For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Read Chapter 18
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Again, He is putting another reason stronger than the former, and connects with it a parable, by which He brings in the Father also as desiring these things.
He commands them not to disdain those thought to be of little importance, that is, those poor in spirit who are great in God’s eyes. They are so greatly loved by God, He says, that they have angels watching over them so that they may not be harmed by the demons. Every believer, and indeed, every one of us human beings, has a guardian angel. The angels of those who are little and humble in Christ are so intimate with God that they always stand before Him and behold His face. From this it is apparent that although we all have angels, the angels of us sinners are ashamed on account of our lack of boldness, and neither do they have boldness to behold the face of God and perhaps even to pray for us. But the angels of those who are humble minded behold the face of God because of the boldness with which they can approach Him. And, the Lord goes on to say, "Why should I say merely that such ones as these have angels? I Myself have come for this very reason, to save that which was lost, and to ...