The parable ought to be viewed in its entirety since Jesus uses all three parts to demonstrate God's attitude toward the lost. Often when an attempt is made to evangelize the lost, complacent Christians criticize the effort. The parable tells us three things about the lost. The sheep wandered 1 . The fool of Proverbs is often depicted as someone without direction.
Children wander from their parents in parks and malls.
The coin was mishandled 1. The son made a deliberate and willful decision. In each case, when the lost item was found there was a party. C. Paul uses some of these rejoicing passages in Romans 15 when he describes his own call to evangelize the Gentiles. Although someone went after the lost sheep and the lost coin, no one went after the lost son.