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

¹⁰ "Be careful not to look with scorn on a single one of these little children, for I tell you that in heaven their angels have uninterrupted access to my Father in heaven. ¹¹ Omitted Text. ¹² "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides, and go and search for the one that is lost? ¹³ And if he finds it, I solemnly say to you, he rejoices over it more than he does over the ninety-nine that did not get lost. ¹⁴ Just so it is not the will of my Father in heaven that a single one of these little ones be lost.

¹ Now all the tax-collectors and notorious sinners were crowding around Him to listen to Him. ² And so the Pharisees and scribes continually grumbled, and said, "This fellow is welcoming notorious sinners, and even eating with them."

³ So He told them the following story: ⁴ "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep, and if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and continue to look for the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, with joy he puts it on his shoulders, ⁶ and when he reaches home he calls in his friends and neighbors, and says to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!' ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinful person who repents than over ninety-nine upright people who do not need any repentance.