The Parable Of The Lost Sheep Series

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP

Luke 15:3-7

(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, February 1st, 2026)

“”There were ninety and nine that safely lay

In the shelter of the flock,

But one was out on the hills away,

Far off in the cold and dark;

Away on the mountains wild and bare,

Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;

Are they not enough for Thee?”

But the Shepherd made answer:

“This of Mine has wandered away from Me;

And although the road be rough and steep,

I go to the desert to find My sheep.””

As Christians we rejoice in the reality that we are sheep who belong to “The Good Shepherd” who came and rescued us from sin. In John 10:11, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.

Interestingly, the word “shepherd” is not found in The Parable of the Lost Sheep, but the actions of a devoted shepherd are readily apparent. As Jesus seeks to illustrate the value of a soul and combat the haughty attitudes of the Pharisees, He tells of the story of how a certain shepherd sought out a single sheep that was lost.

When examining this parable we can see, The Awareness Of The Shepherd, The Activity Of The Shepherd, and The Affection Of The Shepherd. Each of these truths highlight some wonderful attributes of our loving Lord. I invite you to join me in our selected text as we consider “The Parable Of The Lost Sheep”.

At this point in Jesus’ earthly ministry, tax collectors and sinners were being drawn to Him, they possessed an intense desire to hear His words. Rather than pushing these social outcasts aside, Jesus received them and even dined with them. The Savior’s acts of love, compassion, and acceptance drew the ire of the self-righteous Pharisees and their Scribes. On numerous occasions they questioned Jesus’ godliness and commitment to the Law.

After Jesus called a tax collector named Levi to be one of His Disciples, “Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:29-32).

Now, the Pharisees and their Scribes were again complaining and saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The grumbling of the Pharisees was prompted by their belief that Jesus was guilty of impurity, constituting a violation of the law. The Pharisees believed that their complaints were justified and even saw their opposition to Jesus as evidence of their own godliness. In reality, their complaining was actually evidence of their unrighteousness.

In response to their concerns and criticisms, Jesus shared three parables: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Each of these parables illustrate the value of a soul and the importance of extending compassion to sinners.

While the three parables in this chapter show the importance of love and compassion, and they illustrate the seeking heart of Jesus, they also show us that the only way for sinners to experience true fellowship is for one to repent.

In our selected text, Jesus shares the story of a shepherd who had one hundred sheep. At some point he realized that one was missing. In response, he left the ninety-nine sheep, (who it appears are safe and secure) and went out on an intense and intentional search; he searched far and wide until he found the one that was lost.

Though it is not stated until Jesus’ conversation with Zacchaeus in chapter nineteen, Jesus’ mission to “seek and save the lost” is vividly apparent in the entirety of chapter fifteen, in fact, it is seen throughout the Gospels!

Jesus goes on to declare that when the shepherd found the lost sheep, he rejoiced greatly, put it upon his shoulders, returned home, and then called his friends and neighbors together for a great celebration.

The heart of this Parable is seen in verse seven, there Jesus said, “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.” Though the Pharisees and Scribes grumbled and complained about the tax collectors and sinners, all of Heaven rejoiced at the their repentance. By failing to celebrate, the Pharisees showed just how far they were from the Angels.

- Let’s look to this parable and examine: