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Matthew 18:13

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 18:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
Matthew 18:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10See 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 who is in heaven.
11[For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.]
12How 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?
13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if so be that he find it, etc.] Which is a casual and uncertain thing with the shepherd, but not so with Christ, who certainly finds all those he goes after, and seeks: for, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep; at the finding of it, whose loss greatly affected him, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray; who seemed not to go astray, were outwardly righteous before men, and, in their own opinion, being the same with the ninety and nine just persons who needed no repentance in their own apprehension, (<421507>Luke 15:7). This same parable is related in (<421503>Luke 15:3,4,5,6), and it being there more largely expressed, and along with other parables of the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To show still further the reason why we should not despise Christians, he introduced a parable showing the joy felt when a thing lost is found. A shepherd rejoices over the recovery of one of his flock that had wandered more than over all that remained; so God rejoices that man is restored: so he seeks his salvation, and wills that not one thus found should perish. If God thus loves and preserves the redeemed, then surely man should not despise them. See this passage further explained in Luke 15:4-10. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he rejoiceth: Psa 147:11; Isa 53:11, Isa 62:5; Jer 32:37-41; Mic 7:18; Zep 3:17; Luk 15:5-10, Luk 15:23, Luk 15:24; Joh 4:34-36; Jam 2:13 Matthew 18:14”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 18 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification