A lost sheep and coin - O se mamoe ma le tupe na leiloa

Scripture Focus: Luka 15:1-10

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” 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 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. Or what woman, if she had ten drachmacoins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’ Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
- Luke 15:1-10 (WEB)

Study:

In these powerful parables from Luke 15, Jesus reveals God’s heart for the lost. The shepherd, upon losing one sheep out of a hundred, leaves the vast majority to find the one lost sheep. Similarly, the woman searches diligently for a single lost coin among ten. Both stories illustrate the extraordinary value placed on what was lost and the joy that follows its recovery. The parables communicate that no matter how many are secure or righteous, the recovery and repentance of one lost soul brings immense joy in heaven. They challenge common religious attitudes by showing that God’s grace and mercy are extended toward the marginalized and sinners—those considered lost by society.

Application:

Today, these parables remind us to prioritize the lost and the forgotten. As followers of Christ, we are called to be compassionate seekers who rejoice when others are restored to God’s family. This could mean reaching out to someone struggling with sin, sharing God’s love with those far from Him, or simply valuing every individual as precious in God’s eyes. Moreover, it encourages us not to be indifferent about people who have wandered from faith, but to be proactive, patient, and persistent in loving them back to restoration. The joy that comes from witnessing repentance should deepen our motivation to reflect God’s grace to the world.

Reflection Questions:

• In what ways do I prioritize the lost in my life and community?
• How can I better reflect God’s joy over repentance in my attitude and actions?
• Are there people I have overlooked or considered beyond hope that I could reach out to in love?
• What steps can I take to be like the shepherd and the woman who actively seek what is lost?
• How do these parables challenge my understanding of God’s mercy and grace?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your relentless love that seeks out the lost and celebrates their return. Help me to have the heart of the shepherd and the woman—to pursue those who are far, to show mercy and patience, and to rejoice when they come back to You. Teach me to reflect Your grace in all I do and to never lose sight of the value You place on every soul. Amen.

Tags: lost sheep, lost coin, parables of Jesus, Luke 15, repentance, God’s mercy, grace, evangelism, Christian priorities, joy in heaven