Mat 18:12 What do you think? If a man has an hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?

Christ always uses sheep (probaton) not so much to symbolize his followers but to describe his relationship or feelings for his followers. He feels responsible for them, but there is also a sense of ownership. The term translated as "has" can only be understoods as "produced" or perhaps "raised." It is the same term translated in the Lord's Prayer as "done" from "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That phrase is also poorly translated and is much closer to "You will is coming into being on earth and in heaven."

Christ says in the previous verse that he has come to save the "lost" ("destoyed," apollumi) but a different word is used here for "gone astray," planaô, which means to be mislead or to lose your way. Remember, Christ never really talks about "sin" in the sense we use it in modern religion. In all his words in Matthew, he is translated as saying "sin" or "sins" in two situations, but the word use harmatia, means "to miss the mark" and has the sense of failing to live up to your obligations. This again is very consistent with Christ use of poneros, which is translated as "evil" but really means "burdened with toil," "low-class" not malicious evil.

What Christ is always teaching is the idea that he wants us to be the best we can be. He wants us to be perfect. The word translated as "good," kalia, means "beautiful" and "noble." His desire to to rescue everyone who is less than they could be.

"Has" is from gignomai (ginomai), which means "to become," "to come into being," "to be produced," and "to be."


"Sheep" is from probaton, which means any domesticated four footed animal, "sheep," "cattle," "herds," and "flocks."

"Goes astray" is from planaô, which means "to cause to wander," "to lead astray" and "to be misled."

"Leave" is from aphiêmi, "to send forth," "to discharge," "to let fall," "to set free," "to divorce," and "to leave alone."

"Goes" is from poreuomai, which means "to make to go," "to carry," "to go,""to march," and "to proceed."

"Seeks" is from zêteô, which means "to seek," "to inquire after," "to seek after," "to desire," and "to feel the want of."