The Little Ones

 

The disciples had posed a question to Jesus (Matthew 18:1) and in responding to them He said,

“If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things are bound to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! – Matthew 18:6-7 (NRSVUE)

Then not long after that, in verses 10 through 14, Jesus told them a parable about a sheep that had gone astray; He said to them,

“Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost”.

Matthew uses the terms “gone astray” and “went astray” in describing what has happened to this single sheep. It is interesting to note that the Greek word that was used in the original text is the verb “planao” which means to lead astray, deceive, wander or roam.

Now Jesus tells this parable to emphasize His point about causing the little ones who believe in Him to sin.

He compares the little ones who believe in Him to innocent, easily lead sheep. Matthew’s record of Jesus’ Lost Sheep Parable, unlike Luke’s of the same title, is not about a sheep that a shepherd lost but is about a sheep that someone has purposely lead astray through deceptive or misleading doctrine.

To have a better understanding, perhaps this verse should be translated as,

If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has been deceived, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that is deceived? 

This parable is about those who have been led away from the Truth and the church’s responsibility to care enough to seek them out; it’s about the church’s responsibility to bring its members, who may be deceived and mislead by false claims, back onto the right path doctrinally and theologically.

As a church what are we doing about the little ones?

Their angels continually see God in heaven, but it is up to the shepherds here on earth – priests, pastors, ministers, preachers – to go out and find those who have stopped coming to church or reach out to those who are seated in the pews but spiritually lost.

Sadly however, some members of the clergy fall into the category of those led-astray-sheep, lost and desperately in need of finding by a responsible shepherd.

Beloved, the truth is we all need to be more active in searching for the little ones who are lost; to make every effort to find and reclaim them for God. Our challenge is not only to seek but to take notice of who might have gone astray, even when immediately present.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The Little Ones” ©2026 February 12, 2026