Returning to the scene of the previous blog – Many people who are known to be leading sinful lives have gathered around Jesus to hear His message of salvation. Seeing this, the Pharisees are immediately critical of Jesus, saying, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:2). Jesus responds to this criticism by relating three parables. Here is the first one:

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:4-7)

As mentioned in the previous blog, this parable is virtually the same as the one Jesus related in Matthew 18. However, the two versions are not exactly the same. They differ in the following ways:

So, whereas the parable in Matthew 18 is instructing us to recover followers of Jesus who have gone astray, the message in Luke 15 is instructing us to put forth effort to bring sinners to repentance. The first message is one of focusing inward—on our inactive church members. The second message is one of focusing outward—on converting sinners and bringing them to Christ.

But wait a minute, doesn’t the parable start out with 100 sheep, and one gets lost? How can the lost sheep represent sinners who don’t know the Lord? They were never part of the flock.

Ah, but they were once part of the flock! And understanding that gives us some insight into how God views the human family.

It’s important to understand that every human child who is born anywhere in the world is born into the family of God. It doesn’t matter who the parents are or what their beliefs are—every child is innocent and belongs to the Lord. Anyone who dies as a child immediately goes to the paradise of God and dwells with God for eternity (just like any other member of the family of God).

But what about children who reach the age of understanding (early teens for most children)? Well, assuming that they don’t give their lives to Christ at that time, they will begin to sin and thereby become “lost sheep.” So, the process of bringing sinners to repentance can also be viewed as bringing lost sheep back to the fold, back to the family of God. No wonder there’s rejoicing in heaven—a member of God’s family who was lost has returned!

Keep this in mind when considering the importance of outreach to sinners. God doesn’t view sinners as terrible people—He sees them as His children who have gone astray. That’s why He set up a plan of salvation to rescue His lost children from eternal destruction. As members of the family of God today, we have the unique opportunity to share the gospel with God’s lost children and perhaps be instrumental in bringing some of them home.

So, let’s make it a personal priority (as Jesus did) to share the gospel with those who have not given their lives to Christ. They may not know God, but He knows them—they are His children who have gone astray. Let’s make it a goal to trigger a series of celebrations in heaven by helping God’s lost children repent and find their way home.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.

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