3 And he spake unto them this simile, saying, 4 'What man of you having a hundred sheep, and having lost one out of them, doth not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go on after the lost one, till he may find it? 5 and having found, he doth lay 'it' on his shoulders rejoicing, 6 and having come to the house, he doth call together the friends and the neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep—the lost one. 7 'I say to you, that so joy shall be in the heaven over one sinner reforming, rather than over ninety-nine righteous men, who have no need of reformation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 15:3-7
Commentary on Luke 15:1-10
(Read Luke 15:1-10)
The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost, is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!