Leave the 99
Imagine This
You stand near the edge of the crowd as Jesus teaches.
Around Him are people you would never expect a rabbi to welcome. Tax collectors mingle among the listeners. Men and women with sinful reputations lean in to hear every word. Some have likely cheated their neighbors, ruined their families, or lived openly immoral lives.
Then you notice another group.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law stand nearby with folded arms and furrowed brows. Instead of rejoicing that broken people are listening to God's Word, they quietly grumble to one another.
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
To them, Jesus' actions seem unthinkable. A man claiming to represent God should stay as far away from sinners as possible.
Jesus hears their criticism.
Rather than arguing with them, He tells two stories.
Read Together
Read Luke 15:1–10 together.
As you read, notice what both the shepherd and the woman are willing to do in order to recover what was lost.
Scripture Overview
Jesus tells of a shepherd who owns one hundred sheep. When one wanders away, he leaves the ninety-nine in the open country and goes after the lost sheep until he finds it.
When he does, he joyfully carries it home on his shoulders and calls his friends to celebrate.
Then Jesus tells of a woman who has ten silver coins. When one goes missing, she lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it. She, too, calls her friends together to celebrate.
Both stories answer the Pharisees' complaint.
They believed righteous people should avoid sinners.
Jesus shows that God seeks sinners.
The shepherd is willing to leave the ninety-nine because one sheep is still missing.
The woman refuses to stop searching because one coin still hasn't been found.
Neither is satisfied until what was lost has been recovered.
Jesus says that heaven responds the same way.
When even one sinner repents, there is great rejoicing before God.
As followers of Christ, we should share that same heart.
It is easy to spend all our time caring for those already inside the church. Those believers need encouragement, teaching, and fellowship.
But we must never forget those who are still outside.
The Shepherd never stopped caring about the ninety-nine.
He simply refused to give up on the one.
Talk About It
Why do you think the Pharisees were bothered that Jesus spent time with sinners?
What do these parables teach us about God's heart toward people who are far from Him?
Who are the "one" in your life that God may be calling you to pursue with His love?
How can our church become more intentional about helping lost people find Christ?
Practice This Week
Think of one person you know who is far from God.
Pray for that person every day this week.
Look for one opportunity to encourage them, invite them to church, share your testimony, or simply show them the love of Christ.
Ask God to give you the heart of the Shepherd who never stopped searching until the lost sheep was safely home.
Prayer
Father, thank You for seeking us when we were lost. We praise You that Jesus did not avoid sinners but came to save them.
Give us Your heart for people who do not yet know You. Help us not to become comfortable caring only for those already inside the church. Open our eyes to those who are wandering, and give us the courage to love them, pray for them, and point them to Christ.
May our church rejoice over every person who turns to You, just as heaven rejoices.
In Jesus' name, Amen.