Matthew 18:14
in Matthew 18In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
KJV
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
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This verse in Matthew 18
Commentary
3 notes on this verseIt is not the will of your Father - If any soul be finally lost, it is not because God’s will or counsel was against its salvation, or that a proper provision had not been made for it; but that, though light came into the world, it preferred darkness to light, because of its attachment to its evil deeds.
This site's exposition
ninety and nine
on Matthew 18:12-14
The shepherd leaving the ninety and nine on the mountains to seek one strayed sheep is the chapter's own parable of verse 10's regard, and the bench notes the shepherd does not merely wait for the sheep to return but goes into the mountains after it, at real risk to the flock left behind. He rejoiceth more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went not astray states the emotional weight of recovery without diminishing the ninety and nine's worth, a distinction the parable of Luke 15 makes at greater length. It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish, closing the unit on the same note verse 6 opened it, the Father's own will standing behind the warning against causing offense.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
on Matthew 18:12-14
Observe the gradation of the argument; the angels of God are their servants, the Son of God is their Saviour, and, to complete their honour, God himself is their Friend.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὕτως | houtos | Thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔστιν | estin | it is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| θέλημα | thelema | [the] will | G2307 → | 62 times |
| ἔμπροσθεν | emprosthen | of | G1715 → | 48 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατρὸς | patros | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τοῦ | tou | who [is] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| οὐρανοῖς | ouranois | [the] heavens | G3772 → | 272 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἀπόληται | apoletai | may perish | G622 → | 90 times |
| ἓν | hen | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μικρῶν | mikron | little ones | G3398 → | 46 times |
| τούτων.¶ | touton | of these. | G3778 → | 1381 times |
οὕτωςThus
houtosG3779 →208 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔστινit is
estinG1510 →2333 times
θέλημα[the] will
thelemaG2307 →62 times
ἔμπροσθενof
emprosthenG1715 →48 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
πατρὸςFather
patrosG3962 →410 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
τοῦwho [is]
touG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
οὐρανοῖς[the] heavens
ouranoisG3772 →272 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἀπόληταιmay perish
apoletaiG622 →90 times
ἓνone
henG1520 →343 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
μικρῶνlittle ones
mikronG3398 →46 times
τούτων.¶of these.
toutonG3778 →1381 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 2:4
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Psalms 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
- Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
- 1 Timothy 2:4
Through
Isaiah 40:11He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
it leads to
- Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
- Psalms 23:1–6
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- Micah 5:4
He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to…
- Revelation 7:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Matthew
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.