Matthew 18:12

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

How {G5101} think {G1380} ye {G5213}? if {G1437}{G5100} a man {G444} have {G1096} an hundred {G1540} sheep {G4263}, and {G2532} one {G1520} of {G1537} them {G846} be gone astray {G4105}, doth he {G863} not {G3780} leave {G863} the ninety and nine {G1768}, and goeth {G4198} into {G1909} the mountains {G3735}, and seeketh {G2212} that which {G3588} is gone astray {G4105}?

"What's your opinion? What will somebody do who has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away? Won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go off to find the stray?

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?

Matthew 18:12 KJV presents one of Jesus’ most beloved parables, often known as the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This verse introduces a powerful illustration of divine love and the immense value God places on every individual, especially those who are spiritually lost or vulnerable. It highlights the proactive nature of God's grace in seeking out the wandering soul.

Context

This parable is part of a larger discourse by Jesus in Matthew 18, which begins with the disciples asking who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1). Jesus emphasizes humility, the danger of causing others to stumble (Matthew 18:6), and the importance of not despising "one of these little ones." The parable of the lost sheep directly follows this warning, reinforcing the idea that God cherishes every single individual, particularly those who might be overlooked or considered insignificant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Pursuit and Compassion: The central message is God's relentless and compassionate pursuit of those who have strayed. Just as a shepherd leaves the security of the flock to find one lost sheep, God actively seeks out individuals who are lost in sin or have wandered from His fold.
  • The Value of Every Individual: This parable profoundly underscores the immeasurable worth of a single soul in God's eyes. The shepherd's willingness to go to such lengths for one lost sheep illustrates that no one is deemed insignificant or beyond redemption to God.
  • God's Heart for the Lost: It reveals the very heart of God – a heart that grieves over the lost and rejoices greatly when they are found. This theme is further emphasized in the parallel account in Luke 15:4-7, which concludes with heavenly rejoicing over one sinner who repents.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "gone astray" translates the Greek word planatai (πλανᾶται), which means to wander, to be led astray, to err, or to be deceived. It suggests a genuine state of being lost or having taken a wrong path, whether intentionally or unintentionally. This highlights the sheep's vulnerability and the shepherd's necessary action to rescue it from a perilous situation, emphasizing that the lost are not merely absent but in danger.

Practical Application

Matthew 18:12 offers profound implications for believers today:

  • Inspiration for Evangelism: It serves as a powerful motivation for Christians to engage in outreach and share the Gospel. If God values one lost soul so highly, His followers should likewise prioritize seeking and reaching those who are outside the fold.
  • Care for the Vulnerable: The parable reinforces the call to care for the "little ones" within the church and society – those who are spiritually weak, marginalized, or easily led astray. It encourages a pastoral heart that actively seeks out and restores those who are struggling or have fallen away.
  • Understanding God's Love: For individuals feeling lost, forgotten, or unworthy, this verse offers immense comfort. It assures them of the Shepherd's profound love and His active desire to find and bring them back. God desires that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 34:12

    As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

  • Luke 15:4

    What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

  • Luke 15:7

    I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

  • Ezekiel 34:16

    I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

  • Ezekiel 34:28

    And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make [them] afraid.

  • Ezekiel 34:6

    My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek [after them].

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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