Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Introduction

Good news is in the air: God loves those who are lost and wants to save them. All Christians ought to take delight in being a part of this good news. The parable of the lost sheep tells of the wonderful news of God’s love. It is introduced by the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes because Jesus received sinners. In discussing the parable of the lost sheep, we need to consider two things: the need of the lost and the lost that is found.

I. The need of the lost.

A. The lost condition is found in the word lost. The literal meaning of the word lost is “to be away from,” either in time or space. Those who are lost are separated from God; consequently they are separated from joy and peace and are faced with eternal hell and damnation.

Some people may not realize they are in this condition. They have drifted into separation from God and are unaware of the consequences. The business of God’s servants is to open their eyes and stir their souls.

B. The lost condition is emphasized in the search to find the lost.

1. The words translated “leave” and “go” (Luke 15:4) show continuous action. This means the shepherd keeps going from one place to another until each lost sheep is found.

2. Jesus’ action is even more evident. He left heaven and came to earth, lived and died to pay the debt of sin. He is now alive and at the right hand of God, making continuous intercession. He is at work right now seeking to bring the lost to his fold. He accomplishes this through the drawing of his Holy Spirit when the Word of God is shared.

II. The lost that is found.

A. Consider the words joy and rejoicing.

1. In verse 5 we find that the shepherd laid the sheep on his shoulders and kept on rejoicing. Isaiah 53:6 says, “And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

2. In Luke 15:6 we read that the shepherd told his friends and neighbors, “Rejoice with me.” This, too, is continuous action. He kept calling, and they continued rejoicing.

3. In verse 7 Jesus said that there is more joy over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine who have no need to repent.

B. Consider the joy that comes when one lost person is found. The Bible says that angels in heaven rejoice. God’s children rejoice. The greatest joy of all is found in the heart of the one who repents.

Conclusion

In this message we have discussed a parable that tells of the need for the lost to repent and the joy when one does repent. I want to urge all of you who are lost to come to Jesus right now.