Parable of the Lost Sheep

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Matthew 18:10-14

“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). But how does God respond to this universal wandering of man? Jesus explains the Divine reaction in His parable of the Lost Sheep.

Jesus uses this same parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15:3-7. In a different setting, He teaches a somewhat different lesson. He is arguing with the Pharisees about His role in saving the lost sinner and the rejoicing in heaven over their salvation. Here Jesus is speaking of believers who go astray and are sought for in hopes of restoration.

▸ God Values the Little Ones

As if the disciples needed any more of a warning to be careful in their treatment and attitude toward fellow believers who may be weak, Jesus warns “take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones” (18:10a). To “despise” means to show contempt for or to think little of the little ones or denigrate as worthless or look down one’s nose at someone considered beneath you, because they are considered morally, religiously, socially, etc. inferior. They can do this in many ways. First, by being a stumbling block, failing to seek them when they are lost or being unwilling to forgive them of their trespasses. God’s children are not to suffer from child abuse at the hands of their fellow brethren.

▸ God’s Angels Serve Little Ones

As a demonstration of God placing great value on the little ones Jesus says, “for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (18:10b). Many have appealed to Matthew 18:10 as a proof text for guardian angels. This single passage has become the foundation for the idea that every little child has been assigned a guardian angel. Yet the plural “angels” favors corporate rather than individual care. It would imply that each of “the little ones” does not to have his own angel, but angels. The idea that many angels watch after us seems to have some support in Scripture (2 Ki. 6:17; Lk. 16:22; Ps. 91:9-12). Michael the archangel is seen as the protector of the Jews in Daniel. 12:1.

Some reject this idea. First, “little ones” is not referencing children, but those humble believers in Christ. The Word of God never uses the term “guardian” in connection with angels. However, there are many occasions in the Bible where they are doing just that, guarding people from danger. Others argue that angels are servants of God and not of man. However, Hebrew 1:14 asks, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” The idea of them seeing God’s face is being in His presence and ready to serve at His bidding (2 Sam. 14:24; 1 Kings 10:8). Perhaps many are opposed to the concept of angels being active among mankind today because the false doctrines of angel mania have become so destructive to the truth.

The real issue that needs to be answered has to do with the current activity of angels. Are angels still active in the affairs of this world today? True, the visible activity of angels has come to an end, because their mediating work is done (Heb. 1:1,2). God’s Spirit speaks directly through the Word, not heavenly messengers. Since angels have served mankind throughout the Bible record, there is no reason to believe their service has ended. After all, they rejoice over the one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7) But there is no evidence in Scripture that an angel is assigned to each soul to guide them in life choices.

▸ God Saves the Little Ones

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (18:11) is the very purpose for God sending His Son. God loves the lost that much. To devalue the sinner is to devalue the gift of God.

▸ God Cares for Each Little One

The phrase “What do you think?” introduces something new for a disciple to contemplate. The problem to contemplate is “if a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray.” Jesus points out that one out of a hundred sheep is important. A good shepherd would notice or know if one was missing (John 10:3;14-15).

▸ God Seeks the Lost Little One

It is the normal course of action for the shepherd to “leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying” (18:12). Sheep are known to be feebleminded in their nature. They have no sense of direction. They wander off. They are absolutely defenseless, have no biologically built in defenses like teeth or the spray of a skunk. Sheep cannot quickly run away and have no camouflage, etc. They do not have a sense of direction like a dog or cat in finding their way home. They eat and eat till there is no pasture left, just dirt. Then they starve. The shepherd does not condemn the stupid animal to its fate. He seeks after it.

▸ God Rejoices Over the Recovered Little Ones

Notice the conditional “if he should find it.” Sheep are not always found or found alive. There are many dangers, harsh elements, and predators. But if the lost is found and restored, “he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray” (18:13b). No one is happier in all the universe than God when the lost repent and return.

This does not belittle the value of the ninety-nine sheep who did not go astray. Imagine a parent with ten children and one of them wanders off and is lost. First, the parent would secure the other nine and then run off and search until the lost child was found. The emotional relief would focus on the one child that was in danger and now has been found and restore to the safety of home. No one would for a moment think that the mother or father did not have any joy in the other nine or favored the one that became lost over the others.

▸ God’s Will to Save All Little Ones

Jesus concludes, “even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (18:14). God cannot force the lost sinner to come home. However, God’s desires all men to be saved. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). The motivation is found in the idea of them perishing and being lost forever in Hell.

If God thinks so highly of the lost believer, how much should be done to help restore them?

– Daniel R. Vess