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The Lost Sheep was one of the Parables of Jesus, according to the Gospels of Matthew (18:10-14), Luke (15:1-7), Thomas (107), and John (10:1-18).

Overview

In Matthew-Luke (=Q) the parable is about God, the Good Shepherd who cares about the one sheep who went astray. It emphasizes the mission of the Son of Man as the forgiver, who was sent by the Father to search for the "lost sheep", not for the ones who never went astray. Luke reminds the readers that this gracious act by God is not totally unconditioned as the lost sheep is asked to repent.

Thomas shifts the emphasis on the choice of the shepherd who pick up one sheep as the beloved one.

In John the Good Shepherd is Jesus, and the sheep are now the Christian believers whom Jesus protects and loves.

The Lost Sheep in ancient sources

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 18:10-14 (NRSV) -- [10] "Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [12] 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? [13] And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. [14] So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Gospel of Luke

Luke 15:1-7 (NRSV) -- [1] Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." [3] So he told them this parable: [4] "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? [5] When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Gospel of Thomas

Thomas 107 -- Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had toiled, he said to the sheep, I love you more than the ninety-nine."

Cf. Gospel of John

Jn 10:11-15 (NRSV) -- [11] "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

Cf. Gospel of Barnabas

[201b] Then, the scribes and Pharisees being assembled, Jesus said to them: 'Tell me: if one of you had an hundred sheep, and should lose one of them, would ye not go to seek it, leaving the ninety and nine? And when ye found it, would ye not lay it upon your shoulders and, having called together your neighbours, say unto them: "Rejoice with me, for I have found the sheep which I had lost?" Assuredly ye would do so. 'Now tell me, shall our God love less man, for whom he hath made the world? As God liveth, even so there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth; because sinners make known God's mercy.'

The Lost Sheep in Scholarship

The Lost Sheep in Fiction

External links

• Wikipedia