The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:10-14
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Matt.18.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ορατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- μη: PART
- καταφρονησητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- ενος: NUM,gen,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μικρων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τουτων: DEM,gen,pl,m
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- γαρ: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αγγελοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- εν: PREP
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- δια: PREP
- παντος: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- βλεπουσι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- προσωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 18:6 (structural): Immediate context: a warning against causing 'these little ones' to sin—connects directly with the injunction not to despise them in v.10.
- Matthew 19:14 (thematic): Jesus' welcome of children ('let the little children come to me') affirms the special status and value of 'little ones' in the kingdom, paralleling Matthew 18:10's concern for them.
- Hebrews 1:14 (thematic): Describes angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation—parallels the idea that angels attend and care for God's people (here, 'their' little ones).
- Psalm 91:11 (allusion): God 'will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways'—echoes the protective/attentive role ascribed to angels watching over the faithful in Matthew 18:10.
- Revelation 7:11 (structural): Depicts angels standing around the throne and before God—parallels the image of angels in heaven beholding the face of the Father as stated in Matthew 18:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
- See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Matt.18.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τι: ADV
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- δοκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εαν: CONJ
- γενηται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,sg
- τινι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ανθρωπω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εκατον: NUM,nom,sg,m
- προβατα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- πλανηθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- εξ: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- ουχι: PART
- αφησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- ενενηκοντα: NUM,nom,pl,n
- εννεα: NUM,nom,pl,n
- επι: PREP
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- ορη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- πορευθεις: VERB,aor,mp,part,nom,m,sg
- ζητει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- πλανωμενον: VERB,pres,pass,ptc,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 15:4-7 (verbal): Contains the same lost‑sheep parable (leave the ninety‑nine to seek the one); closely parallels Matthew's wording and intent about rejoicing over a repentant sinner.
- Matthew 18:13 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same saying in Matthew; completes the thought (that the shepherd will rejoice over finding the lost sheep).
- John 10:11-16 (thematic): Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for and seeks his sheep; develops the shepherd‑sheep motif and concern for the lost.
- Ezekiel 34:11-16 (allusion): Prophetic background portraying God as shepherd who seeks, rescues and tends the scattered/lost sheep—an Old Testament precedent for the image used in the parable.
Alternative generated candidates
- What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that went astray?
- What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and seek the one that went astray?
Matt.18.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- γενηται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,sg
- ευρειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,m
- αμην: PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- χαιρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- επ᾽αυτω: PREP+PRON,dat,sg,m
- μαλλον: ADV,comp
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ενενηκοντα: NUM,dat,pl,m
- εννεα: NUM,dat,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- μη: PART
- πεπλανημενοις: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 15:4-7 (quotation): Nearly identical telling of the lost sheep parable; both emphasize the shepherd's greater joy over one found than over the ninety‑nine who never went astray.
- Luke 15:11-32 (thematic): The parable of the prodigal son echoes the theme of joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (vv. 7, 10) — parallel emphasis on rejoicing when the lost is restored.
- Ezekiel 34:11-16 (allusion): Prophetic imagery of God as shepherd who seeks and rescues the lost and binds up the injured — background to Jesus' shepherd motif and concern for straying sheep.
- Matt 18:14 (structural): Immediate Matthean context: stresses the Father's will that none of 'these little ones' should perish, explaining why the shepherd rejoices when a lost sheep is found.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine who did not go astray.
- And if he finds it, truly I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one lost sheep than over the ninety-nine who have no need of repentance.
Matt.18.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτως: ADV
- ουκ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- θελημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εμπροσθεν: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- αποληται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μικρων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τουτων: DEM,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.18:12-13 (structural): Immediate context—the lost sheep parable to which v.14 is the conclusion: God does not will that one of these little ones perish.
- Luke 15:4-7 (thematic): Parallel account of the lost sheep parable emphasizing seeking the one lost sheep and rejoicing over its recovery (heavenly joy over one who repents).
- 2 Peter 3:9 (verbal): Explicit verbal/theological parallel: 'The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.'
- Ezekiel 33:11 (thematic): OT precedent for God's unwillingness toward the death of the wicked—'I take no pleasure in the death of anyone'—underscoring God's desire that the lost turn and live.
- 1 Timothy 2:4 (thematic): Apostolic teaching that God 'wants all people to be saved' echoes the Matthean claim about the Father's will regarding the lost.
Alternative generated candidates
- So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
- So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and seek the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine who did not go astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.