The Parable of the Lost Sheep:

“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds 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 to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine [b]just persons who need no repentance” Luke 15.1-7 (NKJV). There are two places in the Bible that tell a parable of the lost sheep - of a loving shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep in search of one that is lost — Matthew 18:12 and Luke 15:4. It’s from these verses and their passages that we understand it is Jesus who leaves the 99. This is because He often used short relatable stories to share deeper spiritual insights about Himself, His Father, and His Kingdom. The lost sheep parables are no different and, indeed, point to some considerable truths, both here on earth and even in Heaven. To better understand these truths, we’ll need to take a closer look at the nature of parables and what is implied by the stories of the lost sheep.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep is a wonderful story told by Jesus to illustrate the love and compassion that God has for every person. The parable is found in Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and is in response to Jesus being criticized and attacked by the religious leaders for "eating with sinners". The religious leaders, also known as the Pharisees, had hearts filled with wrong motives and prejudice. They could not believe Jesus would associate with these types of people. Jesus stops the crowd and begins to tell a story of how a shepherd left his flock of 99 sheep to go find one lost sheep. This parable displays the beautiful meaning of God seeking out the lost sinner and rejoicing when they are found. God cares about all of us equally and will stop everything to find us and care for us. We serve a Good Shepherd whose heart is for us to be found, rescued, and renewed. The parable of the lost sheep is meant to teach us how we should care for others regardless of how they look or act. We have been called to love and care for the lost! Finally, it was for the lost sheep that Jesus came. Leaving Heaven as our shepherd, to lay down His life as a lamb, becoming sin for the sinner, and righteousness for the saint. He chose to endure the cross, simply for the joy set before Him as His sheep are sought, called, and placed on His shoulders, for the journey home. May we never forget, God’s call to any lost sheep is found in the gospel.