Matthew 18:11 kjv
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18:11 nkjv
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 19:10 | For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost. | Direct parallel on Jesus' mission to the lost |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | ...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... | Christ's central purpose to save sinners |
| Isa 61:1-2 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to | Prophecy of Messiah's mission |
| Mt 9:12-13 | "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick... I have not come | Jesus came to call sinners, not righteous |
| Mk 2:17 | On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a | Jesus' mission to sinners clarified |
| Lk 5:31-32 | And Jesus answered them, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor | Jesus' mission to the morally sick |
| Jn 3:16-17 | For God so loved the world... that the world through him might be saved. | God's loving purpose to save the world |
| Jn 12:47 | ...for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. | Jesus' mission is salvation, not judgment |
| Rom 5:6-8 | While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | Christ's sacrificial love for the lost |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us | God's mercy saving the dead in sin |
| Col 1:13-14 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the | Redemption and forgiveness through Christ |
| Titus 3:5 | He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but | Salvation by grace, not works |
| Heb 7:25 | Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to | Jesus' complete power to save |
| 1 Jn 4:14 | And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the | Father sent Son as Savior |
| Isa 53:6 | All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own | Humanity's lost condition as sheep |
| Rom 3:23 | For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Universal human sinfulness/lostness |
| Eph 2:1 | And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. | Spiritual death of the lost |
| Jer 50:6 | "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray... | Israel as lost sheep |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd | Believers returned from being lost |
| Ps 23:1-3 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green | The Lord as a guiding Shepherd |
| Ezek 34:11-16 | For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I myself will search for my sheep and | God's promise to seek and save His sheep |
| Jn 10:11-16 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the | Jesus as the Good Shepherd seeking His sheep |
| Dan 7:13-14 | I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there | Prophetic vision of "Son of Man" |
Matthew 18 verses
Matthew 18 11 Meaning
Matthew 18:11 states that the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. This verse articulates the fundamental purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry: to seek out, restore, and rescue humanity that is spiritually estranged and perishing. It encapsulates God's compassionate pursuit of those who have strayed from Him and fallen into a state of ruin and despair, highlighting His profound love and active involvement in the redemption of individuals.
Matthew 18 11 Context
Matthew 18, often referred to as the "Discourse on Humility and Forgiveness," begins with the disciples asking Jesus who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus responds by emphasizing childlike humility and issues stern warnings against causing spiritual stumbling for "little ones" (those who believe or are vulnerable). The chapter then proceeds to the Parable of the Lost Sheep (vv. 12-14), which highlights God's diligent pursuit and high value of every single individual who has strayed. Matthew 18:11, if present in a text, serves as a theological foundation for this parable and the overarching theme of care for the vulnerable and lost. It grounds the call to prevent stumbling and to seek the lost in Jesus' own redemptive mission. Historically, this aligns with Jesus' consistent ministry focus on the marginalized, sick, and sinful, contrasting with the often exclusive or self-righteous attitudes prevalent in some religious circles of the time.
Matthew 18 11 Word analysis
- For (γάρ, gar): This Greek conjunction signals a causal explanation, providing the reason or rationale for the preceding discourse, particularly the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 18:12-14. It connects Jesus' example of valuing each "little one" with His own foundational mission.
- the Son of Man (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ho huios tou anthrōpou): Jesus' primary self-designation. This title denotes both His genuine humanity and His divine, messianic identity as prophesied in Dan 7:13-14, possessing heavenly authority. It signifies His unique role as God's chosen representative.
- has come (ἦλθεν, ēlthen): An aorist indicative verb, denoting a definitive, completed action in the past with enduring results. It refers to Jesus' incarnation, His descent from heaven, and His entry into human history to fulfill a specific mission.
- to save (σῶσαι, sōsai): An aorist infinitive indicating purpose. The primary purpose of His coming is to deliver, rescue, heal, and preserve from sin and its consequences, both in the present and eternally. It encompasses spiritual restoration, not just physical rescue.
- that which was lost (τὸ ἀπολωλός, to apololōs): This is a perfect passive participle, used substantively. It describes a state of having been lost, implying ruin, destruction, or being beyond hope from a human perspective. It does not refer to something merely misplaced, but to something that has perished or is in the process of perishing. In the context of humanity, it signifies those spiritually alienated from God, in a state of sin, ruin, and death, likened to a straying or wandering sheep in the subsequent parable.
Words-Group Analysis:
- For the Son of Man has come: Establishes the divine origin and authoritative mission of Jesus Christ. It states that His arrival was not accidental but purposeful, driven by a specific, God-ordained agenda.
- to save that which was lost: Articulates the singular objective of Jesus' advent. It underlines that His mission is targeted specifically at rescuing those in a state of spiritual peril, those who have separated themselves from God's intended path and are therefore perishing. This phrase emphasizes proactive rescue, not just passive offering.
Matthew 18 11 Bonus section
The phrase "the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost" closely echoes Lk 19:10, a near identical statement delivered by Jesus after Zacchaeus's conversion. This raises a textual-critical discussion: some scholars believe Matthew 18:11 was a later scribal addition, possibly imported from Luke's Gospel, while others argue for its originality in Matthew, possibly omitted in some manuscripts due to early copying practices. Regardless of its specific manuscript history within Matthew, the theology it expresses is undeniably central to Jesus' identity and mission across all Gospel accounts. It highlights God's infinite value placed upon each individual, even "the least of these," ensuring that none should be overlooked or deemed unredeemable. The Father's will, as seen in Mt 18:14, aligns perfectly with the Son's saving mission presented here.
Matthew 18 11 Commentary
Matthew 18:11, though experiencing some textual variations across ancient manuscripts (being present in the Textus Receptus and omitted or bracketed in some critical editions like NA28), beautifully articulates a core theological truth pervasive throughout the Gospels and the New Testament: Jesus' incarnate purpose is salvific. This verse serves as a crucial theological lens for understanding the preceding and subsequent sections of Matthew 18, especially the Parable of the Lost Sheep (vv. 12-14).
If considered part of Matthew's original text, it grounds the Church's care for its "little ones" and pursuit of those who have strayed in the very mission of the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus did not come for the self-sufficient or the seemingly righteous, but for those who are spiritually adrift, lost, or broken by sin. This resonates with His consistent engagement with tax collectors, sinners, and the marginalized throughout His ministry (Mt 9:12-13; Lk 5:31-32; 19:10). The phrase "the Son of Man" not only asserts His divine authority but also connects Him to humanity in a redemptive capacity. His "coming" was a deliberate act of divine love, aimed at reaching those in utter despair. "That which was lost" encompasses all humanity separated from God, emphasizing that from God's perspective, no one is beyond reach or unworthy of pursuit. This perspective strongly challenges any religious system or attitude that would neglect, dismiss, or condemn individuals rather than seek their spiritual restoration.