What difference did the remnant and the majority show in the lost-sheep parable?
In the lost-sheep parable, the majority—Pharisees, Sadducees, and most Jews—were self-righteous and self-content, not knowing they were lost. The remnant, a small percentage of Jews, recognized their need for the true shepherd, followed the Lord, believed He was the Christ, and let it be known.
Les explains that the ninety and nine represent the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the vast majority of Jews. They were without a shepherd but did not know it, because they were self-righteous and self-content, like sheep wandering from clump to clump while desperately lost. The one sheep pictures the small remnant of Jews who knew they were lost, followed the Lord, and became believers that He was the Christ. That little percentage realized their need for the true shepherd and let it be known, while the vast majority of Pharisees and religious Jews went on their merry way, not knowing they were lost.