The Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:11-14 The Lost Sheep

Why does God want me? Why do you always feel the need to interject Jesus into every conversation. Because it means something. Jesus had just spoken of hell fire and everlasting fire. Thats serious. Our sin debt, requires absolutely, not just death, but we have sinned against an infinite God, we owe an infinite debt. Only one could pay that. And my friend, you did sin. 1 John 1:10 (NKJV) “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” And he wants what He paid for, lets read our text for today.

Matthew 18:11–14 (NKJV)

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.

Lets break this down verse by verse, see what the Lord is telling us.

Matthew 18:11  “ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”

Who’s the Son of Man? Some say this means different things because they don’t actually look at the scriptures.

some say it means He’s just a person. but its not. its more.

its a prophetic reference to Daniel of the Messiah, of God, coming to save. Luke 9:56a  “ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”” Of course He’s Jesus.

Daniel 7:13–14  “ “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” again, Jesus.

Whats his purpose? To save. The word save here is sosai, to save, to deliver from a direct threat.

He already spoke of this threat, sin and everlasting fire. He saves us from sin by taking our sins on Himself. He did it for the whole world. We accept this gift by committing ourself to Him as Lord, and turning from the world to the Lord. And He gives us His life. Eternity lives in us. We can never truly die.

Who are the Lost that He came to save? Jesus explains this with a story

Matthew 18:12–13  “ “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.”

Though Satan is the “god” of this world, who is its creator? Jesus. So though we might not all be saved, who do we belong to? Not the wolf, but the owner of the flock, the Father, and Jesus. Again, as we’ll point out in a moment, this also fits Israel as Gods sheep, etc.

Mountains are dangerous. Many die trying to explore and climb mountains. Here, the shepherd risks everything (life/limb) to save the sheep.

That shepherd values the sheep more than His own life.

He rejoices. He shows great joy. For you to be saved all of heaven rejoices. Luke 15:7  “ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” More joy. More joy. All have sinned, all are called to repent. No matter our ethnic nor religious affiliation. Luke 15:10  “ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””

God celebrates those who come to Him in repentance of sins by faith.

Now, I don’t want to ignore other texts that might indicate that this is Israel.

In Jeremiah 50:6  “ “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.” they have wandered from him.

Jesus said in Matthew 15:24  “ But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.””

Does this mean we can’t be His lost sheep? No. This is for us as well. Romans 1:16–17  “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek *gentile. 17 For in it (gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

The question we must answer is am I truly living by? By faith? Whats the evidence for that?

Now lets finish with

Matthew 18:14  “ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

No doubt still holding a child, Jesus gives a truth. Be careful in the destruction of the innocent, especially children.

Your Father. Yours. When you repent and let Jesus carry you to the flock, you are His.

Of course God doesn't want kids to be hurt, anyone to be destroyed.

Not the will. Death and hell wasn’t the will of God but was required for Justice sake. His righteousness demands that the wages of sin is death. And we are lost, cannot save ourselves.

He came to seek, to save. He’s after you. The only way we can go to hell, is to run from our savior? His will?

1 Timothy 2:1–7  “ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”

In Closing

“Oh, how we ought to love sinners, since Jesus loved us, and died for us while we were yet sinners! We must care for drunkards while they still pass round the cup; swearers even while we hear them swear…We must not wait till we see some better thing in them, but feel an intense interest for them as what they are — straying and lost.” (Spurgeon)

The time to try and share, is always. Its crucial that we share, because just as Gods love is perfect, so is His justice. Now if they refuse, wont listen, then its on them.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer in One Minute After You Die “What if, from God’s viewpoint, the greatness of sin is determined by the greatness of the One against whom it is committed? Then the guilt of sin is infinite because it is a violation of the character of an infinite being. What if, in the nature of God, it is deemed that such infinite sins deserve an infinite penalty, a penalty that no one can repay … The Bible tells of the love and mercy of God…But it also has much to say about his justice … To put it clearly, we must accept God as He is revealed in the Bible, whether he suits our preferences or not.”

I will say it once last time in this message.

Now you have a choice. To receive God’s gift or go your own way. Your own way leads away from him, to a hell of your own choosing. Even Moses offered the choice, Deuteronomy 30:19  “ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;”

Choose