What Is Jesus’ Message in the Parable of the Lost Sheep?
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As a farmer, I am aware of the feelings which wash over you when you discover you are missing an animal. Just this morning, I was found pushing cattle that escaped their pasture back into the fold. My feelings quickly changed from worry and panic to happiness and relief.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep is a story found in the books of Matthew and Luke. In this story, Jesus tells of a shepherd who probably had similar emotions when he found his one lost sheep. The message was perfectly clear and quite clever. In His parable, Jesus expresses strong truths and guidance through this simple story.
What is Jesus’s message in the accounts of Matthew and Luke and how can we practice that message today?
Why Did Jesus Teach in Parables?
We don’t know how many parables Jesus used in His lifetime, but we know there are over 30 accounted for in the gospels. I believe that is enough to prove parables were a key part of His teaching method.
Parables are short stories used to convey a truth and explain how we should put that truth into action. In Greek, the word means “set aside.” The truths Jesus shares in His parables are ones that set the believer aside. Practicing those truths is what makes us different.
Another reason Jesus taught in parables had to do with the Jewish culture He lived in. Jesus was a Jew and understood the language. In Jewish culture things are explained using word pictures. Those word pictures were meant to convey a clear image and evoke emotions.
Jesus used parables to put an emphasis on the attitudes of the people. He was looking at their inward heart rather than outward appearance.
The Account in Matthew
The first time we read the Parable of the Lost Sheep is in Matthew 18:12-14.
“What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.”
In this account, Jesus is having a conversation with His disciples. They asked Him who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1). Jesus responds by having a child stand next to Him and instructs the disciples they should be like this child. They should turn away from sin and be humble before Him.
The lesson in Matthew’s account is one of total faith and dependence on God. We must be protective of the hearts of children and never be a negative example to them. Children are also to be looked at as no less than anyone older; they are just as important.
Luke’s Account
The gospel writer Luke also includes the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15:3-7.
“So He told them this parable. What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and coming home he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep! I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.”
In Luke’s account we see the audience change but not the message. Jesus is not talking to his disciples, rather he is addressing the Pharisees and scribes that don’t agree with his behavior. Jesus had been sitting and eating with tax collectors and sinners. The very idea that a follower of God would associate with such people was abominable in Jesus’ day.
What Do Matthew and Luke’s Accounts Have in Common?
The gospels of Matthew and Luke both convey the same message in the Parable of the Lost Sheep. In both accounts, Jesus is the shepherd, the sheep are His people, and the lost sheep is the sinner who repents and returns to God.
Both accounts also have the same pattern. First, the main character has something valuable. Secondly, the main character rejoices in finding what they lost. Thirdly, the main character expresses care when looking for what he lost. Lastly, the lost object has personal value.
The accounts in Matthew and Luke show us that once we believe and repent, God will not let us go. He is always in active pursuit of hearts and minds. Jesus is also saying that one person is not better than another. He went after one sheep, not because he was more important than the others in the flock, but because he was just as important as the others.
Christ’s love is extended to all peoples. He knows us all by name (John 10:3). He rejoices when each sinner comes to know Him. Regardless of who you are or what your past looks like, God accepts you. He died on the cross for all of us. His blood covers all our sins.
What Should Our Response Be?
It’s not just important that we understand the message in The Parable of the Lost Sheep, but we must also act on the message.
Each day we must remember that every life has value. Jesus did not just focus on the flock, rather He turned His focus to the one that had strayed. Today, Jesus is still turning His focus on the ones who have strayed. He lived and died for everyone, making all lives precious to Him. Even when we stray from the flock, Jesus still loves us. There is nothing we can do that is so bad that His love for us changes (Romans 8:38).
We also must not forget the lost. Too often we get caught up in the congregation and our small group meetings. We can’t forget that there are people beyond the walls of our church and homes that need Jesus in their lives. There are people who have walked away and need help getting back. God’s love is persistent and our love for others should be the same.
Each day is a challenge. Each day we make the choice to be part of the flock or the one that lost its way. It is a dangerous and scary world we live in and when we become distant from God, the predators will come at you.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep speaks to all human hearts. It challenges us, even church leaders, not to look down on anyone. We are a people called to care for and love one another, and there is no better way to love someone than to help them find Jesus. Our churches are not places for just the redeemed. They are places where the ones who are still searching can find the answers they desperately need.
A God Who Never Gives Up
I have heard the Parable of the Lost Sheep many times but never realized the depth of its message. This simple, short parable expresses God’s love for us and how great His desire is for us to know Him. It reminds us to love others as Christ loved us and always remember that no matter what we have done or what we will do, God will never give up on us.
Photo credit: Pexels/Lukas Hartmann
