Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
All Commentaries on Matthew 18:14 Go To Matthew 18
Jerome
AD 420
The Lord had said, under the type of hand, foot, and eye, that all kin and connection which could afford scandal must be cut off. The harshness of this declaration He accordingly tempers with the following precept, saying, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;” i. e. As far as you may avoid despising them, but next to your own salvation seek also to heal them. But if ye see that they hold to their sins, it is better that ye be saved, than that ye perish in much company.
High dignity of souls, that each from its birth has an Angel set in charge overit!.
Others think that by the ninety and nine sheep are understood the number of the righteous, and by the one sheep the sinners according to that said in another place, “I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
