The parable recorded in Matthew 18:12-13 is among the most misinterpreted and misunderstood Scriptures in the Bible. Was Jesus suggesting the foolishness of leaving ninety-nine sheep vulnerable to wolves to save just one that is lost on the mountainside? The misapplication of this parable has resulted in considerable confusion and ridicule of the Christian faith. Clarifying this could be an invaluable contribution to true believers, achievable by seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit rather than depending solely on theological treatises.
This specific parable cannot be fully understood without placing Jesus’ lecture within the context of the entire chapter. Misunderstandings often arise when individuals consider a segment in isolation, without grasping the narrative’s flow from the start. Thus, to clarify the misinterpreted section, we should patiently trace the discourse from verse 1 to verse 35. For those eager to learn, adhering to the pattern logically should clear up the confusion and unlock the understanding of various other Scriptures that are often misunderstood.
The disciples were engaged in a debate over seniority, likely each aspiring to be considered the most senior. Such desires are not uncommon in this world. Yet, their question exposed a lack of understanding, which Jesus took as an opportunity to enlighten. Approaching Jesus, they inquired, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1 KJV). This type of question is characteristic of fallible humans, often unaware of the spiritual principles at play. To impart a profound teaching, Jesus introduced a little child into the discussion, highlighting the significance of humility. The profundity of Jesus’ teachings is significant.
Although the inquirers were acknowledged as His followers, this did not guarantee their unity with Him. Inclusion in God’s Kingdom required a willingness to adopt childlike humility. It is not a given that all embraced such humility unquestioningly. Hence, their status within God’s Kingdom at that juncture was uncertain. They faced a choice: to embrace humility and be esteemed in God’s Kingdom or to persist in arrogance and be excluded from it.
Jesus issued a stern warning against leading any of God’s children astray. The metaphor of tying a millstone around one’s neck and being cast into the sea signifies utter condemnation. A person only causes another to stumble by pretending to know the path while actually leading them astray. Yet, one cannot mislead if they admit their own ignorance. Someone always open to learning maintains the stance of a little child, embodying the humility Jesus spoke of. This contrasts with those who claim greater knowledge while misguiding others.
Jesus laments the inevitability of such transgressions in the world. He speaks with an awareness of human pride and the millions that would be misled by such pretentious figures. The core of His teachings remains the value of humility, compared to the innocence of little children. To emphasize the severity of such behaviour, Jesus proposes the extreme measure of limb amputation. Since the time of the apostles, no Christian is recorded to have taken such drastic action. Yet, the words of Jesus stand as firm and inviolable truths.
The essence is found in verses 10 and 11: “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say to you, that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:10 NKJV). The ‘little ones’ referred to are distinct from those disputing over leadership or greatness in God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ mission was solely to rescue the lost, not those who consider themselves secure. (Refer also to Luke 18:10-14, which underscores the importance of humility in Jesus’ teachings). This brings us to our discussion topic.
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:12-14 NKJV).
Bear in mind that it is the ‘little ones’ who acknowledge their lost state, in contrast to those presumed safe. The parable of rejoicing over one repentant sinner in the wilderness, seemingly at the expense of the ninety-nine, underscores the importance of humility. Recall the scripture: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus allows no one to claim superiority or greater knowledge over others. Yet, it is with these ‘little ones’ that Jesus communicates, enabling mutual learning without any assertion of authority over others.
But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:8-13 NKJV).
Christians, often referred to as ‘the little ones,’ are not expected to act irresponsibly. Their conduct is guided by Scriptural teachings, with Jesus as the sole teacher. Any misconduct is addressed according to the word of God. Checks and balances are achievable when all are humble and open to guidance by God’s word. In verse 14, Jesus emphasizes the importance of preventing any of God’s people from going astray. The concept of being one’s brother’s keeper is a fundamental principle in Christianity, more so than in any other group.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:15-20 NKJV)
In Christianity, the administration of justice is not concerned with who is great or who is least; it is about embracing the concept of being like little children. When addressing a friend’s wrongdoing privately before making it known to others, the friend is more likely to admit fault and reform. This contrasts with publicly denouncing someone’s misdeeds, which can appear self-righteous and lack humility. Such actions may provoke the accused to counter by alleging your misconduct, leading to a cycle of mutual defamation.
Privately addressing someone after observing potential misconduct is wise. Your perspective may be flawed and could be rectified during the private dialogue. A person open to conversion is unlikely to act like a worldly individual. The conduct of those converted differs from that of the unconverted. Thus, if someone exhibits signs of being unconverted, it’s prudent to involve one or two witnesses in the discussion. This approach is carefully escalated to the church leadership. Ultimately, the individual’s true nature will be revealed at this stage. According to Jesus, the person should then be regarded as unconverted.
Considering a person as unconverted is based on their behaviour, which may exhibit hostility towards God’s word. In such cases, Jesus taught that the individual should be regarded as someone who has not yet converted. Nonetheless, this does not justify treating the person with hostility. Jesus demonstrated this by showing love to Judas Iscariot, despite his betrayal. The fundamental commandment for Christians is to love their enemies and to pray for them. This kind of behaviour requires a humility akin to that of a little child. Peter then posed a very significant question:
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV)
Peter sought to comprehend, recognizing the varied behaviours of humanity. How long should one tolerate such individuals? It’s uncertain how many times Jesus endured Peter’s actions. At one point, Jesus even referred to him as ‘Satan’ (Matthew 16:23). The scriptures note that Jesus faced challenges with Peter, nearly to the point of Peter being ‘sifted’ by Satan (Luke 22:31-32). Nonetheless, Jesus interceded for him. This highlights a crucial practice for Christians: to intercede for one another. Forgiving is essential, as entering God’s Kingdom is unattainable without forgiving others, which requires true humility.
Jesus imparted another parable to highlight the significance of forgiving others, stressing that sin is an inevitable aspect of mortal life. He linked this tenet of forgiveness to His teachings on prayer, asserting that our sins are not absolved if we do not forgive those who transgress against us. This presents a dilemma: what of those who are unwilling to embrace the humility akin to that of a child? Christianity is distinguished by its modest adherents, ever prepared to offer forgiveness, in stark contrast to the customary conduct of the secular realm.
The parable illustrates that there is no distinction between common sinners and those who disguise themselves as Christians. The essence of Christianity lies in individuals living their lives, conscious of their sins yet saved by divine grace. This consciousness allows them to be considerate of their own transgressions when interacting with others. Retaining a child-like state is what endows them with this capacity. It is this quality that differentiates a Christian from worldly individuals, rather than the consideration of lacking sin. Perfection is unattainable as long as one exists in a mortal body.
Christianity may not be as complex a faith as many assume. It originates from an understanding of the initial conditions in the Garden of Eden. One cannot fully appreciate their virtues without acknowledging the events that transpired there. The fundamental truth is that humanity was eternally condemned from that moment. If not for the grace of God, that condemnation would be humanity’s eternal fate. The approach of Jesus is as innovative as it is distinct from the typical conduct of Adam’s descendants.
This necessitates acknowledging the concept of being born a condemned sinner, with Jesus offering the sole path to redemption. Redemption, in this view, hinges solely on humility, not on the study of theology or strict adherence to the Law of Moses. Thus, Jesus stands as the singular, steadfast reference point for salvation. He taught that anyone who practices His teachings is comparable to a person constructing a house on a solid rock foundation (Matthew 7:24-25).
Jesus’ teachings are encapsulated in His dialogue with Nicodemus (John 3:1ff), emphasizing the need for a new birth, breaking away from the lineage of Adam. Repentance involves recognizing one’s helplessness in sin, symbolized by the one lamb that stands apart from the ninety-nine. The issue with the ninety-nine lies in their false security. In this world, no one is truly safe without the grace of God. Yet, grace remains elusive for those who claim perfection through their own deeds. Since the crucifixion, the first individual documented to have received such grace was one of the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-43 NKJV).
The thief, labelled as miserable, attained paradise alongside Jesus purely by humility, which appears to diminish the earnest endeavours of those who rigorously followed God’s commandments. (This concept is echoed in another parable found in Matthew 20:1-16). Nonetheless, following these commandments is praiseworthy and fosters harmony. The real indication of sinfulness is the belief in one’s superiority over others. Christianity calls for constant humility, as demonstrated by Jesus’ act of washing feet in John 13.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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