All: The life of Jesus

The life of Jesus

Parable of the Lost Sheep

ParableParables

In short

Luke version: Peraean ministry, opening Luke 15 trio. Matthew version: Galilean ministry, Mat.18 community discourse.

Citations: Matthew 18:10-14 || Luke 15:3-7, Matthew's setting is the community discourse on humility + restoration; Luke's setting is the Pharisees' murmur at Jesus eating with sinners. Main point: God / the Good Shepherd actively searches for the one lost, even at cost to the ninety-nine.

The parable

A man has 100 sheep; 1 strays. He leaves the 99 (Luke: "in the wilderness"; Matthew: "on the mountains") and goes after the lost one until he finds it. Carries it home rejoicing; calls friends + neighbors to celebrate.

Two contextual framings

Luke 15, Jesus answers Pharisees' grumbling. The parable says: God's heart is to search for sinners; rejoice when one repents; "joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7).

Matthew 18, Jesus speaks to disciples about community life. Don't despise "little ones"; the Father is not willing that one of them should perish.

Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • Matthew 18:10bsb

    See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

  • Luke 15:3bsb

    Then Jesus told them this parable:

On contested questions we show every major view, attributed and cited, and pick no winner. Answers are synthesized from primary sources, truth you can trace, not opinion.

Parable of the Lost Sheep · Bubble Bible