Jesus illustrates that finding and restoring a lost sheep (sinner) requires the costly effort of its shepherd (Jesus). What’s required by the sheep?

With an inanimate object like a lost coin, it’s clear that its restoration (repentance) is due entirely on the efforts of the woman (Jesus).

Without the costly efforts of the father, the older son will drown in his own anger.

When the starving younger son returned from the far country, he did not want to reconcile with his father. Rather, he returned to get something to eat. Yet the father’s costly demonstrations of love, helped the son see his father in a new light.

The father (Jesus) defines repentance.