# Parable of the Lost Sheep > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep > Source revision: 1340110748 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Parable of Jesus Etching by [Jan Luyken](/source/Jan_Luyken) showing the triumphant return of the shepherd, from the [Bowyer Bible](/source/Bowyer_Bible). Parable of the Lost Sheep (right) in [St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny](/source/St_Mary's_Cathedral%2C_Kilkenny), Ireland The **Parable of the Lost Sheep** is one of the [parables of Jesus](/source/Parables_of_Jesus). It appears in the [Gospels](/source/Gospel) of [Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew) ([Matthew 18:12–14](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Matthew%2018:12–14)) and [Luke](/source/Gospel_of_Luke) ([Luke 15:3–7](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Luke%2015:3–7)). It is about a man who leaves his flock of ninety-nine sheep in order to find the one which is lost. In Luke 15, it is the first member of a trilogy about [redemption](/source/Redemption_(theology)) that Jesus addresses to the [Pharisees](/source/Pharisees) and religious leaders after they accuse him of welcoming and eating with sinners.[1] ## Narrative In the Gospel of Luke, the parable is as follows: He told them this parable. "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends, his family and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance." — Luke 15:3–7, [World English Bible](/source/World_English_Bible) ## Interpretation Depiction of the [Good Shepherd](/source/Good_Shepherd) by [Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne](/source/Jean-Baptiste_de_Champaigne) showing the influence of this parable. The Parable of the Lost Sheep is followed by those of the [Lost Coin](/source/Parable_of_the_Lost_Coin) and the [Prodigal Son](/source/Parable_of_the_Prodigal_Son) in Luke's Gospel and shares with them the themes of losing, searching, finding, and rejoicing.[1] The lost sheep or coin represents a lost human being. As in the analogy of the [Good Shepherd](/source/Good_Shepherd), some consider Jesus to be the shepherd in the parable, thus identifying himself with the image of God as a shepherd searching for stray sheep in [Ezekiel 34:11–16](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Ezekiel%2034:11–16).[1] [Joel B. Green](/source/Joel_B._Green) writes that "these parables are fundamentally about God, ... their aim is to lay bare the nature of the divine response to the recovery of the lost."[2] The rejoicing of the shepherd with his friends represents God rejoicing with the [angels](/source/Angel). The image of God rejoicing at the recovery of lost sinners contrasts with the criticism of the religious leaders which prompted the parable.[2] [Justus Knecht](/source/Justus_Knecht) gives the typical Catholic interpretation of this parable, writing: By the simile of the Good Shepherd our Lord teaches us how great is His compassionate love for all mankind. All men, Jews and Gentiles, are His sheep, and He gave His life for all, being sacrificed on the Cross to redeem them from sin and hell. He is therefore the only Good Shepherd, and all others who are called to the pastoral office are good shepherds only so far as they imitate Jesus in their love and care of the flock confided to them. Moreover Jesus knows His own. He knows all about them, their needs, their weakness, their thoughts, their endeavours; He leads them into the fold of His Church, He helps them by His grace, He enlightens them by His doctrine, and nourishes and strengthens them with His Flesh and Blood in the most Blessed Sacrament. His pastoral love is, therefore, infinite and divine.[3] [Cornelius a Lapide](/source/Cornelius_a_Lapide) in his *Great Commentary* writes, So we, by reason of our sinful lusts, were as wandering sheep, treading the path which led to perdition, without a thought of God or of heaven, or of the salvation of our souls. Wherefore Christ came down from heaven to seek us, and to lead us back from the way of destruction to that which leadeth to eternal life. So we read, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all," Isa. 53:6; and again, "Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 1 Peter 2:25.[4] ## Depiction in art The image from this parable of the shepherd placing the lost sheep on his shoulders ([Luke 15:5](https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Luke%2015:5)) has been widely incorporated into depictions of the Good Shepherd.[5] Consequently, this parable appears in art mostly as an influence on depictions of the Good Shepherd rather than as a distinct subject on its own. ## Hymns While there are innumerable references to the Good Shepherd image in Christian [hymns](/source/Hymn), specific references to this parable can be recognised by a mention of the ninety-nine other sheep. A hymn describing this parable is "The Ninety and Nine" by [Elizabeth Clephane](/source/Elizabeth_Clephane) (1868), which begins: There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold. But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold. Away on the mountains wild and bare. Away from the tender Shepherd's care. Away from the tender Shepherd's care.[6] [James Tissot](/source/James_Tissot) – *The Good Shepherd* (Le bon pasteur) – [Brooklyn Museum](/source/Brooklyn_Museum) ## See also - [Five Discourses of Matthew](/source/Five_Discourses_of_Matthew) - [Life of Jesus in the New Testament](/source/Life_of_Jesus_in_the_New_Testament) - [Ministry of Jesus](/source/Ministry_of_Jesus) - [The Sheep and Goats](/source/The_Sheep_and_Goats) - [Good Shepherd](/source/Good_Shepherd) - [Parable of the Lost Coin](/source/Parable_of_the_Lost_Coin) ## Further reading - [Baxter, Roger](/source/Roger_Baxter) (1823). ["The Lost Sheep"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Meditations_For_Every_Day_In_The_Year/Historical_Narratives#505). *Meditations For Every Day In The Year*. New York: Benziger Brothers. pp. 505–506. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RNL_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RNL_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RNL_1-2) [Richard N. Longenecker](/source/Richard_Longenecker), *[The Challenge of Jesus' Parables](https://books.google.com/books?id=JojVvncUgk0C&pg=PA201)*, Eerdmans, 2000, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8028-4638-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8028-4638-6), pp. 201–204. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Green_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Green_2-1) [Joel B. Green](/source/Joel_B._Green), *[The Gospel of Luke](https://books.google.com/books?id=wzRVN2S8cVgC&pg=PA526)*, Eerdmans, 1997, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8028-2315-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8028-2315-7), p. 526. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Knecht, Friedrich Justus](/source/Justus_Knecht) (1910). ["XLIV. Jesus the Good Shepherd."](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Practical_Commentary_on_Holy_Scripture/XLIV._Jesus_the_Good_Shepherd.). *A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture*. B. Herder. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Lapide, Cornelius](/source/Cornelius_a_Lapide) (1889). [*The great commentary of Cornelius à Lapide*](http://www.catholicapologetics.info/scripture/newtestament/Lapide.htm). Translated by Thomas Wimberly Mossman. London: John Hodges.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Walter Lowrie, *[Art in the Early Church](https://books.google.com/books?id=0fwCGTzbMQ0C&pg=PA69)*, Pantheon Books, 1947, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-4067-5291-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-4067-5291-6), p. 69. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Ninety and Nine"](http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/n/i/n/e/90_and_9.htm). *www.hymntime.com*. The Cyber Hymnal. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2021. ## External links Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Parable of the Lost Sheep](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep)***. Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Parable of the Lost Sheep](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep). - [Biblical Art on the WWW: The Lost Sheep](http://www.biblical-art.com/biblicalsubject.asp?id_biblicalsubject=1225&pagenum=1) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175606/http://www.biblical-art.com/biblicalsubject.asp?id_biblicalsubject=1225&pagenum=1) 2018-08-29 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [The parable in the book of Luke, NIV version](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:3-7;&version=31;) - [The parable in the book of Matthew, NIV version](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:12-14;&version=31;) - *[Jesus Declares the Parable of the Lost Sheep](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YZVp3GH-7o&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=4)* from the [Mormon Channel](/source/Mormon_Channel) - [The Parable of the Lost Sheep](http://www.ThisIsHisEvidence.com/my-little-lost-sheep/) from [The Poem of the Man-God](/source/The_Poem_of_the_Man-God) v t e Jesus Outline List of topics Chronology of Jesus's life Annunciation Nativity Virgin birth Date of birth Flight into Egypt Infancy (apocryphal) Christ Child Unknown years Baptism Temptation Apostles Selecting Ministry Disciples Sermon on the Mount/Plain Beatitudes Prayers Lord's Prayer Parables Miracles Transfiguration Homelessness Great Commandment Olivet Discourse Anointing Passion instruments Entry into Jerusalem Last Supper Farewell Discourse Agony in the Garden Betrayal Arrest Trial Crucifixion Sayings on the cross Instrument used True Cross Burial Tomb Resurrection Road to Emmaus appearance Great Commission Ascension New Testament Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John Five Discourses of Matthew Gospel harmony Oral gospel traditions Historical background of the New Testament New Testament places associated with Jesus Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament Historical Jesus Quest for the historical Jesus Historicity Sources Josephus Tacitus Mara bar Serapion Gospels Christ myth theory Depictions Bibliography Life of Christ in art Life of Christ Museum Statues Transfiguration Christianity Christ Christianity 1st century Christology Incarnation Person of Christ Pre-existence "I am" Relics Second Coming Session of Christ Son of God Cosmic Christ In other faiths Jesuism In comparative mythology Judaism In the Talmud Islam Ahmadiyya Baháʼí Faith Manichaeism Jesus the Splendour Mandaeism Master Jesus Family Genealogies Mary (mother) Joseph (legal father) Holy Family Panthera (alleged father) Brothers of Jesus Holy Kinship Anne (traditional maternal grandmother) Joachim (traditional maternal grandfather) Heli (paternal grandfather per Luke) Jacob (paternal grandfather per Matthew) Alleged descendants Clopas (traditional uncle) Related Language of Jesus Interactions with women Mary Magdalene Mary, sister of Martha Christmas Easter Rejection of Jesus Criticism Mental health Race and appearance Sexuality and marital status Church of the Nativity Church of the Holy Sepulchre The Garden Tomb Shroud of Turin Category v t e Parables of Jesus Canonical Gospels Barren Fig Tree Budding Fig Tree Counting the cost Drawing in the Net Faithful Servant Friend at Night Good Samaritan Good Shepherd Grain of Wheat Great Banquet Growing Seed Hidden Treasure Lamp Leaven Lost Coin Lost Sheep Master and Servant Mote and the Beam Mustard Seed New Wine into Old Wineskins Pearl of Great Price Pharisee and the Publican Prodigal Son Rich Fool Rich man and Lazarus Scribe Sheep and Goats Sower Strong Man Talents or Minas Tares Ten Virgins True Vine Tree and Its Fruits Two Debtors Two Sons Unjust Judge Unjust Steward Unforgiving Servant Wedding Feast Wicked Husbandmen Wise and Foolish Builders Workers in the Vineyard Non-canonical / disputed Assassin Empty Jar Related Jesus ministry Jesus preaches in a ship Parable Authority control databases National United States France BnF data Israel Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Parable of the Lost Sheep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Lost_Sheep?action=history)). 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