For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
ηλθεν γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου σωσαι το απολωλος
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Following this, he offers another compelling argument, even more convincing than the previous one, and includes a parable that illustrates how the Father himself wishes for us to hold in high regard our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
"What can I say," the Lord declares, "that they possess angels? I have come to redeem what has been lost and to draw near to those who are deemed insignificant by many."
He declares that He entered the world, or took on human form, to rescue those who were previously lost. If He has such concern, how can you disregard them? He also presents a parable that illustrates the depth of His love.
He offers an additional reason for not looking down on these humble individuals: FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO REDEEM AND SAVE THE LOST. The only-begotten Son of God, while remaining sovereign on His divine throne, humbled Himself by coming down from heaven in a secret manner, taking on human nature as though He were putting on a traveler's garment, and was known as the Son of Man. Not only did He traverse the earth, but He even ventured into the depths of hell, seeking out the lost souls of humanity to bring them salvation. If the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was perishing, how could His followers—those He has so wonderfully redeemed—through negligence risk bringing them back to a state of ruin?
The Lord declares, “since you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40). Thus, if your love and attention have preserved the life, health, well-being, and purity of heart of one of these little ones, you did it for Me: you did it for Me.
A further warning regarding prudence concerning those outside the faith is this: when your transgressions risk becoming a snare for others, ensure you pay careful attention; do not assume that I can overlook such matters in the case of anyone, as their worth is not diminished. Is their value insignificant when their guardian angel continually beholds the face of the Almighty? Is their worth small when the Son of Man Himself came to seek and redeem that which was lost? He punctuated this teaching with the parable of the lost sheep and the joyful finding of the one that was recovered. This outlines a series of events and teachings that mark the conclusion of Jesus Christ's ministry in Galilee.
From His departure to Caesarea and the inquiry, "Who do men say that I am?" to the instruction on avoiding temptation and the parable of the Son of Man in search of the lost, all elements are intricately intertwined in a profound unity.
This serves as an additional reminder for us to value the least among us. The Son of God descended from heaven to redeem those lost from eternal life, and in doing so, He faced the anguish and death of the cross. By His example, we are called to nurture the well-being and salvation of our neighbor's soul through our words and righteous living, inspiring them toward virtue.
The discussion regarding the safeguarding of believing children in the Gospel of Mark, specifically in verses 49-50, seems to reach a conclusion in this passage. However, the Gospel of Matthew provides an extension of this message. In this context, Christ reaffirms the importance of these little ones by addressing a lesser sin against them, one of contempt, rather than direct enticement. By correcting the apostles’ dismissive attitude toward these vulnerable believers, Jesus illustrates their immense value in the eyes of God: first, the Lord has entrusted their guardianship to heavenly beings like angels, who perpetually behold the Father's face, and second, He purposefully sent His only begotten Son for their redemption.
The narrative of the lost sheep further clarifies the mission of the Son of God coming to earth to seek and rescue those who are lost. Verse 14 serves as the conclusion of this parable, applying its message to the broader discussion at hand.
Do not look down upon those who appear to be trapped in their transgressions, for the Son of Man has come to seek out and redeem what is lost. Just as when one loses a sheep from the herd, they diligently search for the wandering one, and upon finding it, they rejoice more over it than over the others that did not stray, in the same way, the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost and perishing, for it is the desire of your heavenly Father that all should find salvation and that none should be lost. If this reflects God's will, if He sent His Son to rescue sinners, how can we scorn those who are akin to ourselves, even if they are more deeply entrenched in sin? Do not despise the one who has gone astray; rather, cherish the human spirit within him, assist him, and lead him back to the path of truth from which he has deviated, ultimately bringing him to salvation.
For the Son of Man presents a compelling reason not to disregard these humble individuals—He came to the world for their deliverance. The phrase “Son of Man” can be referenced in Matthew 8:19-20. The term “perishable” indicates something that has been lost, shifting the focus from masculine and feminine to a more neutral term. What we refer to as lost encompasses what has been taken from us, such as cherished possessions or relationships that we can no longer benefit from; friends who have passed away are those whose companionship we can no longer enjoy. Similarly, an individual entrenched in sin can be viewed as lost to the virtues and happiness for which he was created.
Through the fall of Adam, humanity fell into this state of loss; thus, the incarnation of Jesus Christ occurred to redeem humanity from this ruin and restore us to our original position. The essential idea of this passage is clear (see Romans 14:15, 1 Corinthians 8:11): if the Son of Man endeavors to save those who are lost, how can one look down upon those whom God cherishes so deeply that He sent His Son to search for and redeem them? St. Chrysostom elaborates on this discourse of the Savior by expressing how many reasons the Lord gives us to care for our lesser brethren. He placed a child in their midst, saying, "Be like children," and added, "Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me" (Matthew 18:5). Conversely, whoever leads astray such a little one faces grave consequences; indeed, He further stated, "It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6), illustrating His discontent with wrongdoing. He then declared, "Woe to the one through whom temptations come" (Matthew 18:7), emphasizing the need to remove such influences, even if it means sacrificing our own hands or eyes. Additionally, regarding the angels entrusted with these little ones, He compels us to respect them and, through His own will and suffering, encourages us to follow suit, reminding us that "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost," a reference to His crucifixion, and that the Father desires for none of these little ones to perish. Finally, He draws on the familiar image of a shepherd who, after tending to his flock, seeks the one that has gone astray, rejoicing immensely when it is found and saved.
The profound significance of Christian souls is clearly illustrated by the reality that the Son of God, having taken on the nature of the Son of Man, came to seek and rescue those who are lost, pulling the fallen humanity from the depths of destruction.
Greek text, 9 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS