sacrifices were only a temporary measure until Christ made the final sacrifice to provide right standing before God which requires repentance.

Is it possible that the 99 are those who have repented and believed and are endeavoring to live a Christlike life because this is what is expected of anyone who follows Christ?  When one is born again, the Holy Spirit comes in to dwell within a believer and guides him or her to live righteously.  Those who do strive for excellence in their walk with Christ do not require accolades and praises. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 that believers are to be a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is (their) reasonable service”.  In other words, we are to do what is right because it is right and not to receive praise.  However, when a sinner comes to Christ, that is something in which to rejoice.