06 · Jesus' Parable

The Lost Sheep

Luke 15:1–7

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A shepherd in a rugged landscape lifts a sheep and places it across his shoulders.

Jesus is criticized for welcoming sinners and responds with a story about a lost sheep.

Why does Jesus seek the lost?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: Why can it be hard to rejoice over the one who is found?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A and C are closest to our understanding. A captures the shepherd's active search for the one sheep that has been lost and his persistence until he finds it. C captures the repeated theme of joy and Jesus' own conclusion: there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

06 · Luke 15:1–7

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Text & context

Full translation

1 All the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him to hear him. 2 The Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 I tell you: In the same way, there will be greater joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
The parable begins before Jesus mentions a sheep. Tax collectors and sinners draw near to listen, while Pharisees and scribes criticize Jesus for welcoming sinners and eating with them. Jesus responds with a shepherd who loses one sheep out of a hundred. He goes after the lost one until he finds it, carries it back on his shoulders, and invites others to share his joy. Jesus concludes by speaking of joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Notice this

The opening criticism is that Jesus "welcomes sinners and eats with them." The parable ends with joy over a sinner who repents. This creates a sharp contrast between grumbling and rejoicing. It is important not to isolate verses 4–7 from verses 1–2. Jesus tells the parable because he is criticized for welcoming sinners and eating with them. The shepherd does not wait for the sheep to find its own way home. He goes after it and continues until he finds it. The shepherd takes the initiative. When the sheep is found, the shepherd places it on his shoulders. The story therefore does not emphasize the sheep's own ability to return. The shepherd searches, finds, and carries. Joy appears on several levels: The parable concerns not only rescue but also the response when the lost is found. Jesus speaks of "ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." The text does not explicitly state whether this should be read entirely literally, rhetorically, or ironically in light of those criticizing Jesus. We should therefore avoid making the phrase more definite than the text does. The parable does not say so. All one hundred belong to the shepherd. The lost sheep receives special attention because it is missing.

Language & translation

From the Greek

προσδέχεται -- prosdechetai

welcomes / receives In verse 2, Jesus is criticized because he welcomes sinners and eats with them. The criticism therefore includes his social fellowship with them.

ἀπολωλός -- apolōlos

the lost one The form comes from apollymi. Here it refers to the sheep that has become lost and is missing from the flock.

πορεύεται -- poreuetai

goes The shepherd does not passively wait for the sheep to return. He goes after it.

ἕως εὕρῃ -- heōs heurē

until he finds The expression emphasizes persistence in the search.

χαίρων -- chairōn

rejoicing When the shepherd finds the sheep, he places it on his shoulders with joy.

μετανοοῦντι -- metanoounti

who repents In verse 7 Jesus connects the parable with a sinner who repents.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Compare how translations render: - προσδέχεται -- prosdechetai - ἀπολωλός -- apolōlos - ἕως εὕρῃ -- heōs heurē - χαίρων -- chairōn - μετανοοῦντι -- metanoounti

    Continue the conversation

    Discuss further
    1. What changes when the parable is read as a response to criticism of Jesus?
    2. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the shepherd's joy?
    3. What does the story suggest about initiative in seeking the lost?
    4. Why can people react negatively when much attention is given to someone who has wandered away?
    5. How is special care for the one who is missing different from valuing the others less?
    6. How should the phrase about the ninety-nine who "need no repentance" be understood?
    Parallel passages
    • Matthew 18:12–14
    • Luke 15:8–10
    • Luke 15:11–32
    Sources
    • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Luke 15:1–7
    • Standard Greek lexical resources for prosdechomai, apollymi, poreuomai, heuriskō, chairō, and metanoeō