How did the small remnant of Jews differ from the majority of religious Jews in Jesus' day?
The small remnant recognized their lost condition and need for the true shepherd, believed that He was the Christ, and followed the Lord. The vast majority of Pharisees and religious Jews were self-righteous and self-content, did not know they were lost, and continued without the shepherd.
Les explains that the ninety and nine represent the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the majority of Jews. They were without a shepherd, but they did not know it, because they were self-righteous and self-content, like sheep wandering from clump to clump while desperately lost. The one lost sheep represents 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 they needed 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.