Bible moment
The Bible moment
In Luke 15:1–7, tax collectors and sinners come near to hear Jesus. Pharisees and scribes complain that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. Jesus responds with a parable: a shepherd has one hundred sheep, loses one, leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and searches until he finds the missing sheep. When he finds it, he carries it on his shoulders with joy. He calls his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. Jesus then explains that heaven has more joy over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. The teaching connects repentance with heaven’s joy while showing that the ninety-nine are not unloved or unimportant.
