Greatest Humility of the Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:1-14 

Who Is the Greatest?

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses

6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 "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. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 "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? 13 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. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The greatest among God’s people realize that they are lost sheep and humbly follow Him without pride of earning their rescue from continuing to the cliff of eternal destruction.  Jesus made it clear that this humility is required to be as a young child who takes Him at His word as truth and receives it and Him with trust in the truthfulness and need of His good news.  That is true kingdom greatness, along with accepting others who do the same in the same trusting humility of a faith that takes God at His word (John 1:12) and follows the Christ was our Good Shepherd when hearing His voice calling (John 6:44, 65, 68).  The warning He gave in conjunction with this is not to lead these innocent lambs into sin by false teachings that make sin acceptable or desirable as many false teachers love to do because they cast aside the truth of the word of God and His gospel of grace through faith in Christ alone.  Such will pay the price for their sin and Jesus made it abundantly clear that willfully continuing in sin is not truly following Him (1 John 3:6, 9, 5:18).  It is best to vehemently cast aside what causes us to sin and not listen to others who try to paint the idolatry and immortality as acceptable.  We are also called not to judge and condemn others who He is calling out of their sin, for they are all precious in His sight from the outlook of heaven above.  He came to seek out His sheep to save us from sin’s penalty and we need the same perspective that we are all just as lost in our equally appalling sin apart from Him and His forgiving grace of atonement on the cross.  Just as a human shepherd diligently seeks out the one missing lost sheep from his flock, so Jesus the Good Shepherd seeks out us and rejoices with the angels in heaven (Luke 15:7, 10) for our salvation from certain destruction that He brings us to!  It is not his will for any of those He chooses and calls to perish eternally.  He cares for His flock with love and longsuffering and so should we in all grace and humility.  May we therefore exhibit this greatest humility for the other lost sheep as He showed us.