the parable of the lost sheep is one of the parables of jesus. it is found in the gospel of matthew at 18:12–14 and the gospel of luke at 15:3–7. it also appears in the non-canonical gospel of thomas. the parable is one of three that tell of loss and redemption. the others are the lost coin and the prodigal son. the lost sheep tells of a shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to search for one sheep that is lost. joel b. green writes that "these parables are ... about god, ... their aim is to lay bare the nature of the divine response to the recovery of the lost." the parable has been depicted often in art.