What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? 13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.
Jesus is speaking to disciples who are learning what life in God’s kingdom must look like. In this part of Matthew, he is especially concerned with the care of the “little ones,” the vulnerable members of the community who can be overlooked, harmed, or led astray.
The image is simple. A shepherd has a hundred sheep, yet his attention fixes on the one that has wandered. The point is not that the ninety-nine are unimportant. The point is that love is not satisfied just because most are safe. The shepherd refuses to treat the missing sheep as an acceptable loss.
Jesus then describes the joy of recovery. The shepherd’s greater rejoicing does not mean he loves the others less. The rescue becomes a moment of special joy because someone precious was almost lost.
This fits a long biblical pattern. God is portrayed as the shepherd of his people and as the one who seeks those who have strayed (cf. Ps. 23; Ez. 34). Jesus is showing that this is not only God’s past way of acting but God’s present will revealed in him. The Son makes visible the Father’s heart.
The final line makes the meaning explicit. It is not the will of the heavenly Father that even one of these little ones be lost. In context, this is a warning against spiritual negligence and a call to active care within the community of believers. The measure of faithfulness to God’s will is how we guard, seek, and restore the weak and endangered.
In this passage, Jesus is teaching that God’s love is personal and persistent. The Father’s concern is directed toward each person, especially those most at risk of straying.
Lord Jesus, grant us reverence for the little ones. Shape our hearts to reflect the Father’s care, so that we do not overlook anyone who is struggling, discouraged, or drifting. Amen.
_____________________
Sources and References
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
- Bernard Orchard et al., A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture (1953).
- Faculty of the University of Navarre, The Navarre Bible: Matthew (Four Courts/Scepter).
- José Enrique Aguilar Chiu et al., eds., The Paulist Biblical Commentary (2018).
Comments