For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

MATTHEW 18:11KJV
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Matthew 18:11 (KJV)

What does Matthew 18:11 mean?

Matthew 18:11 says that Jesus, often called "the Son of man," came into the world with the purpose of saving those who are lost or have gone astray. The verse highlights Jesus’s mission to seek out and rescue people who are spiritually lost.

In this part of Matthew, Jesus is speaking to His disciples as He teaches them about humility and caring for those who seem unimportant or have wandered away. The statement fits into a larger conversation where Jesus uses the image of a shepherd searching for a lost sheep, showing that every person matters deeply to God.

The Greek behind Matthew 18:11

  • "Son" (υἱός, huios): This word points to Jesus’s identity as both a representative human and the unique Son of God, emphasizing His authority and compassion.
  • "Save" (σῴζω, sōzō): In Greek, this word means to rescue, heal, or deliver. Here, it carries the sense of bringing people back from danger or ruin, not just physical rescue but spiritual restoration.
  • "Lost" (ἀπόλλυμι, apollymi): This word means to destroy or lose. In this context, it refers to people who have wandered away from God or are in spiritual danger, highlighting the urgency and importance of Jesus’s mission.

Why Matthew 18:11 matters

  • Matthew 18:11 clarifies that Jesus’s main purpose was to save those who are lost, not just to teach or perform miracles.
  • The verse connects to the surrounding teaching about caring for the "little ones" or those who seem insignificant, showing that no one is beyond God’s concern.
  • Understanding this verse helps make sense of the parable of the lost sheep that follows, where Jesus explains God’s joy over finding and restoring even one lost person.

Where else these words appear

“lost” Greek G622 · used in 86 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Luke 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
  • John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

“save” Greek G4982 · used in 103 verses

  • Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
  • Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
  • Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.