The Lost Sheep Story - Bible

The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were complaining. They said, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'

So Jesus told them a story. He said, 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Won't you leave the ninety-nine in the open country? Won't you go after the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulders. You will be very happy. Then you will go home. You will call your friends and neighbors together. You will say, 'Be happy with me. I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, it is the same in heaven. There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns away from sin than over ninety-nine godly people who do not need to turn away from their sins.'

Then Jesus told another story. He said, 'Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the house? Won't she search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors together. She will say, 'Be happy with me. I have found my lost coin.' I tell you, it is the same with the angels of God. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who turns away from sin.'

Jesus continued, 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger son spoke to his father. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the family property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. He left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. He spent everything he had. After he had spent everything, the whole country ran low on food. So the son began to be in need. He went and hired himself out to a person who lived in that country. That person sent him to the fields to feed pigs. The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.

Finally he began to think clearly. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.''

So he got up and went to his father.

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.'

But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. This son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

The servant replied, 'Your brother has come home. Your father has killed the fattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.'

The older brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out and begged him to come in.

But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I have always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours comes home after wasting your money on prostitutes, you kill the fattest calf for him!'

The father said to him, 'My son, you are always with me. Everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.''

Through these stories, Jesus showed how much God loves lost people. The shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to find one lost sheep. The woman searched her whole house to find one lost coin. The father ran to welcome home his lost son. God feels the same way about every person who is far from him. He searches for them. He waits for them. He celebrates when they come home. No one is too lost for God to find. No one has sinned too much for God to forgive. God's love is big enough for everyone.

The Lost Sheep story teaches God’s love and concern for everyone. It shows that every person matters to God. This story highlights care and compassion.