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
Gregory The Dialogist
AD 604
Hom. in Ev., 34, 12: But Dionysius says, that it is from the ranks of the lesser Angels that these are sent to perform this ministry, either visibly or invisibly, for that those higher ranks have not the employment of an outward ministry.
Hom. in Ev., xxxiv, 3: This refers to the Creator of man Himself; for a hundredis a perfect number, and He had a hundred sheep when He created the substance of Angels and men.
The Evangelist says they were left “on the mountains,” to signify that the sheep, which were not lost, abode on high.
We must consider whence it is that the Lord declares that He has joy rather over the converted sinners, than over the righteous that stand. Because these last are often slothful and slack to practise the greater good works, as being very secure within themselves, for that they have committed none of the heavier sins. While on the other hand those who have their wicked deeds to remember, do often through the compunction of sorrow glow with the more heat in their love of God, and when they think how they have strayed from Him, they replace their former losses by gains following. So the general in a battle loves best that soldier who turns in his flight and courageously presses the enemy, than him who never turned his back, yet never did any valorous deed. Yet there be some righteous over whom is joy so great, that no penitent can be preferred before them, those, who though not conscious to themselves of sins, yet reject things lawful, and humble themselves in all things. How great is the joy when the righteous mourns, and humbles himself, if there be joy when the unrighteous condemns himself wherein he has done amiss?
