The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.” — Luke 15:7

Lots of tax collectors and other people who were known as “sinners” loved to come and listen to Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law grumbled about it. “This man welcomes sinners,” they muttered, “and He even eats with them!”

So Jesus told them some stories.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep,” Jesus said, “and you lose one of them. Won’t you leave the ninety-nine in the field, and go after the one that is lost, until you find it?

“And when you find it, you joyfully put it on your shoulders and carry it home. Then you call your friends and neighbours together and say, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’

“I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns back to God than over ninety-nine good people who don’t think they need to.”

Then Jesus told another story.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins, and she loses one. Won’t she light a lamp, and sweep the whole house, and search carefully until she finds it?

“And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost coin!’

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in front of God’s angels over one sinner who turns back to God.”

A shepherd with a hundred sheep might think, “It’s only one sheep. I’ve still got ninety-nine.” But the shepherd in Jesus’ story doesn’t think like that. Every single sheep matters to him. He goes looking for the lost one, and he doesn’t stop until he finds it.

And a woman with ten coins might think, “It’s only one coin.” But she turns the whole house upside down looking for it, because it’s precious to her.

That is how God feels about people who are lost and far away from Him. Every single person matters to Him. He goes looking for them. And when one of them comes back to Him, all of heaven has a party!

The Pharisees grumbled that Jesus spent time with sinners. But Jesus was like the shepherd, out looking for His lost sheep. That’s exactly what He came to do.

Read it in your Bible: Luke 15:1–10

Dear Jesus, thank you that you are the Good Shepherd, who goes looking for lost sheep. Thank you that every single person matters to you, including me. Amen.