Stories of the Kingdom: The Parables of Jesusنموونە

Parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin

In both accounts of this story, Jesus uses the parable to illustrate the concept of God's relentless pursuit of those who are lost. In the parable of the lost sheep, a shepherd leaves behind the ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that wandered off. When he finds it, he rejoices more over the one lost sheep than over the ninety-nine that were never lost. Similarly, in the parable of the lost coin, a woman searches diligently for a lost coin, even going so far as to sweep the entire house until she finds it. She celebrates with her friends and neighbors when she finds the lost coin.

How do these parables challenge our perceptions of value and worth in God's kingdom?