Matthew 18:12. Doth he not leave the ninety and nine— This might be rendered, Would he not leave the ninety and nine on the mountains (in their pasture or fold) and go out to seek, &c.? See this parable in Luke 15:0. read more
12, 13. How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, c.—This is another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord uttered more than once. See on the delightful parable of the lost sheep in :-. Only the object there is to show what the good Shepherd will do, when even one of His sheep is lost, to find it here the object is to show, when found, how reluctant He is to lose it. Accordingly, it is added, read more
The seriousness of impeding the progress of a disciple 18:5-14 (cf. Mark 9:37-50; Luke 9:48-50)The major sub-theme of this discourse is offenses (Gr. skandalon, stumbling blocks). The humble disciple will be careful not to put a stumbling block in the path of another disciple as that one proceeds toward the kingdom. read more
Having taught the importance of humility, Jesus now illustrated it with a parable. Jesus taught the same parable on a different occasion to teach a slightly different lesson (Luke 15:4-7). His purpose there was evangelistic whereas His purpose here is pastoral.The shepherd in the story is God (Matthew 18:14). The sheep are those who follow Him, namely, Jesus’ disciples (cf. Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24). God has concern for every one of His sheep and seeks to restore those of them that wander... read more
Offending the Little Ones. The Unmerciful Servant1-14. Ambition reproved, and humility taught by the example of a little child (Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48).1. Who is the greatest?] RV ’Who then is greatest?’ The ’then’is explained from St. Mark’s statement that on the way to Capernaum the disciples had been disputing who was the greatest. The Transfiguration had revived the hopes of the three leading apostles that the Kingdom of Christ was about to be established, and the Twelve were divided... read more
(12) If a man have an hundred sheep.—The parable is repeated more fully in Luke 15:4-6, and will best find its full explanation there. The fact that it reappears there is significant as to the prominence, in our Lord’s thoughts and teaching, of the whole cycle of imagery on which it rests. Here the opening words, “How think ye?” sharpen its personal application to the disciples, as an appeal to their own experience. Even in this shorter form the parable involves the claim on our Lord’s part to... read more
(13) Rejoiceth more of that sheep.—More literally, over it. read more
Spiritual Sins Matthew 18:1 I. Spiritual Envy. Our text relates to the first occasion. Our Lord has just taken St. Peter, St. James and St. John away from the other disciples into the Mount of Transfiguration. The other disciples had doubtless plied them with questions, but they could get no information from them as to what had happened. We can understand their thought how on the part of the nine disciples there may have been envy at this time, envy of the other three because of the greater... read more
7Chapter 14Last Words at Capernaum - Matthew 17:22-27; Matthew 18:1-35THE TEMPLE TRIBUTE {Matthew 17:22-27}THE way southward lies through Galilee; but the time of Galilee’s visitation is now over, so Jesus avoids public attention as much as possible, and gives Himself up to the instruction of His disciples, especially to impressing upon their minds the new lesson of the Cross, which they find it so very hard to realise, or even to understand. A brief stay in Capernaum was to be expected; and... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 18:12
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? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEPChrist spoke this parable twice, evidently for a... read more