Stories: The Parables of Jesus - Week 4 (Matthew 18:1-14)
Matthew 18:1-14
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Matthew 18:1-14 〰️
Hey, leaders! We’re trying a slightly tweaked format for our discussion guides, so this week we’ll have some more in-depth questions alongside our normal discussion guide here! Ryan Motta and I (Jordan B) will be tag-teaming the guides: I’ll continue to write the passage summaries while Ryan brings questions for our discussion time. We hope this serves you and your people and facilitates greater discussion as a group!
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
We’re continuing our series on the parables of Jesus this week with the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18. In order to give us proper context for this parable, we’re including verses 1-9 as well, as they give us some insight into why Jesus told this parable and what exactly He was teaching. Chapter 18 opens with the words, “At that time,” giving the reader a reference to roughly when this took place. Now, remember: the chapter and verse divisions were added after the fact and are not part of the divinely inspired writing of Scripture. Instead, the breaks of verses and chapters are for us to reference points of God’s Word easily. We can read 18:1 as a continuation of Chapter 17, in that the original audience of readers and hearers of this Gospel account wouldn’t have separated these stories. With that in mind, as we read “At that time” in v1, we can do so with chapters 1-17 in mind. Up to this point, the following relevant events have happened:
Peter confessed Jesus as the Son of God (16:16)
Jesus told them that Peter is whom He would build the church (16:18)
Jesus’ transfiguration before Peter, James, and John (17:1-2)
Peter’s been getting a lot of face time with the boss (Jesus), and understandably, they’re all probably wondering what the hierarchy of the kingdom of God is like. So as we read the disciples’ question in v1, it can seem less ridiculous or arrogant than we might initially think. Hindsight is always better, and it would be pretty foolish of us to assume that we would have been any better in their position. The disciples ask Jesus in v1, “So who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus then calls a child to stand among them to serve as an example of what we must do to enter the kingdom of heaven: “become like little children,” that is, to become a child of God through adoption into His family.
This passage is sometimes misapplied as instructions to adopt a childlike innocence, but Jesus makes it clear that we’re to adopt a childlike humility. “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (v4). Then, in v6, Jesus more obviously shifts this example from literal children to spiritual ones, speaking of “little ones who believe in me” (v6). “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea” (v6). This is the heart of Jesus' teaching in this passage: that the good Shepherd cares for His flock— every one. Whether being led astray by others (v6) or falling prey to temptation by the world (v8-9), our Lord cares for us.
And so, we arrive at the parable itself, where our Lord uses the analogy of a lost sheep.
“If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish” (12b-14).
This parable shows the relentless pursuit of God towards His children. We can interpret this parable as the lost sheep representing believers who have gone astray and have been restored once again by the Lord. Jesus uses the analogy of a sheep and shepherd for at least two reasons. The first is that it was, and is, an analogy easily grasped by the original audience, and even by us today. The second is that it accurately represents an aspect of our relationship with the Lord. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, desires the best for us, His sheep. Just as sheep are easily distracted and prone to wander, so are we. The temptations of this world are great and have ensnared many believers, but we have a Good Shepherd who chases after us, seeking our return!
Discussion Questions:
Ice Breaker Question: What everyday item do you lose the most consistently?
Could someone read Matthew 18:1-14?
In verses 1–4, Jesus says we must “turn and become like children.” What kind of turning is Jesus describing, and what qualities of a child help us understand what it means to return to God? What keeps us from being “childlike” in our faith?
LEADER NOTE: Help the group see that returning to God begins with humble dependence. Jesus is not praising childishness or innocence but calling His followers to abandon self-importance and recognize their complete need for God. Encourage the group to consider where self-sufficiency may be keeping them from Him.
The disciples approached Jesus concerned about greatness, but Jesus redirected them toward humility. What desires for recognition, control, or importance can quietly pull you away from dependence on God?
LEADER NOTE: Help people identify the subtle ambitions that compete with devotion to God. Create space for honest reflection without pressuring anyone to disclose more than they are comfortable sharing. The goal is to recognize that returning to God often requires surrendering our desire to be noticed, respected, or in control.
Jesus uses severe language in verses 8–9 to show how seriously we should take sin. What specific practices or habits have helped you recognize, resist, and turn away from sin in your own life?
LEADER NOTE: Emphasize that Jesus is using graphic language to call for decisive action against sin, not physical self-harm. Invite the group to share practical habits such as prayer, Scripture meditation, confession, accountability, removing access to temptation, and replacing sinful patterns with faithful ones. The aim is to help members learn from one another while remembering that these practices depend upon God’s grace rather than earning it.
How does the context of verses 1–9 shape our understanding of who the “wandering sheep” represents in Jesus’ parable? How does that change the way we understand the parable?
LEADER NOTE: Encourage the group to trace the repeated language throughout the passage: the child Jesus places among the disciples (vv. 2–5), the “little ones who believe in me” (v. 6), and the “little ones” the Father does not want to perish (v. 14). In this context, the wandering sheep most naturally represents a vulnerable or straying disciple, rather than only an unbeliever who has never known Christ. The aim is to help the group read the parable within its immediate context and recognize God’s preserving care for His people.
In the parable of the lost sheep, what do the shepherd’s pursuit and joy reveal about God’s heart toward someone who has wandered from Him?
LEADER NOTE: Help the group see that God does not respond to wandering people with indifference. He actively seeks the lost and rejoices when they return. The aim is to move people from fear or shame toward confidence in God’s mercy without implying that wandering is harmless or insignificant.
According to verse 14, what does God’s unwillingness for even one of His “little ones” to perish reveal about His heart—and how should His heart shape the way we respond to those who have wandered?
LEADER NOTE: Help the group see God’s personal concern for every believer, especially those who are vulnerable or wandering. He does not view any person as insignificant or expendable. The aim is to move the group beyond merely appreciating God’s compassion to sharing it—patiently pursuing, praying for, welcoming, and helping restore those who are drifting away from Him.
Closing Question: How can we, as a community group, lovingly care for and protect one another from wandering away from the Good Shepherd?
LEADER NOTE: Encourage the group to identify specific practices—not merely good intentions—such as noticing absences, checking in consistently, confessing sin, welcoming honest conversations, praying for one another, and pursuing members who begin to withdraw. The aim is to cultivate a group in which no one wanders unnoticed and caring pursuit reflects the heart of the Good Shepherd.