The parables of The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son portray God as concerned about the lost, and willing and anxious that they be returned to Him.

The Lost Is Found

The three parables about the lost being found illustrate the kindness and mercy of God. When those who are lost are found, there is much rejoicing in all the household of God (Lke 15:4-32).

1 God Seeks His Lost Sheep

Lke 15:4-7, parable of the lost sheep There are three main points in this parable, two of which are more or less expected, but another which at first seems rather curious.

First there is God's loving concern about every individual lost person, and his effort to bring the lost one back to him, even though the lost be only one percent of the fold. The Shepherd in this parable is acting as any self-respecting shepherd or sheep owner would and should. He is going out to seek the lost "until he finds it". He spares no effort. This is exactly what the Son of God did. He came to this world to seek and save the lost. (Lke 19:10, Jhn 10:11-16).

Second there is the rejoicing in all of heaven over the lost who was found, the one sinner who repents and comes back to God. Maybe, in real life, not quite so much fuss would be made of one sheep being found, but the parable is dramatising an ideal shepherd's love for his sheep and his total committment to them.

The third element is the curious one in this parable. The shepherd or sheep owner seems to somewhat neglect the good sheep who have not strayed. They are left in the wilderness while the shepherd seeks the lost. And again, when the lost sheep is found, a great song and dance is made of that sheep's homecoming; yet little notice seems to be taken of the righteous and faithful sheep. In the parable of the lost son, the second son complains about the song and dance made at the homecoming of the son who went astray. When the church is “neglected” because evangelistic effort is getting the focus and priority, the church should not complain.

2 God Greatly Values Every Soul

Lke 15:8-10, parable of the lost coin The previous parable about the lost sheep was one that a man could appreciate. This parable about the lost coin is one that a woman could appreciate.

This parable also emphasises the value of each soul to God. One sheep out of a hundred might not seem such a great loss. But here it is one coin in ten, and a valuable coin at that, representing the wages of a full and hard day's work to the woman.

The picture of the woman lighting a lamp and searching the house, is again a picture of evangelism. The light is the Son of God who came into the world, and the word of the gospel with which he enlightens every man (Jhn 1:4-9). Evangelism without this light is no evangelism at all. There is no other "power of God unto salvation" than this true gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16).

3 God Lovingly Welcomes the Lost who Return

Lke 15:11-13, parable of the lost son This parable is usually called the parable of the prodigal son. Prodigal means wasteful. The son "squandered his estate". This is not the main thrust of the parable however. In this lesson we will call it the parable of the lost son, because it is essentially a parable about a son who became lost and was found.

Lke 15:14-16 show how lost the lost son was, and how helpless.He had lost his estate. He had no friends to help. The prostitutes he has squandered his money on were no longer interested in him. The one he was serving did not care. The pigs were no help. He was in a hopeless state.

Lke 15:17-19 show the one hope that the lost son had, and how he underestimated it. He remembered what life had been like in the home he had despised and left. He remembered how good it had been even for the lowliest servants of the household, let alone the sons. He decided he would go home to his Father and plead humbly to be allowed back into the household. The lost son did not dare to think, however, that he could be made a son again. He did hope that his father might grant him a place as one of the servants.

Lke 15:20-21 show how the son carried through with his repentance and went back to his father. The returned son humbled himself. He declared to his Father, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son".

Lke 15:22-24 show the loving kindness of the father far beyond the son's expectation. This of course represents the love of God. The father lavishly celebrated his son's homecoming and repentance. There was much rejoicing. There was no talk of the son being made a servant. He was reinstated and as a son, and honoured with robe and ring.

Lke 15:25-30 give a sequel to the story, where the good son who never strayed became angry at his father's treatment of the prodigal son. This sequel is intended as a lesson to the scribes and Pharisees (see Lke 15:1-2) who thought themselves righteous, and in many ways were. However they looked down upon "sinners" and did not think God would grant them repentance and forgive them.

Lke 15:31-32 give the father the last say. Part of being righteous and faithful is humility and patience. We know God will reward our righteousness far beyond what it is worth. We are content to wait for that future day when God will give us our inheritance. He says, "All that is mine is yours". The father points out that "to be merry and rejoice" is the only proper response to the lost sinner's repentence and return to the Father. When the dead are made alive again, and the lost are found, what else can we do but feast and sing and dance for joy?