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The lost sheep

Matt 18:10–14; Luke 15:3–7 · Journey to Jerusalem

Scripture

Matthew 18:10–14

ake heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

King James Version · public domain

Mateu 18:10–14

hikoni, mos bëni për asgjë një nga këta të-vegjëlitë; sepse po u them juve, se ëngjëjt’ e tyre ndë qiejt shohënë gjithënjë faqen’ e t’im Eti që është ndë qiejt. 11Sepse i Bir’ i njeriut erdhi të shpëtonjë të-humburinë. 12Ç’u duketë juve? ndë pastë ndonjë njeri një qint dhën, edhe t’i humbasë një nga ato, a nukë le të nëntë-dhjet’ e nëntatë, e vete ndëpër malet të kërkonjë të-humburënë? 13Edhe ndë qoftë se e gjen, me të-vërtetë po u them juve, se gëzonetë më tepërë për atë se për të nëntë-dhjet’ e nëntatë, që s’kanë humburë. 14Kështu nuk ësht’ e-dashurë përpara Atit t’uaj që është ndë qiejt të humbasë një nga këta të vegjëlitë.

Kristoforidhi, Dhiata e Re Toskërisht 1879 · zotërim publik

In their own words

The search therefore after that which was lost was no act of contempt towards those who had not erred, but one of grace and mercy and love to mankind fit for the supreme and transcendent nature to bestow on His fallen creatures.

St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon CVI (106) — Cyril, Commentary on Luke (R. Payne Smith, 1859)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3–7)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

From his Commentary on Luke, as preserved in the Catena Aurea (Newman trans., 1841). Public domain.

On the hundred sheep, the whole rational creation, of which man is the one that strayed:

We may hence understand the extent of our Saviour's kingdom. For He says there are a hundred sheep, bringing to a perfect sum the number of rational creatures subject to Him. For the number hundred is perfect, being composed of ten decades. But out of these one has wandered, namely, the race of man which inhabits earth.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1050–1107)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain.

On why the Lord received sinners, as the physician receives the sick:

For this was His wont, for the sake whereof He had taken upon Him the flesh, to receive sinners as the physician those that are sick.

On the heavenly powers as sheep, friends, and neighbours:

The heavenly powers thus are called sheep, because every created nature as compared with God is as the beasts, but inasmuch as it is rational, they are called friends and neighbors.

St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain.

On the gentleness of the Shepherd, who carries the sheep rather than driving it:

But when the shepherd had found the sheep, he did not punish it, he did not get it to the flock by driving it, but by placing it upon his shoulder, and carrying it gently, he united it to his flock.

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

From his Homilies on the Gospels (Homily 34), as preserved in the Catena Aurea (Newman trans., 1841). Public domain.

On the ninety and nine left in the wilderness, the choirs of angels in heaven:

One sheep then perished when man by sinning left the pastures of life. But in the wilderness the ninety and nine remained, because the number of the rational creatures, that is to say of Angels and men who were formed to see God, was lessened when man perished ... Does he not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, because in truth he left the companies of the Angels in heaven.

On the word "Rejoice with me," and how our return completes the joy of God:

And we must observe that He says not, "Rejoice with the sheep that is found," but with me, because truly our life is His joy, and when we are brought home to heaven we fill up the festivity of His joy.

Blessed Augustine (354–430)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain.

On the ninety and nine as the proud, who lack the unity that comes by humility:

Or He spoke of those ninety and nine whom He left in the wilderness, signifying the proud, who bear solitude as it were in their mind, in that they wish to appear themselves alone, to whom unity is wanting for perfection. For when a man is torn from unity, it is by pride; since desiring to be his own master, he follows not that One which is God, but to that One God ordains all who are reconciled by repentance, which is obtained by humility.

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

From his Exposition of the Gospel of Luke, as preserved in the Catena Aurea (Newman trans., 1841). Public domain.

On the wealth of the Shepherd, of whom we are each a hundredth part:

Rich then is that Shepherd of whom we all are a hundredth part.

On the joy of the angels over one sinner, and how it should spur us to repentance:

Now the angels, inasmuch as they are intelligent beings, do not unreasonably rejoice at the redemption of men ... Let this serve as an incentive to goodness, for a man to believe that his conversion will be pleasing to the assembled angels, whose favour he ought to court, or whose displeasure to fear.

Patristic sources

Read the sources: Cyril on Luke, Sermons 99–109 (Tertullian.org)