This week we will be discussing Jesus’ parable number 20, which is found in Matthew 18:12-14 but before we get into this, I need to explain something, as this is a Bible based blog, and sometimes other questions come up during the flow of discussions. I have been posting the verses we discuss from the New International Version (NIV) bible, but today I needed to use the New King James Version for one verse. WHY?
If you compare the King James and New King James Versions with the newer translations (e.g. the New International Version, New American Standard, New Living Translation, etc.) – you will notice that several verses are entirely missing from the newer translations. Why do these translations not have these verses? Are the newer translations taking verses out of the Bible?
The answer is that the translators did not believe these verses should have been in the Bible to begin with. Since the KJV was translated in A.D. 1611, many Biblical manuscripts have been discovered that are older and more accurate than the manuscripts the KJV was based on. When Bible scholars researched through these manuscripts, they discovered some differences. It seems that over the course of 1500 years, some words, phrases, and even sentences were added to the Bible (either intentionally or accidentally). Some verses are simply not found in the oldest and most reliable manuscripts. So, the newer translations remove these verses or place them in footnotes or in the margin because they do not truly belong in the Bible.
It is important to remember, however, that the verses in question are of minor significance. None of them change in any way the crucial themes of the Bible, nor do they have any impact on the Bible’s doctrines—Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, Christ as the only way of salvation, heaven and hell, sin and redemption, and the nature and character of God. These are preserved intact through the work of the Holy Spirit, who safeguards the Word of God for all generations.
Now we can get into our discussion of this weeks’ parable, the parable of the lost sheep. As mentioned above the actual parable is in verses 12 through 14, but verse 10
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. {[11] For the Son of Man has come to save what was lost. New King James Version}
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.
I mention the verse(s) prior to this parable because Jesus’ warnings in the first part of verse 10 sprung out of the warnings of Matthew 18:6 – 9. But in the latter half of verse 10, he began to explain the extent to which the Father goes in protecting his “little ones.” This is the overriding theme to this parable.
The phrase see that is literally “see,” meaning “be sure that, give attention to.” Look down means “to think little of” or “to despise.” We are commanded to treat one another with a sense of value. How might someone be in danger of looking down on one of Jesus’ “little ones”? From the context of this discourse, it might be through causing the believer to sin (Matthew 18:5 – 9); by failing to confront a brother’s sin or by confronting with a vengeful motive (Matthew 18:15 – 20); or by failing to forgive a brother (Matthew 18:21 – 35). The Father views all of these actions as “child abuse,” and he will not tolerate them.
Jesus then gave one more reason we are to view fellow believers as valuable. His mention of the believers’ angels is an indirect warning of judgement against those who would mistreat his children. Matthew’s Jewish readers typically understood that every Jewish person had a “guardian angel.”
The word always means that the believer’s angel always has the immediate attention of the Father. And see the face of my Father implies being in the Father’s presence in personal, close relationship, receiving the Father’s constant, full attention.
In verse 18:12, Jesus explained the Father’s protectiveness and love for his children in another way. What do you think? was a common way for a Jewish teacher to start his students’ minds working over a mental problem, as he introduced a new concept or teaching.
We know from the context that the sheep’s straying represented the believer’s falling into a patter of sin, departing from the pattern of righteous living suited to God’s children.
The parable of the one lost sheep is focusing attention on the lost sheep over the 99 who stayed in place. Jesus’ purpose was to correct a misconception that the believer who sinned was less valuable in the Father’s eyes than the rest. In reality, the Father values all of his believers equally. Jesus made it a point to emphasize the value of the one straying sheep.
This emphasis also drew attention to the Father’s grace. God wanted the universe to know that he is a God who pursues his own and rescues even those who rebel against him.
Jesus emphasized the Father’s love for a straying believer was by highlighting the trouble to which the Father (the Shepherd) went to restore the sinning believer: (1) he left the 99 behind; (2) he searched through the hills; and (3) he continually searched until the sheep was found.
In verse 13 the word if expresses uncertainty. It renders the outcome of the Father’s (the Shepherd’s) search far from certain – If he finds it. Some straying believers will return to the path of righteousness and the fellowship of the community, but some will continue their own way, away from the community, away from the Father, into self-destruction.
The tension of the uncertainty regarding the believer’s restoration makes the joy at the restoration of a single person even greater. Jesus drew special attention to the Father’s rejoicing by comparing it with his joy at the continued faithfulness of those who follow the path of righteousness. His joy with the 99 faithful ones was not to be minimized. It was assumed that he was already greatly pleased with them, but he loved to display his saving grace toward those who were most undeserving.
Finally, in verse 18, Jesus continued his emphasis on the value of the individual believer, especially one who rebels. The Father’s “will” is his permissive will, that is, his heart’s “desire,” which he sometimes allows not to be faithful. This is the contrast with his sovereign will, which is always fulfilled. A straying believer who returns fulfills both God sovereign will and his permissive will. A believer who does not return fulfills the perfect wisdom of God’s sovereign will, but he breaks the Lord’s heart by going against the longing of God’s permissive will.
If you have fallen into a trap of continued sin, do not believe for a second that God will not accept you back! Do not let these thoughts keep you from returning to the loving arms of our Savior. Today is a day the Lord has created and he created it for you, turn from your disobedience and make this day the day your return to God!