“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. 11 [ 12 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.”
Matthew was giving advice to community leaders on how they should act towards those in the community who are vulnerable or have lost their way. They are not to have an arrogant or dismissive attitude towards those of lesser stature in the community because the angels that protect them stand in God’s presence serving Him and the community leaders might incur God’s righteous judgment (v. 10).
Jesus explained that the community leaders must show concern for those who stray from the faith and try to bring them back. Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, God said “As a shepherd examines his flock while he himself is among his scattered sheep, so will I examine my sheep. I will deliver them from every place where they were scattered on the day of dark clouds (Ezek. 34:12).” Most of the community may not go astray, but the one member who strays might be someone that God has great plans for who could do mighty works if brought back into the community. It is God’s will that none who have turned to Him through Jesus Christ be lost; “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand (Jn. 10:29).”
Almighty God, we have all sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. It is through the blood of Christ that forgiveness and reconciliation was earned for us. In your mercy grant us the will to be merciful to other and the wisdom to lead any who stray back to you. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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