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

¹⁰ "See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in Heaven do always behold the face of My Father Who is in Heaven. ¹¹ ["For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost."] ¹² "What think ye? If a hundred sheep belong to a certain man, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety and nine on the mountains, and, going, seek the straying one? ¹³ And, if it happen that he find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that have not gone astray. ¹⁴ In like manner it is not the will of your Father Who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

¹ Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Him to hear Him. ² And both the scribes and the Pharisees were murmuring, saying, "This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them!"

³ And He spake to them this parable, saying, ⁴ "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave behind the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost one, until he finds it? ⁵ And, finding it, he places it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: ⁶ and, coming to his house, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep, which was lost. ⁷ I say to you, that so there will be joy in Heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need of repentance.