Jesus told three lost-and-found parables in response to complaints from the Pharisees and scribes that He consorts with sinners even to the extent of eating with them. To the Jews tax collectors were turncoats and, consequently, the worst kind of sinners because they worked for the Roman government to extract taxes from their Jewish brothers. In the parable of the lost sheep the owner leaves the flock behind to search for one sheep that has become separated from the flock. In the parable of the lost coin a woman loses one of her ten silver coins and searches her house until she finds it. Both the man and woman report the good news to friends and neighbors so they can share in the joy of their search and recovery efforts. Both parables demonstrate God's attitude toward the wayward and disobedient and seem to contrast God's joy at the admission of sinners into heaven against the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. The familiar parable of the lost or prodigal son is a powerful story whose details clearly delineate the great extent of the son's "lostness" and of God's love for sinners. Imagine feeling so unworthy or so far removed from God, and then your Heavenly Father, filled with compassion, runs to you and throws His arms around you and welcomes you back to Him. That is exactly how Jesus depicts God in this parable! God's lost-and-found department keeps track of the lost souls of men and women. The sign on the window says open and He is waiting at the counter for you to come and claim the destiny that you have with Him.
