The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Luke 15: 3-7

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Analyzation by Verse  

1. (Verse 3) Jesus previously told two parables about sheep in Matthew and John. In Matthew, Jesus makes the comparison that sheep are like “little ones”, highlighting the quality of curiosity and the pursuit of “answers”. In John, Jesus compares the sheep to His followers, highlighting their devotion to Him. In this parable, Jesus relates sheep to the repentant sinner, highlighting the quality of remorse in those who have left his guidance. The shepherd can be though of as God.
2. (Verse 4) Jesus refers to God as the shepherd who watches over his flock of followers. He asks a rhetorical question, Wouldn’t God take the time to help his lost follower come back to Him, rather than abandoning the lost one to be on his own?
3. (Verse 5) When God sees that the lost sheep wants to be found, He takes him back to His home (in the light of His kingdom). Not only is the sheep (the sinner) happy to be found, God is happy that he was found.
4. (Verse 6) God rejoices when the sheep has returned to His guidance because it takes a lot to leave and come back; it takes a lot to admit your wrong and seek repentance.
5. (Verse 7) The shepherd simply reiterates his message- God will never stop waiting for His children to return to Him; fulfillment is found through God

Modern Parable:

A recent widow, unknown to others, loses the wedding band her deceased husband had given her. She goes around town, creates ads online, and tweets about her missing band and asking others if they have seen it. People criticize her by quoting or replying to her tweets and making comments like ‘why would someone go through this much trouble for a piece of tin”. Ignoring these comments, she continues in search for her lost ring. One day, someone returns the ring to her and she is overwhelmed with tears of joy and gratitude. She posts a photo on Instagram of the ring returned to its proper place on her finger.