What is the meaning of Luke 15:4? What man among you Luke 15:4 opens by appealing to common experience: “What man among you…”. • Jesus puts listeners into the story so they feel the burden of personal responsibility. • Scripture often uses questions to prompt heart-searching (cf. 2 Samuel 12:1-7; James 4:4). • By addressing “you,” the Lord underlines that His call to care for the lost is not abstract but personal (cf. Galatians 6:1). if he has a hundred sheep “…if he has a hundred sheep…” describes real ownership. • Shepherd and flock imagery runs through the Bible—God’s covenant people belong to Him (Psalm 100:3; John 10:14). • One hundred sheep represent completeness and abundance, yet each sheep still counts (Isaiah 40:11). • The literal number reinforces the truth that God knows the exact number of His own (John 10:27-29). and loses one of them “…and loses one of them…” brings out the tragedy of a single sheep straying. • Sheep wander by nature (Isaiah 53:6), picturing sinners drifting from God. • Even one soul matters intensely to the Shepherd (2 Peter 3:9). • The loss is real, not hypothetical; Jesus treats the individual’s peril as urgent (Ezekiel 34:6). does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture The shepherd “leaves” the secured flock “in the pasture.” • He does not abandon but entrusts the ninety-nine to a safe place, showing orderly care (Psalm 23:2). • God’s attention to the lost never shortchanges the found; His sovereignty enables simultaneous protection (John 17:11-12). • The scene underscores God’s proactive love—He takes initiative rather than waiting passively (Romans 5:8). and go after the one that is lost The shepherd “goes after” the single stray. • Pursuit is active and deliberate, mirroring Christ’s mission “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • This movement reflects heaven’s heartbeat for repentance (Luke 15:7). • Such seeking love shapes believers’ ministry to wanderers (James 5:19-20; Galatians 6:1). until he finds it Persistence marks the search “until he finds it.” • The Shepherd does not quit; His grace is tenacious (Philippians 1:6). • Recovery is certain because success rests on His determination, not the sheep’s effort (John 6:39). • The inevitable finding foretells the joy described in Luke 15:5-7 and foreshadows the eternal security of His flock (Revelation 7:17). summary Every phrase of Luke 15:4 reveals the Shepherd’s personal, sacrificial, relentless love for every individual sinner. He knows His flock exactly, grieves over each stray, secures the rest, and pursues the lost until rescue is accomplished. The verse assures us that no soul is expendable and that the Shepherd’s pursuit will prevail. |
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