Lost Sheep

[backtothefuture]

I know this has been answered before, but I can't find out where:confused:
When Jesus is talking about the lost Sheep is he specifically talking about, the Jews, Gentiles or humanity in general.
Also, is the sheep allegory more of a new covenant saying or does it go back into the old.
Thanks,
Nancy

[Paige]

Nancy,

In Matt. 10:6, Jesus specifically mentions the "lost sheep of the house of Israel". From that, I'm gathering that he is specifically referencing his own countrymen. In the preceding vs., He tells His disciples not to go into the way of the Gentiles, and not to enter a city of Samaritans. From what I understand, Samaria was full of people of mixed origin. The northern 10 tribes had been scattered there for many years and had intermarried so much so that they had pretty well lost their former identity.

Fast forward to the great commission and we see Jesus telling His disciples to go there and beyond - to the ends of the earth. I don't know if this is of any help...

:)
Paige

[ozark]

Yes, this could correspond to the fact that the bulk of Jesus' ministry was in the Galilee region. With the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the Southern region of Judea, many of the folks in the Galilee region would fit the description of the lost sheep of Israel. However, Jesus definitely ministered in the Judea region, to the Samaritans, and even to the Gentiles also.

[backtothefuture]

Thanks you guys. I just was wondering are there any lost sheep now? I suppose on what view you have.
Nancy

[Amie]

Nancy and all,

The thread that you/Nancy began on sheep a while back is here, http://talk-grace.com/showthread.php?t=125, where I was thinking that the "other sheep" may have been the gentiles.

Over in the "stuck in a well" thread, I noticed that Jacob fed Laban's sheep, before the flocks/livestock were all gathered. Jesus compares that water to the "living water" from Him, seeming to connect the two moments. It also seems like Jesus also watered his sheep before gathering the other sheep/flocks/livestock. Does anyone else see a connection?


I just was wondering are there any lost sheep now?
I'd like to consider this more. For example, what did it mean to be lost then?
Amie

[backtothefuture]

Gosh Amie, I am so brain dead:biggrinbounce: And so stuck on the sheep thing. I am not sure why. I think its some of those fundamental genes that creep in once in awhile and still make me question what it is I really believe. Sorry to be pounding this topic to the pavement!! Maybe I need to go out to pasture:biglaugha:
I would love to know, what being lost was all about.
Nancy

[ozark]

Thanks you guys. I just was wondering are there any lost sheep now? I suppose on what view you have.
Nancy

Nancy,

I would say there are no lost sheep now. Jesus accomplished His task. However, there are sheep that don't know they have been found.

[Lou]

This may be a reference to Jeremiah.

IMO the “lost sheep” pertained to Israel and was fulfilled in the first century.

Jeremiah 50:1-6 The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet: "Declare and proclaim among the nations. Proclaim it and lift up a standard. Do not conceal it but say, `Babylon has been captured, Bel has been put to shame, Marduk has been shattered; Her images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.' "For a nation has come up against her out of the north; it will make her land an object of horror, and there will be no inhabitant in it. Both man and beast have wandered off, they have gone away! "In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the LORD their God they will seek.5 "They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. "My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains; They have gone along from mountain to hill And have forgotten their resting place.