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

¹⁰ Do not treat these little ones badly. I tell you that angels represent them in the presence of my Father in heaven. ¹¹ (omitted, text not found in early manuscripts) ¹² What do you think? A man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone wandering away. Will he leave the ninety-nine and go in search of the wandering one? ¹³ When he finds it, I tell you he will be filled with more joy than he would have if he had stayed with the ninety-nine. ¹⁴ Even so, your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to be lost.

¹ One day a large number of tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus. ² Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!

³ Then Jesus told them an illustration: ⁴ If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it. ⁵ When you find it you are happy. You carry it on your shoulders. ⁶ You bring it back home. You invite your friends and neighbors together to celebrate. You say, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep.' ⁷ It is the same. I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent.