151 And all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near to him to hear him; 2 and the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This [man] receives sinners and eats with them. 3 And he spoke to them this parable, saying, 4 What man of you having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 and having found it, he lays it upon his own shoulders, rejoicing; 6 and being come to the house, calls together the friends and the neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep. 7 I say unto you, that thus there shall be joy in heaven for one repenting sinner, [more] than for ninety and nine righteous who have no need of repentance.
8 Or, what woman having ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully till she find it? 9 and having found it she calls together the friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost. 10 Thus, I say unto you, there is joy before the angels of God for one repenting sinner.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 15:1-10
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!