The Great Sending, Chapter 17

by Reverand Dr. Larry Stoterau

Matthew 18 begins with a discussion of greatness. For the second time Jesus had told his disciples of his pending arrest, persecution, and death. Totally focused on their own needs and desires, the disciples question Jesus about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’s answer of a little child identifies greatness by faith and not by human accomplishments. Jesus illustrates that faith is always in jeopardy because of our sin, which distracts us from the love of God.

Jesus turns the disciples’ and our attention to those who were once in the kingdom but have wandered away or have allowed their sin to destroy their relationship with God and with the church. Bringing these people back into the fold is a critical component of the Missio Dei.

Jesus warns that temptation to sin and to abandon our faith is a very real part of life. When he teaches us to pray, he includes petitions to “lead us not into temptation” and, when confronted by those temptations, to pray, “deliver us from evil.”

Peter reminds us, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
In verses 10-14 Jesus tells the parable of the man who had one hundred sheep, one of which wanders off and gets lost. The sheep is separated from the flock by its own carelessness or foolish distraction. Sheep are followers and belonging to a flock is important for their own protection. That one would go astray would mean it was tempted toward another direction or not paying attention. It would be easy for the shepherd to rejoice that he still has 99; at least no more than one wandered off! Yet the shepherd’s love for the lost sheep leads him on a fervent search. Once the lost sheep has been found, the shepherd returns with great joy, for the sheep is safe.

We live in a community of faith that is created by God in the water of baptism. In the church we rejoice as we witness another child of God being welcomed into the community at their baptism. Like the shepherd, we rejoice over one that was lost who has been found. Our heart breaks when we witness a family member, friend or member of the church being led away from the community by the temptations of the world. At times that person is led away by our lack of love and care in times of need. In verse 7 Jesus says, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin. For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”

The love of God brings us together. God’s desire is for us to never be comfortable as one of the 99 when there is a lost sheep yet to be found. Christ not only brings us together in Holy Baptism, but he implores us to search for the one who is lost. We seek the lost sheep by loving and caring for them. And when they are found, we reunite with them with them in forgiveness.

YesterdayTomorrow

Last WeekNext Week