Luke 15:4

“What man of you having an hundred sheep, etc.] A flock of sheep, consisting of such a number; (see Gill on “<401812>Matthew 18:12”), if he lose one of them, by straying from the flock, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, upon the common where they were feeding, and go after that which is lost until he find it? by which parable Christ vindicates his conduct in conversing with sinners, and neglecting the Scribes and Pharisees; for if it was right for an owner of an hundred sheep, when he had lost one of them, to leave all the rest, and go in search after that one till he had found it; then it was right in Christ to do what he did. The Jewish nation seems to be designed “by…”

“leave the ninety and nine--bend all His attention and care, as it were, to the one object of recovering the lost sheep; not saying. "It is but one; let it go; enough remain." go after . . . until, &c.--pointing to all the diversified means which God sets in operation for recovering sinners.”

“See the notes at Matthew 18:12-13. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness - Where they used to feed: all uncultivated ground, like our commons, was by the Jews termed wilderness or desert. And go after - In recovering a lost soul, God as it were labours. May we not learn hence, that to let them alone who are in sin, is both unchristian and inhuman! Mat 18:12. Luke 15:7”

“15:4 A flock of a hundred sheep was of average size for a shepherd of modest means. God’s people are often identified as the Lord’s flock (Ps 23; Isa 53:6; Jer 13:17; Ezek 34; Zech 10:3). • leave the ninety-nine others: Other shepherds could watch the ninety-nine, so those left behind were not in danger. The shepherd would do anything to find the one that was lost.”

“man: Luk 13:15; Mat 12:11, Mat 18:12; Rom 2:1 having: Psa 119:176; Isa 53:6; Jer 50:6; Eze 34:8, Eze 34:11, Eze 34:12, Eze 34:16, Eze 34:31; Mat 18:12, Mat 18:13; Joh 10:15, Joh 10:16, Joh 10:26-28; Pe1 2:25 Luke 15:5”