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 18:12-14 (NRSV)
Throughout Christian history the shepherd has been generally identified as Jesus himself, and this parable is assumed by many to be a shorter version of what is found in John 10. The image of shepherd has an exalted place in Jewish history. Moses, David, and Amos were all shepherds. David and Moses, in particular, were also seen as shepherds of Israel (2 Sam 5:2; Ps 78:70-72; Ps 77:20; Is 63:11). The spiritual leaders assigned to care for God’s people were also seen as ‘shepherds’ (Num 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17; Jer 3:15)
Jesus is a loving shepherd, not a careless one. The point of this parable isn’t that Jesus is willing to go after one sheep at the expense of the safety of the other ninety-nine. He is not gambling with the safety of those who believe because of the value of the one that is lost. To be sure, the lost sheep is of great value to the shepherd, but certainly he values each of the ninety-nine as well. The flock left behind is already ‘safe within the fold’. They are already feeding on the spiritual rich grass and the life-giving waters. Their safety is assured, though the safety of the missing sheep is not.
The KJV adds a verse which is clearly non-original, but nonetheless informative. It was most likely added by a scribe to explain the meaning of the text (cf 9:13) and therefore reminds the disciple to beware of losing that which God is in the process of saving (a). Many mistakenly think this parable only informs us of the love God has for the lost sheep. While it certainly teaches us of this great love, it also invites us to imitate it. The key phrase here is “what do you think?” Jesus is forcing his listeners to self-reflect and to soak in his words. While we wonder ‘what would Jesus do’, Jesus wants us to wonder what we should do. Are we willing to go after the lost sheep like Jesus? The indictment against the religious leaders of Ezekiel’s day was that they “have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost” (Ezekiel 34:4). God is calling all those who call upon the name of Jesus to "bring back the strays". Are you obeying his command?
(a) John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries: Harmony of the Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Volume Second.
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