"THE CARE OF THE SHEEP"
Notes
Transcript
Proposition - As we continue in our study of Matthew we are going to see: 1) God’s care for His Children, and 2) Your responsibility to the Children.
Interrogative question - How are you doing at caring for your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Read the passages in both Matthew and Luke
Matthew 18:12-14 -
Luke 15:1-7 -
General observations -
1. God Cares for His Children - vs. 12-13
1. God Cares for His Children - vs. 12-13
Matthew 18:12–14 (NASB95)
12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
Why do you think that Jesus starts off with the question “what do you think?
Why does Jesus rely so heavily on word pictures?
Why is Jesus using sheep to teach a lesson?
God’s people in the OT are Secure Sheep -
Psalm 23 (NASB95)
A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the male goats; For the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.
7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
God’s people in the OT are Straying Sheep -
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.
Jeremiah 23:1–4 (NASB95)
1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord.
3 “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. 4 “I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.
6 “My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains; They have gone along from mountain to hill And have forgotten their resting place.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
13 “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
Why does he leave and go find the one?
Why does he rejoice rather than beating it for wandering off?
2. Your Responsibility to the Children - vs. 14
2. Your Responsibility to the Children - vs. 14
14 “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
The MacArthur Study Bible (Chapter 18)
18:14 perish. The word here can (and does in this context) refer to spiritual devastation rather than utter eternal destruction. This does not suggest that God’s children ever could perish in the ultimate sense (cf. John 10:28).
SO WHAT?
Believer - How are you doing at caring for your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Unbeliever - Repent for the the Kingdom of God is at hand!!