Section 18:10–14

Jesus told a parable about a lost sheep

In this section, Jesus told a type of parable. In this parable, a shepherd rejoices more over finding one sheep that wandered away than over a large flock of sheep that did not wander. This parable shows that every believer is important to God. This section also shows that one believer should not look down on another one.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus used a lost sheep as an illustration
-or-
The parable about a lost sheep

There is a parallel passage for this section in Luke 15:3–7.

18:10a

Jesus probably spoke the words in 18:10–14 immediately after 18:5–9. If it will be helpful for your readers, you may want to start this section with words that show that Jesus continued speaking. For example:

⌊Jesus continued,⌋ …

See that: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as See that is a warning.

Here are some other ways to translate this warning:

Beware that (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Be careful. (New Century Version)

This verb is not a command to look at something.

you do not look down on: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as look down on means “look down on, think nothing of, treat with contempt, or scorn.” This clause is a warning not to consider humble believers as worth little.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you do not despise (English Standard Version)
-or-
Don’t think…are worth nothing (New Century Version)

any of these little ones: Jesus used this phrase in a figurative sense. He was referring to people who are humble like little children. He was referring to people of all ages who believe in him, both children and adults.

This is the same phrase as in 18:6a. Translate it the same way in both places. For example:

one of these ⌊people who are like⌋ little children

18:10b

For: Verse 18:10b is the reason for the command that the people should not despise one of these little ones (in 18:10a). The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. Instead, they let the context indicate the connection. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

Here is another way to introduce this reason:

Because

their angels in heaven: The pronoun their refers to “these little ones” (in 18:10a), the humble believers. This entire phrase probably refers to angels who take care of humble believers in some way. Humble believers are so important to God that even they have angels representing them before God in heaven.

In the Bible, the word angels usually refers to messengers from God. However, the idea that each person has an angel who guards him was common among the Jews at the time.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

angels from heaven ⌊who care for⌋ them
-or-
the spiritual beings in/from heaven ⌊who take care of⌋ them

in heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven refers to the place where God lives. In some languages that will be the same word as “the sky.”

Also, in some languages, it will not be natural to have in heaven here and also at the end of the verse. If that is true in your language, you can combine the two phrases into one.

18:10c

always see the face of My Father in heaven: This whole clause indicates that the angels are present before God in heaven. That is why they can see the face of My Father.

The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as always indicates that the angels are able to approach God at any time. It does not mean that they never leave.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
are always with my Father in heaven (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

continually come before my Father in heaven

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