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Matthew 18:14

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 18:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
17And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
← Matthew 18:13Matthew 18:15 →
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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
“Even so it is not the will of your father which is in heaven, etc.] This is the accommodation, or application of the parable of the lost sheep to the present purpose, and is the top of the climax or gradation here made use of. First, Christ observes, in order to deter any from despising and offending any of his disciples, even the meanest, that they have angels to be their guardians, who are continually in the presence of God; and next, that he himself in human nature came to be the author of salvation to these persons; and then rises up to the sovereign will of his Father, and their’s, the source and security of their everlasting happiness; which will is, not that one of these little ones,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish--How, then, can He but visit for those "offenses" which endanger the souls of these little ones?”
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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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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“So it is not the will of your Father - Neither doth my Father despise the least of them. Observe the gradation. The angels, the Son, the Father. Matthew 18:15”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“18:14 The shepherd’s joy is also the joy of the Father; the purpose of pastoral care is so God will not lose any of his sheep.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“it is: Luk 12:32; Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 10:27-30, Joh 17:12; Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:5-7; Pe1 1:3-5 your: Mat 5:16, Mat 6:9, Mat 6:32 one: Isa 40:11; Zac 13:7; Joh 21:15; Co1 8:11-13; Ti2 2:10; Heb 12:13; Pe2 3:9 Matthew 18:15”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification