Matthew 18:12-13

Matthew 18:12-13

[12] How  think  if  a man  have  an hundred  sheep,  and  one  of  them  be gone astray,  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  he rejoiceth  more  of  that  sheep, than  of  the ninety and nine  which  not  astray. 

What does Matthew 18:12-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Having taught the importance of humility, Jesus now illustrated it with a parable. Jesus taught the same parable on a different occasion to teach a slightly different lesson ( Luke 15:4-7). His purpose there was evangelistic whereas His purpose here is pastoral.
The shepherd in the story is God ( Matthew 18:14). The sheep are those who follow Him, namely, Jesus" disciples (cf. Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24). God has concern for every one of His sheep and seeks to restore those of them that wander away from Him. He has such great concern for the wayward that when they return to Him He rejoices more than over those who did not wander away. This does not mean that God loves His wayward sheep more than He loves His faithful sheep. It means that when wayward sheep return to Him it gives Him special joy.
Since God has such great concern for His disciples who go astray, His disciples should be very careful not to do anything that would cause one of His sheep to go astray. [1]
Notice again Jesus" identification of Himself and God in this parable. Jesus" disciples are God"s sheep. Therefore Jesus and God are one.