New Testament "The Four Gospels": THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, & THE LOST SON

The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost (prodigal) son are three of the most well known parables Christ gave.

The parables are found in Luke 15. Here we are taught about the importance of being concerned about the salvation of our fellowman. Each parable talks about a different way we or out fellowman can be lost.

THE LOST SHEEP

Luke 15: 4 - 7 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Here we are talking about sheep that go where the greener grass is. They did not go through willful disobedience or careless neglect but just simply strayed away in search of green pastures and in the process became lost.

President David O McKay said:

“How did that sheep get lost? He was not rebellious. If you follow the comparison, the lamb was seeking its livelihood in a perfectly legitimate manner, but either stupidly, perhaps unconsciously, it followed the enticement of the field, the prospect of better grass until it got out beyond the fold and was lost.

“So we have those in the Church … who wander away from the fold in perfectly legitimate ways. They are seeking success, success in business, success in their professions, and before long they become disinterested in Church and finally disconnected from the fold.”

The Lost Coin

In the case of the lost coin it was about carelessness and neglect of another. Maybe even ourselves.

Luke 15: 8 - 10 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

President David O McKay taught:

“In this case the thing lost was not in itself responsible. The one who had been trusted with that coin had, through carelessness or neglect, mislaid it or dropped it. … Our charge is not only coins, but living souls of children, youth, and adults. They are our charges.”

How are we doing with our children? Do we have daily family prayer, prayer on the food,

and daily scripture study with them? Do we hold family home evening and do we bear testimony to them often? Are we good examples?

How about our extended family members and neighbors. First and foremost we must be a good example and we must be willing to share and also willing to reach out to them and give service and to love unconditionally.

The Lost (Prodigal) Son & The Resentful Son

The third parable is about willful disobedience. Someone who chose to leave their testimony of Jesus Christ behind for worldly joy. In the end it did not bring him lasting joy and he desired to come back. Notice how repentant he is when he does come back. He is now humble and willing to do whatever his father asks of him.

It is also about another son who served his father but then was resentful when the prodigal son came home.

Mark 15: 11-32 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

President McKay teaches about the prodigal son:

“Here is a case of volition, here is choice, deliberate choice. Here is, in a way, rebellion against authority. And what did he do? He spent his means in riotous living, he wasted his portion”

Prodigal means wasteful and recklessly extravagant.

A little background on the customs of the day. Typically a son would only receive his inheritance only after his father had died. For a son to demand it before the father's death would be an enormous offense. The request of the son would mean that he rejected his father, his home, his upbringing, and his entire community.

What we can learn from this parable:

1. That the father never gave up, he saw his son come from a far and ran out to meet him.

2. The father had compassion and ran and embraced him.

3. Teaches us about the nature and attributes of our Heavenly Father.

a. He allows us to have our agency.

b. He never gives up on us.

c. His love never diminishes

d. He anxiously awaits for us to come back to him

e. He knows us well and recognizes us when we come

f. He will run to us even though we are a great way off, he will
walk side by side with us and not leave us to walk the path alone.

We also need to be careful that we do not become a 'prodigal son' Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

“Like the prodigal son, we too can go to ‘a far country,’ which may be no further away than a vile rock concert. The distance to ‘a far country’ is not to be measured by miles but by how far our hearts and minds are from Jesus! Fidelity, not geography, really determines the distance!” (“The Tugs and Pulls of the World,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 36).

Now how about that RESENTFUL SON?

What can we learn from his actions?

This son had been dutiful but he too was distant from his father. He may not have run away to a far away land, he may not have tasted the filth of the world ---- but when the prodigal son came back he did not share the father's compassion and happiness. Because he refused to join the feast he also publicly brought shame and embarrassment to the father.

He did not sin as bad as the younger son but he still sinned. Here we see again that the father went and seek out his eldest son. He offered love and grace to both of the sons.

We learn here that jealousy, self pity, and anger can also destroy your relationship with your father. This son was dutiful, he did all that was right but he lacked one thing: compassion and mercy. Thank goodness for a loving father who cared for both boys, loving them unconditionally. A father who opened up his arms to both boys, accepting them and bringing them back to his bosom.

Joseph B Wirthlin said:

“Brothers and sisters, if only we had more compassion for those who are different from us, it would lighten many of the problems and sorrows in the world today. …"

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught:

“Every soul is very precious to our Heavenly Father. We must never forget that through the Atonement, the Lord Jesus Christ paid a great price for the redemption of each one of us. His suffering must not be in vain because we fail to nurture and teach those who are striving to be active in the Church” (“Are We Keeping Pace?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 8).

In the parable of the lost sheep and coin we see the shepherd and the woman both searching diligently until they find their valued possession. We too have that responsibility to seek diligently for those who are lost from the blessings of the gospel.

Let's not forget that REJOICING when the lost item (or soul) is found is a central message to these parables. If we feel that kind of joy, think how much joy our Heavenly Father must feel. Elder James E Talmage wrote:

"The loss of a soul is a very real and a very great loss to God . He is pained and grieved thereby, for it is His will that not one of us will ever be so lost that we cannot find our way again through His Atonement of His teachings" (That the lost may be Found Ensign May 2012)

Let us not be like the publicans, who Christ directed the three parables to. Let's make sure we seek out those that are lost, including ourselves, and rejoice when they find their way back.

The parable of the lost sheep video ----