The Parable of the Lost Sheep

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This chapter starts out with the disciples asking Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. Christ set a little child, just like Connor, on his lap. He said except you become like this
little child, you will is no way enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 18:1-3 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

What did he mean by that? Are we all supposed to be kindergarten kids? Is that what we are
supposed to be?

Matthew 18:4-5 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name
receiveth me.

If you have this humility about you, like this little child, then God can use you. If you have any
desire to be somebody in this world, you are of no use to God, whatsoever. He can’t use you,
you’re worthless, in the sense of being used of God to accomplish anything to his glory. He has
no use for flesh. Flesh has got to die before he can use it.

Matthew 18:6-7 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were
better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences
come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Why is that? Why do you have to have offenses? Because many are called and few are chosen.
This theme is throughout the Bible.

Matthew 18:8-9 Wherefore (ties this verse to verse 7) if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them
off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than
having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it
out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having
two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Beg God, crush me to powder, humble me, make me fit for your kingdom. Whatever it takes, put
me in that first resurrection. Humble yourself before God. Don’t use God’s sovereignty for an
excuse to do nothing!

I’m trying to point out here that, if you take this literally, you need to take it literally. You can’t
just say, the fire is literal (everlasting fire) but entering into life without your hands, that’s not
literal. Why? On what grounds? Where do you decide what’s literal and what isn’t? A parable is
not literal, from beginning to end, it is a parable! (Matthew 13:34)
It’s easier to cut off a limb than to overcome what is in your heavens that doesn’t belong there. It
is more accomplishable to do something physically than it is to accomplish it spiritually.

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in
heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

This is not talking about little children, this is talking about God’s people. God’s people are like
little children in that they are humble and teachable. The only thing you will learn the things of
the spirit is to be humble and teachable.

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

The doctrines of the church are completely contradictory. They will tell you that Christ came to
save that which was lost, he’s just not doing a good job of it. That’s what it amounts to.

Matthew 18:12-13 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.

What is he saying there? This sheep didn’t want to be found, he just went and found it. The
prodigal son didn’t really want to go home, he was forced to, eating shucks with the hogs. He
was drug back to his father, starving to death. Everything that he had was gone. Ever had that
experience?

Luke 15:4-7 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave
the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when
he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth
together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my
sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Who doesn’t need repentance? Who are the 99? What is the wilderness?

Numbers 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did
in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not
hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers,
neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

That’s the 99. That’s who he is talking about here who think they don’t need repentance.
Out of all the people who came up out of Egypt, how many went into the promised land? Two. I
don’t think it would be stretching the word of God, since these things are written for our
admonition to say remember Joshua and Caleb, just like we remember Noah and Lot. It’s always
few that are chosen. Be one of those few. Beg God to be in that first resurrection.
Matthew 18:14-16 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these
little ones should perish. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he
will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established.

God will give you the strength to do this. Go to your brother. (Faithful are the wounds of a
friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6)

‘In the mouth of two or three witnesses’ is from the Old Testament. The witness of Jesus Christ is
the spirit of prophecy.

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to
hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Now, how long has it been since you have seen anyone put out of a church because of their sins?
That’s why we are where we are, we don’t believe in these things that separate us. This book
really unites.

Matthew 18:18-19 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you,
That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done
for them of my Father which is in heaven.

The Concordant version words it properly. I have checked it out and I wish I had the equipment
to show you. I want you to see things like this. In the interlinear, what actually is said right here
is “what you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven,” because you are doing all of this in
the name of Jesus Christ and you are doing this because you are humble and teachable.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them.

Do you think that has changed today? No, it is just as true today as it was back then.
There’s one thing that is more precious to God than anything in this world? Got any idea what
that is? Is it your faith? You need faith, but what does your faith need to make it really precious
to God. Demons have faith, they believe in God and tremble. What is it about your faith that
makes it so precious to God. The trial of your faith. You are not going to have tried faith without
love.

Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven
times: but, Until seventy times seven.

You forgive no matter what. That’s a hard pill to swallow. The flesh can’t take it. You cannot do
it, Jesus Christ is the only one that can do this. This is Him in you, or it is not going to happen.
Matthew 18:23-27 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would
take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,
which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded
him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The
servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will
pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and
forgave him the debt.

You will never get out of debt when it comes to your sins. You are hopelessly in debt and there is
no way to pay it back.

Matthew 18:28-30 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which
owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay
me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison,
till he should pay the debt.

Casting someone into prison to pay the debt is about like casting them into eternal hell fire to be
saved. Because you are not going to get the money to get out of debt while you are in prison, are
you?

Matthew 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came
and told unto their lord all that was done.

Who told the lord? His fellow servants. Joseph told his father what his brothers were doing. It is
our job to witness against this world (torment those that dwell upon the earth). For what purpose:

Matthew 18:32-35 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had
compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and
delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall
my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother
their trespasses.

That’s the lake of fire. In the lake of fire you will experience God’s justice. There is an end to it,
you will pay what is due. If you have to be cast into the lake of fire, you will pay it. But if you
judge yourself now, you will not need to be judged. You will be in a position to judge this world
and angels.