No Sheep Left Behind

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost (vv. 12-14).

The Lost Sheep: Luke 15:3-7

“[T]here will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7b, NIV).

Jesus simply destroys the thought that I might be able to do enough good things and avoid sin completely enough to get right with God.

Which Entrance?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

In verses 1-6, Jesus tells a story about how only shepherds can enter a sheep pen.

The shepherd needs to get past the doorkeeper, and the sheep will only respond to their shepherd’s commands and voice.

Trouble is, the people listening to Jesus didn’t get it.