THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP

Matt. 18:10-14, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.   For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?   And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.  .” 

Luke 15:4-7, “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.” 

Mark includes the shepherd placing the sheep on his shoulders, and holding a feast with his friends over finding the lost sheep. Matthew speaks of the shepherd rejoicing over the sheep, and Marks points to the rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that comes to repentance. Mark further illustrates this rejoicing in the next two parables: The parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the Prodigal son.

I. THE RATIONALIZATION

PURPOSE “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”

2 Cor. 4:3, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost

PROFESSION Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

PERSISTENCE Jesus will never give up!

II. THE REASONING

1. Proper Reasoning Leads To Responsibility How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?  The responsibility of the shepherd is to watch over every sheep in the flock.

Cain questioned his responsibility. “Am I my brother’s keeper. ” (Gen Jonah ran from his responsibility, “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD” (Jonah 1:3). We are told to be responsible for the fallen (Gal. 6:1-4).

2. Proper Reasoning is Seeded in Reliability The shepherd is totally dedicated to the flock. Luke 2:8, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

3. Proper Reasoning Moves One To React The search for the missing sheep is not delayed, or put off in any way. A sheep has strayed. Hence, the search begins immediately.

WHEN? When do we contact a brother or sister that has strayed? Sometimes they are never contacted.

III. THE REJOICING

MORTAL REJOICING “And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”  

Psa. 33:1, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.” Psa. 33:21, “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.” Psa. 35:9, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.”

Luke 15:7, “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.”  HEAVENLY REJOICING

III. THE RESOLUTION

Matt. 18:14, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

“If any soul be finally lost, it is not because God’s will or counsel was against its salvation, or that a proper provision had not been made for it; but that, though light came into the world, it preferred darkness to light, because of its attachment to its evil deeds” (Adam Clarke).

Rom. 8:27, “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

THREE FACTS 1. God does not wish any to Perish! 2 Pet. 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” THREE FACTS

2. God uses His Saints to Perform the Task Eph. 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

3. God wants us to be Persistent We’ve already spoken of Jesus never giving up on us. Likewise, we should never give up on others! 3. God wants us to be Persistent

Gal. 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”