Matthew 18:12

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and on of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that [sheep], than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

I'm nut sure I fully understand this verse. I see that it goes on to explain this verse in the next one, but I'm not that well on my Olde English. It would be much appreciated if someone could explain it a bit clearer to me. Thank you.

EDIT: A fellow poster on another board answered this for me. Here's his response for those interested.

Matthew 18:12?14

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

This analogy provides some interesting insights into our Lord. First, it tells me that His love is absolutely unconditional. Notice that although the lost sheep was one who had strayed, the shepherd didn?t say, ?That dumb sheep was off wandering where he shouldn?t be. Why wasn?t he with the rest of the flock? Well, maybe he?ll learn a lesson out there.? No, his love was independent of the obedience of the sheep.

So, too, whether you are staying or straying, God?s love for you is absolutely unconditional. Then why not stray? Because there are problems out there: wolves, poisonous weeds, and all kinds of dangers that could bruise and break us. Slowly but surely, we?re learning that it?s safest to stay close to the Shepherd.

Second, His love is individual. He loves each of us as if there were only one of us. I tend to think, ?Lord, You have millions and millions of sheep. Billy?s always talking to You and working on the next crusade. Mother Teresa, while alive, was up at four o?clock in the morning talking with You daily. And then there?s me?the dumb sheep who?s strayed.? But I?m beginning to understand that the Lord sees people individually. He would have sent His prophets and apostles and recorded the Scriptures just for me. He would have sent His Son just for me. He would have died just for me.

Finally, His love is emotional. When He finds the wandering, straying sheep, what does He do? Does He rebuke him? Lecture him? Shake him? Skin him? No, the Word says He rejoices. When we wander away, and the Lord comes after us and finds us, there follows an emotional outburst not of anger but of joy. He gathers the straying sheep in His arms and rejoices greatly because He loves him deeply.

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