Matthew 18:12-13

Matthew 18:12-13 ESV What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one who went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine who never went astray.

This parable tells the heart of God toward His children. He truly cares about us. When we go astray, God actively pursues us to bring us back to safety.

I used to think this parable was about God searching out unbelievers, but that doesn’t fit the context. For one thing, it is set inside a larger passage about believers sinning (Matthew 18:5-35). Also, it refers to a sheep that is already a part of the flock who wanders off.

When we fall into a pattern of sin, God doesn’t just write us off and let us go. He comes after us. He pricks our conscience. If that doesn’t work, God uses increasingly calculated strategies to get our attention and draw us into repentance. He does this because He doesn’t want any of us to perish (Matthew 18:14).

Two aspects about this parable used to bother me. The shepherd leaves the 99 faithful sheep to look for the one wayward animal. Then the shepherd rejoices more over the one he had to search for than the ones who remained close to him in the first place.

Over time, God showed me the fault in my perception. Jesus was using a story to make a point. A human shepherd is finite and can only be in one place at a time. If he is looking for a lost sheep, he must leave the others. God however, doesn’t have that limitation. He can be fully present with all 100 sheep at the same time. God never leaves us, even when he is “pursuing” others.

Also, the passage says shepherd “rejoices over” the sheep that has been found more than the others, not that he loves it more. God doesn’t love the wayward Christian more when they repent, but all of heaven rejoices at their repentance, just as they rejoice at every victory of every saint.

One last point about this passage. A sheep doesn’t go astray by purposely leaving the shepherd. It goes astray when it is following its own whims which unconsciously take it farther and farther from the safety of the shepherd. Christians should take care not to wander off because it is all too easy to do so without even noticing it. However, if/when it does happen, how comforting to know that God will not abandon us to our own failings.

Father God, You are the Great Shepherd. Please forgive me when I wander and thank You for pursuing me. Draw me ever closer to You!