Search and Recovery
TRANSLATION
(12) “So, what do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does not the owner leave the ninety-nine and head into the mountains and search for the one that went astray? (13) And, if he finds it, truly I say to you, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. (14) Likewise it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
(15) “And if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. (16) But if he will not listen to you, take with you one or two others so that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed. (17) And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen to the church, treat him as you would a Gentile and a tax collector. (18) Truly I tell you that whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I tell you that if two of you agree on earth regarding anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (20) For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.”
OBSERVATIONS
Numbers played a significant role in this segment of Matthew’s Gospel. In the first paragraph, “hundred” (vs. 12) was contrasted with “ninety-nine” (vss. 12 & 13) and “one(s)” which is found four times (vss. 12 & 14). Also “gone/went astray” occurred three times (vss. 12 & 13).
In the second paragraph we find “one or two” (vs. 16) along with two occurrences of “two or three” (vss. 16 & 20) along with “two” (vs. 19). “Brother” is found twice (vs. 15), “listen(s)” four times (vss. 15, 16, & 17), “church” (twice in vs. 17), “refuses” (twice in vs. 17), “bind/bound on earth/in heaven” contrasted with “loose/loosed on earth/in heaven” (vs. 18) along with another use of “on earth/in heaven” (vs. 19).
OUTLINE
I. A good shepherd goes and searches for a lost sheep although it is only one out of a hundred. (12-14)
II. Those sinned against are expected to forgive and seek restoration with an offending brother. (15-20)
IDEA STATEMENT
Whether seeking the lost or confronting an offender, Jesus’ disciples must do all they can to restore those who have gone astray.
APPLICATION
Two kinds of recovery were in view in these verses. In the first case, one sheep out of a flock of one hundred needed finding because it had gone astray. The reasons why that sheep wandered off were never probed. The only thing that mattered was finding and restoring the one that was lost. It may seem to the casual observer that the one lost sheep was worth more to the shepherd than the ninety-nine that had never left. While the bad behavior of the one may demand more of the shepherd’s time and attention, his rejoicing over the return of a lost sheep does not indicate that the shepherd loves the others any less. In fact, we instinctively sense that a good shepherd would do the same for any one of the ninety-nine that had gone astray.
The second kind of recovery had to do with a brother (fellow believer) who has sinned against us personally or against the entire church. Here Jesus set forth a step-by-step process for restoring the one who has caused offense. First, the one who has been hurt bears the responsibility of taking the initiative and personally confronting the offender. If that fails to persuade him, then the one offended is to take one or two others along to reinforce his case. If the offer to reconcile is still spurned, then the entire assembly is to be made aware of his intractability. If a public rebuke fails to bring the brother to his senses, then he is to be regarded by all as if he were an unbeliever. While this last step may seem extreme, the unity of the church is at stake and must be maintained for the sake of its testimony to an unbelieving world.