Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 15:4

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" — Luke 15:4 (ASV)

For the phrase “suppose one of you,” see comment on 14:5. The situation Jesus describes was a common one. One hundred sheep was a normal-sized flock. A count was taken nightly. The “open country” was a safe place to leave the sheep, though they would have to be left in someone’s care. The frightened, confused, and perhaps injured sheep would have to be carried.

Two things are striking. First, in the obvious analogy to the search for the sheep, Jesus takes the initiative in seeking out lost people—a major theme in Luke (cf. 19:10). Second, the climax of the story is not only the return of the sheep but the triumphant rejoicing in its rescue. Jesus is stressing, both by parable and by direct statement, that his seeking and receiving sinners pleases God. The future rejoicing (v.7) may include a future of gathering and feasting in God’s kingdom . There is none who is inherently righteous (cf. Romans 3:10); thus, the “righteous persons” referred to in v.7 are probably devout people (cf. 1:6) who have no gross, open sins to repent of.