Matthew 18:10-14 - The Parable Of The Lost Sheep

¹⁰ Make sure you do not look down on any one of these little ones [i.e., humble followers of Christ]. For I tell you, their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. {[{[Some ancient manuscripts include verse ¹¹ For the Son of man came to save those who were lost.]}]} ¹² What do you think? If anyone had a hundred sheep, and one of them wandered away, would he not leave the ninety-nine [safe ones] and go to the mountains looking for the one that wandered away? ¹³ Truly I tell you, if he happens to find it, he is happier over it than over the ninety-nine that had not wandered away. ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that [a single] one of these little ones [i.e., humble followers of Christ] should be lost.

¹ Now the tax collectors and worldly people were all gathering around Jesus to listen to Him. ² And the Pharisees and experts in the law of Moses both complained, saying, "This man welcomes worldly people and [even] eats with them."

³ So, Jesus told them this parable, saying, ⁴ "Which one of you who has a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in a deserted place and go looking for the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he places it on his shoulders [i.e., to return it], and is so glad. ⁶ And when he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I found my sheep that was lost.' ⁷ I tell you that, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinful person who repents [i.e., changes his heart and life], than over ninety-nine persons who do not need to repent.