Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 18:12

"How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?" — Matthew 18:12 (ASV)

We may not even think harshly of those who wander. He who would not have us despise the little ones will not have us neglect the lost. Indeed, the lost are to have special consideration.

Is not the owner of a flock, for the moment, more concerned about the one astray than about the ninety-nine which are safe? The lost one is not better than any of the others, but it is brought into prominence by its condition. To the shepherd, it is not an object of deserved blame, much less of contempt; instead, his main thought is sympathy for its danger and the fear that it may be destroyed before he can find it. To save it, he makes a mountain journey in person, neglecting the large flock in comparison with his care for the one.

This is a good argument for despising no one—not only the least, but also the most erring. What do you think? You who yourselves were once astray and have been restored by the Shepherd and Bishop of souls, what do you think?