THE LOST SHEEP

Passage: Matthew 18:10-14

Key verse: 12

NIV

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep(A)

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels(B) in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 18:11 Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 “See that you do not despise (A)one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven (B)their angels always (C)see the face of my Father who is in heaven.[a] 12 (D)What do you think? (E)If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So (F)it is not the will of my[b] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 18:10 Some manuscripts add verse 11: For the Son of Man came to save the lost
  2. Matthew 18:14 Some manuscripts your
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Don't look down on the little ones (10)

Every person is precious to Jesus. He does not calculate about whether people are tall or short, able or not-so-able, bright or stupid. We should not look down on any of Jesus' sheep, but should learn to see them as God sees them. God has an angel assigned to watch over each one.

2. Find the lost one (11-14)

God's love is positive. He cares for lost sheep even though they are dirty, rebellious and scratched up. He loves each of us so much that he sent Jesus the Good Shepherd to find us--even at the cost of his own life. The Shepherd does not calculate saying, 'Oh well, I have 99 more sheep; one lost sheep doesn't make any difference.' Our Father is not willing that any of his little ones be lost. He leaves the 99 and goes looking for the lost one. When he finds him, he rejoices. Jesus wants us to learn his shepherd heart for the lost.

Prayer: Lord, teach me the shepherd heart of Jesus who regards every person as precious.

One Word: Each one is precious