Matthew 18:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →It is the Father's will that not even one little one should be lost.
What Does Matthew 18:14 Mean?
Jesus draws the parable to its point. Just as the shepherd will not lose his sheep, so it is not the Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. The story of the lost sheep was really a window into the heart of God.
Here is comfort and warning together. Comfort, because the Father desires the rescue of every lowly soul. Warning, because those who would despise or stumble the little ones set themselves against that very will. The whole passage circles back to this tender truth: God's desire bends toward the saving of the small and straying, not their loss.
Matthew 18:14 in the Original Language
thelema (θέλημα), 'will' -- what one desires and purposes, here the Father's loving intent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 18:14
What does Matthew 18:14 mean?
It is the Father's will that not even one little one should be lost.