Luke 15:1 - 10

The religious leaders were not thrilled with the crowds the followed Jesus.  They were particularly off-set by the number of "unclean" persons like tax collectors that followed Him.  In fact, it seemed that Jesus pursued such people.  Jesus explained that it was necessary.  Those who knew the value of what was lost would go to any length to restore it.  He illustrates this with stories of a lost coin and a lost sheep.  Those who owned the coin and sheep were concerned enough about their loss to go to great lengths to recover their loss.  In the same way, Jesus knew the value of those souls that were loss; and He was willing to do what was necessary to restore and recover them.