Matthew 18:10-14

Matthew 18:10-14

Pay attention!  Do not despise one of these little ones.  For I say to you that their angels in heaven see through all things the face of my Father, the one who is in heaven.  What do you think?  If a hundred sheep became to a certain man and one of them should be led away from the path, will he not leave the ninety nine upon the mountain and after journeying look for the one who was being led away from the path?  And if it should become to find it, amen I say to you all that he will rejoice more upon that one than upon the ninety nine who have not been led astray.  In this way it is not the will before your Father, the one who is in heaven, in order that one of these little ones should be lost.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The Greek word that I translate as despise is the word kataphroneo (καταφρονέω).  This is a combination of the prefix kata, which means against, and the verb phroneo, which means to think or to reason.  In other words, Juses is telling His disciples to not think against the little ones.  We aren’t to think contrary of them.  Of course, we shouldn’t think lightly of them because God sees everything and He will know our thoughts!  But I think that there are two major reasons why Jesus would give us this advice.  First, people who are still growing and developing –whether literally or spiritually – are just figuring out the world.  They are going to mistakes.  We should not disparage those mistakes.  The second reason is because those young people are not yet developed.  They aren’t a final product yet.  They are still being molded and shaped.  When we judge them harshly, we forfeit our ability to shape them in the future.

Have you ever been harsh or judgmental in your mind against someone who is young?  Why is it easy to be judgmental in these cases?  Has your judgment ever been wrong?  Have you forfeited opportunities with young people because of your own thoughts?

Second Thought:

As we look at this parable teaching of Jesus regarding the lost sheep, perspective is needed.  Every time that I read this parable I feel myself getting upset inside.  I get upset because I wonder why on earth a person would celebrate more for the one who went astray than for the other ones who actually followed and behaved.  I get upset because I identify with the one who behaved.  But here’s the truth.  I’m not the one who behaved.  I wander off the path.  I wander off the path a lot, actually.  I should be identifying with the sheep who was lost.  And that is precisely what this parable is designed to do.  We think we are all good and we think we have life figured out.  But the only reason that I am saved is because Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  I’m the lost.  You’re the lost.  We are each the one who wandered off of the path.  We should stop identifying with the ninety-nine and start identifying with the one.  Then we should realize that Jesus celebrates when we do get it right and come back to the path!

Do you naturally think of yourself as one of the ninety-nine or the one who wandered off of the path.  What in your life makes it easier to see yourself as one of the ninety-nine?

Third Thought:

Jesus wraps up this passage with a very clear point.  God does not desire a person to be lost.  Of course, we have to remember that everyone has free will.  We cannot force a person to remain in Christ.  But we certainly can be mindful that we don’t drive them away!  We can be mindful that we don’t lead them astray!  We can be mindful of showing them a healthy relationship with the Father so they want to stay on the path.  God desires us to do our part in helping them stay in relationship with Him.

Do you do your part?  Why is it important to understand that when our actions causes someone to turn their back upon God that we are outside of God’s will?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 18:15-17