Let’s read this wonderful lesson from our Lord in Luke 15:4-6, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

In verses 1-2 of Luke 15, we see the Lord being criticized for receiving sinners and eating with them.  The pharisees and scribes thought this was a terrible thing for Him to do.  Of course, they were notorious for being self-righteous and often looked down on others. They had no idea of the grace of the Lord Jesus and that His mission was to save lost sinners as we read in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  The Apostle Paul later wrote of his own salvation in 1 Timothy 1:15 saying, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  Yes, dear reader, the Lord Jesus came to seek and to save sinners…sinners like you and me!

The Lord in His parable to these men, spoke to them as shepherds of sheep, as some of them might have been.  They certainly could understand his language when He spoke to them about having a lost sheep.  Perhaps some of these men had experienced this same event and had gone looking for a single lost sheep, leaving behind the flock to find this one.  Who would find fault with the shepherd who endeavors to rescue his sheep from so much danger and ruin!  The Lord gave this parable to illustrate His love and compassion towards those who are lost and hopeless without Him.

He goes on to say in verse 7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”  Ah, this is the point of the Lord’s teaching here.  The shepherd and the lost sheep typify the Lord Jesus as the good shepherd, going to great lengths to save that one lost sinner.  Like the true shepherd He is, when we realize we are lost and take Him as our savior, the Lord will lift us up upon His shoulders and bring us into His flock.  There is joy in heaven when even one single sinner repents and puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Throughout heaven, one sinner being saved is celebrated. 

So, what about those which “need no repentance?”  We all know that everyone is a sinner and is guilty before God.  “For ALL HAVE SINNED and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).  In this parable of the Lord, He is speaking of those who SEE NO NEED of repentance.  Those who are self-righteous.  Those who rely on their own works.  Those who think they are not as bad as the common sinner and therefore have no need to repent of their own sins.  Those who are righteous in their own eyes.  I believe He is trying to make His audience of publicans and scribes realize that they are sinners and need to repent. 

Perhaps reading another parable of the Lord might help us understand this parable.  We read in Luke 18:9-14, “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” 

Indeed, there are those who trust in themselves that they are righteous in their own eyes.  The publican in this parable “prayed thus with himself.”  He used the occasion of prayer to praise himself.  As opposed to the publican who humbly sought the Lord’s mercy, this self-righteous publican, who saw no need of repentance was found guilty before the Lord.  My dear reader, have you been humbled in the sight of God?  Have you realized you are a sinner?  Have you repented of your sins and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Please, do not be as these self-righteous people and think that you are so good that you have nothing to repent of.  Rather, be as this humbled publican and reach out to the Lord to be saved.  Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (CC)  (682.4)